Talk About Travel

Favorite winterscapes, San Juan, St. Maarten, Dominican Republic, Shenandoah National Park and more

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: Heading down to the islands on a nonstop flight, with visits to small hotels and inns in the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

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: Let it snow, let it snow, let it slush.

Quite a winter wonderland outside today. Hopefully, our Caribbean issue on Sunday kept you warm and toasty.

For today's chat, ask us questions about places of all different temperatures and precipitations. (Scott just returned from Europe and the Philly Flower Show, so pepper him with queries about Berlin, Italian cheese, tulips, etc.) Also, tell us about your favorite winterscape -- Switzerland, Vail, the sled run in your backyard -- and you can win a winterized prize.

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D.C.: In planning a trip to Japan I was hoping to use your archives, but when I put in "Japan" I get exactly 3 discussions. How do I find information from past chats or from the Travel section? Thanks.

washingtonpost.com: Past chats are not easily searched but we do try to put some of the key issues from each chat in the sub-headline, which may help. As for past articles, on the front page of the Travel section, look for the world map and click on the continent you need, then you'll get a list of countries on that continent (or in the case of the U.S., of states). Hope that helps!

Scott Vogel: Good question. Thanks for writing.

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London, UK: I'm currently studying in London, and I'm hoping one of my friends will be able to come out on his spring break in late April. The flights right now are at absolutely ridiculous prices, though--between $900-$1100 round-trip between Boston and London. Definitely not student-friendly! Is there any possible chance the prices will go back down in the next couple of weeks, or should we just scrub the idea now?

Carol Sottili: I don't know where you're looking. American's fare for round-trip nonstop flights is $732 departing April 18 and returning the 25th. Shop around.

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Chicago, Ill.: I'm good at booking domestic vacations, but I want to go to Paris, and feel stumped. The airline prices seem huge ($1,000 +). Is there a strategy? Book midweek instead of weekend? Are the Expedia/Orbitz sites the way to go? Does the time of year matter that much -- I'd prefer to go in spring, but I could be flexible.

Carol Sottili: Spring is cheaper than summer. Winter is cheaper than spring. Prices in autumn are similar to spring's fares. Some of our readers have had luck with www.vayama.com for international fares - I've not booked through them yet. Monday-Wednesday are generally cheaper than the rest of the week for international travel. Connecting flights are usually cheaper. Continental, for example, has a round-trip fare of $852 out of Dulles in late April for connecting flights.

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D.C.: Hi Crew,

I'm going to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a long weekend in a couple of weeks. We're planning to spend one day seeing old San Juan, one day at the beach, and one day taking a day trip to El Yunque. Do you think if we rent a car for the day trip that it would be possible to see El Yunque during the day, visit the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo that night, and then return to San Juan? It looks on the map like these sites are very close to each other, but I've heard traffic can be bad in Puerto Rico.

Also, if we're going to go to the beach San Juan, which of the city beaches would you recommend? Or should we just rent a car for a second day and go to Luquillo?

Andrea Sachs: That would be quite an exhausting day, but doable. I might, however, split up the outings. Maybe tack the bio bay evening kayak onto your San Juan beach day, so you have some downtime between activities. Your hotel or any San Juan operator can set up the excursion, which includes transport to the bay, kayak rental, tour, snacks.

I love the beaches on the west coast, but since your time is short, the beaches in San Juan (even the hotel beaches) are very nice. I would recommend El Escambron, a Blue Flag beach (translation: It's certifiably clean.). And, yes, the traffic is brutal, but no worse than the Beltway on a snowy Monday morning (okay, with the Spanish signage, maybe a tad worse.)

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Arlington: Hi -- I am looking to go from D.C. to Miami sometime in March or April. Fares are about $250 right now. Is that a good price or might they drop closer in?

Carol Sottili: I came up with a $189 price for nonstop flights out of Reagan National on American. Try www.farecast.com to get prediction of where prices are going. And consider Fort Lauderdale - several discount airlines, including Spirit out of National and Southwest out of BWI, fly there nonstop, and it's usually cheaper.

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Arlington, Va.: Hello, love the chats. You recently did an article in the Travel section on Florence, Italy. It turns out that I'm going there in April, but can't seem to find the article. Would you mind posting a link? Thank you!

washingtonpost.com: Italy Travel Archives -- and see above for a previous answer on finding the article archives. - Elizabeth

Christina Talcott: There you go!

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Belle Rose, MAURITIUS: If you want to come to a peaceful and beautiful place, where people of different ethnic and cultural background and where you have all the major religions of the world and where we co-exist peacefully in spite of our differences and democracy rules the waves -- do come to Mauritius, an island situated in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar.

Scott Vogel: The preceding brought to you by the Mauritius Tourist Board.

Or not. Anyway, for further information, visit www.mauritius.net. And thanks for writing, Belle Rose. We never hear from anyone east of Madagascar!

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Juneau excursions: Some one wrote in last week asking about shore trips on a cruise. We went last summer and did the helicopter, an option they felt was too expensive. I know it's a lot of money but, OMG it was fantastic! We went up the river valley, right over glaciers and landed on a glacier where we got to dog sled. I put the cost down as a once in a life time experience. The views from above are wonderful.

We did zip lines in Ketchikan and if you don't have a fear of heights that's fun too.

Carol Sottili: Money can buy happiness.

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Centreville: Can you discuss the Mexico travel warning? I had been planning a family trip there in June. I had picked out a resort in Playa del Carmen that sounded perfect and done everything except make the reservations. Then, I heard about the travel warning last week and am unsure what to do. Do you have any recommendations for other Caribbean destinations/resorts (for a group of 7 - grandparents, parents and 3 teenage children - 13, 16, 19)?

Thanks!

Carol Sottili: Playa del Carmen is fine. No need to panic. Go to www.washingtonpost.com/travel and read our story that was printed in Sunday's section headlined "What to Know About Crime, Safety" in the Caribbean & Mexico.

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Arlington, Va.: The person looking for London-Boston flights should check out Virgin Atlantic too. They are running a pretty big sale at the moment. I don't know what the cut off dates are. A kayak.com search should show fares for pretty much any carrier on that route.

Carol Sottili: Shop around.

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San Francisco: Crew-

My best friend and I are looking for a European vacation in mid- to late-September. We're open to going anywhere, just not sure what country would be ideal in the late fall. We've been to France, but other than that, our options are unlimited.

Where would you go if you were us? We're 30-something single women who like a good mix of activity and relaxation.

Thanks!

Scott Vogel: I say Italy if you've never been -- Florence, the rest of Tuscany, all of it. Or maybe a Vienna and Switzerland jaunt? Christina recommends Germany (Oktoberfest starts in late Sept, not sure of your dates). But you're bound to get some great suggestions from fellow chatters. Send'em in, folks, and I'll post.

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Alaska: I'm thinking of taking a cruise in Alaska this summer, but can only afford one of the larger cruise lines - do you know anything about these? Will it be a floating mall or could it be fun?

Carol Sottili: I don't know about it being a floating mall. But many of the ships are big, and many people will be sharing your space. Take a look at Princess and Holland America - they tend to attract an older, quieter crowd. And if you can afford a cabin with a balcony, go for it - a great place to get away from the crowd.

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Timonium, Md.: We are heading to St. Maarten for the first time in June! Do we really need a rental car to get around? Which places would you recommend as must see?

Andrea Sachs: If you are only going to stay in Philipsburg, then you can get around by foot, but you will really be limiting yourself to the rest of the island, including the French side. That said, I would definitely rent a car and be sure to visit Maho Beach (the airplanes fly so low you can nearly see the eyes of the pilot), shopping in Marigot (lots of French/Euro fashions, plus a fish market), top-notch dining in Grand Case, Loterie Farm (eco-adventure, plus cocktails) and the nightlife and casinos around Maho Beach. Just a warning: Never ever leave anything in your car. All of my belongings were stolen from the trunk of my car when I was parked at Orient Beach in St. Martin. Tragic, and I learned my lesson the hardest way.

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Pittsburgh: Favorite winterscape: Frozen Niagara Falls, when their ice is the palest imaginable shade of blue-green. Not so many tourists, either! Also enjoyed heading up to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where enough shops and restaurants remain open year-round to make the side-trip worthwhile.

Andrea Sachs: That sounds lovely.

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Central Cal: I live in a place where it snows enough to stick on the ground once in a generation. When I was in 3rd grade. the excited predictions of lows in 20s and a chance for precipitation by late news weathercasters were good for a laugh and a dream. Lo and behold, the next morning, a sight not seen by my young generation: a 2 inch blanket of snow on the beloved home town. Dad had already been up the the Polaroid, documenting this new look on our corner and the neighborhood. They let school out early and we finally knew what it was like to throw build snowmen and heave snowballs, like the kids back east. So as you slog through the slush in the east, remember this: somewhere a kid is wishing and praying for what you may be muttering about.

Andrea Sachs: Your D.C. snowball is in the mail.

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Washington, D.C.: I am a frequent traveler from DCA to Boston and back. Prices have made me downright giddy recently until I priced a one-way from Boston on March 29th that is $320. I need a cheaper flight.

Scott Vogel: Any chance you'd be willing to leave from BWI? If, I mean, the price was $149 (roundtrip) on Delta?

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Fav Winterscape: My favorite place to be in December through February is the Snowy Mountains of Australia. Of course, it's not snowy at all that time of year which is one reason I loved it. (I can't abide cold weather.) Another reason is that the cooler weather there is a nice change from the summer heat of Australia in the summer and there's fabulous hiking up there.

Andrea Sachs: That sounds lovely. I am a big fan of Australia, during any season.

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Bronx, N.Y.: Favorite winterscape: I grew up in New York's North Country, so I've seen enough snow to know that I prefer it to be a distant dusting on a mountain peak, while the ground around me is still snow-free!

Although I also like snow where it's not supposed to be (as long as I don't have to get out in it). I have some great photos of snow-covered bougainvillea from the storm that hit Amman, Jordan in 2001, and it's always fun to watch the news from Phoenix when they get snow - they always manage to find kids who have never seen the white stuff, and they think it's the greatest thing ever. So cute!

Connecticut Avenue, NW D.C., masquerading as a cross-country ski trail is entertaining too. Anybody else here remember the Blizzard of '96?

Andrea Sachs: Oh yes. I cross-country skied down Conn. Ave and went to a movie at Visions. They stored my skis in the closet. So fun!

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Not exactly winter, but...: I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I never saw snow and in my childhood the mercury never dropped to freezing. I'd read about snow in schoolbooks, but I'll never forget the first time I actually saw the white stuff, even though it was at least 70 degrees in early summer. My family drove up to Lassen National Park for vacation, and along the highest-elevation road there were snow banks piled high after the road was plowed at the beginning of the tourist season. My father even snapped a photo of my mother and me in our sundresses standing alongside the snow, to illustrate the coexistence of warm temperatures and snow. Since our food-cooler was nearly out of ice, my dad even replenished our supply by shoveling snow from along the road into the cooler, which then lasted us a day or two, till we could reach the next town with a Union Ice house! In retrospect, I don't know whether it was lawful to help ourselves to the snow, but even if it was illegal, I'm reasonably confident that the statute of limitations has long since expired!

Andrea Sachs: Hey, I think I saw your Wanted poster in the post office!

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Winter wonderland: One of my favorite snowscapes is Muerren, Switzerland--a tiny, pedestrian-only village in the Alps you get to by narrow-gauge. I have fond memories of walking down the street, with my ill-equiped girlfriend slip-sliding everywhere. Of course I was a gentleman and helped her, but I couldn't refrain from joking with the amused locals laughing at her fish-out-of-water look. She wasn't much better on the nearby ski slopes--there were no English-speaking instructor to be found, and I wasn't a very good teacher, so after an hour of 4-year-olds zooming around her on the bunny slope, I traded her skis in for a sled. We may be heading back to the Alps this Christmas (as a married couple!), but she's learned her lesson and has good winter boots to keep her upright (and we'll find her an English-speaking ski instructor!). Any suggestions for where? I'm leaning toward St. Johann in Austria or Mittenwald in Germany.

Carol Sottili: I'm a big fan of the Italian Alps. Take a look at www.val-gardena.com. The skiing is very nice, but the food and accommodations are even better.

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favorite winterscape: Mount Rainier on the day after a storm clears. Snowshoe up to Camp Muir, the base camp for ascents of what we call "the mountain", and behold the awesomeness of a glacier-covered volcano so close that it takes up half the sky. Turn around and three other volcanos dot the skyline to the south. From that spot, things fall into perspective. The world is large and I am small. That is what travel shows us-- the world is far larger than what we can see on any given day.

Andrea Sachs: What a beautiful scene and sentiment. Makes me want to go hug a snowflake.

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Arlington, Va.: Flights from Boston to London show up around $550 for late April doing a quick kayak.com search. Don't know where the earlier questioner has been searching but there is definitely a London sale going on these days.

Carol Sottili: Depends on whether you want to fly nonstop - that's a bit more expensive.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: On a recent flight, it was announced to passengers in the terminal that the pilot was concerned about the weight and there was a request for four volunteers to trade their seats for round trip tickets. No one offered. They still boarded everyone and we took off. What happened? Do they make an adjustment to the plane?

Andrea Sachs: I have heard this happening on smaller planes (I have been moved to a different side of the plane to re-arrange the weight), but not large jets. The smaller planes, however, are very sensitive to weight amounts.

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Kingstowne, Va.: I have to fly out of BWI this Friday. Haven't flown out of there since May 1998. The flight is at 20.55. If I want to get there 90 minutes before the flight leaves (19.30 or so), how much time would you estimate I need to allow to get there (coming from the Van Dorn Street exit on the Beltway)? I'm inclined to drive rather than take public transportation because it gives me more flexibility when I get home Saturday night, but I haven't been on the Maryland Beltway or BW Parkway during rush hour in years and so have no idea what to expect in terms of traffic other than "probably slow."

Thanks in advance.

Andrea Sachs: Give yourself 70 to 90 minutes, depending on weather. Once on I-95, you should be good.

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For the London student: Can your friend take the Chinatown bus down to NYC and leave from JFK? Just did a quick Kayak lookup and they're showing all NYC to all London for under $500, not including tax, for late April.

Carol Sottili: I guess, but you'd have to then get from Manhattan to JFK. You can take the LIRR at Penn Station to Jamaica and then grab the AirTrain - not all that expensive, but time consuming.

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My Favorite Winterscape: My favorite winterscape was standing at the top of Zug Spitz in Germany and looking out over the snow-covered landscape down to the snow line where it changed over to a serene view of farmland in August!

My second most favorite 'scape was on top of Mount Washington in July. We were above the clouds and it was snowing and blowing and all we cound see was snow until the clouds blew away and, in spots, we could see the tops of other mountains in the Presidential Range, some topped with snow and some just bare mountaintops. The clouds blew away in random spots so our view was always changing.

Andrea Sachs: I am so impressed that you could stand atop Mt. Washington and not get blown off!

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Favorite winterscape: Picture this...90 degrees and sunny in Sydney, Australia: Santa Claus (Father Christmas?) driving a Sydney city bus, yelling "Ho ho ho" out the window of his bus as he drove along past us. We caught up to him and had our photo taken with him as he pulled over to a bus stop.

Andrea Sachs: Okay, that is more a Santascape, but we still approve.

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Washington, D.C.: Favorite winter landscape - flying home to Nebraska for the winter holidays, I love looking out at the snow on the farms and fields. It's so beautiful (and it's nice and warm, since I'm on the plane!). I have been known to pull out my camera during those flights and snap a few photos.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for that lovely snapshot.

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Washington, D.C.: I was scheduled on a United flight for March 1, 2009 from DEN to IAD which was canceled 24 hrs before departure due to aircraft maintenance issues. After spending a long time with UA customer service, they placed me on a flight with Frontier to DCA that left 3 hrs earlier. I called United on March 2 asking for compensation due to the early departure, extra cab charges, and inconveniences. The rep at UA stated the flight was canceled due to weather and they could not assist me. If I had known that the airline would change the reason to avoid having to reimburse customers, I would have done a screenshot of the notice on their website and recorded the call with the agent telling me the same. Who can I contact to contest this further? I am surprised that UA would be this deceptive, but I guess nothing is past making a buck.

Carol Sottili: They wouldn't compensate you for extra cab charges or inconveniences even if they still said the change was due to aircraft maintenance issues, so I don't think they're being deceptive. You typically are either put on another flight, or you get your money back. Since you agreed to the other flight, that's the end of the story.

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Alexandria, Va.: Just wanted to mention the terrific customer service I recently received from Midwest Air. My mother in rural Kansas died suddenly early on a Monday morning. I called Midwest and was able to be in Kansas City by 1130 am. There was the usual check with the funeral home to get the bereavement fare but overall, I was impressed by their efficiency and sensitivity.

Andrea Sachs: It is so nice to get a good report on an airline.

Other carriers: Take note!

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Arlington, Va.: You didn't answer the earlier chatter's question about overweight airplanes.

My best guess as to what happened is either (1) they realized they had made an error and the plane was actually within weight and balance limits, or (2) they offloaded some baggage (or, if the plane was being refueled, limited the amount of fuel taken on) to reduce the total load.

You're quite right about smaller planes: not only the total weight of passengers but also the location of the passengers is important; that's why you were asked to change seats. It's only happened to me once -- on a Shorts 360.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for filling in my gaps. I was getting moved to another side of the office to balance the weight of the building and could not finish my thoughts.

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Sarasota, Fla.: Winterscape: I flew into Paris about 10 years ago in February, in the midst of a snowstorm that continued sporadically for several days. One of my favorite of many winter scenes was the sculpture garden in back of the Rodin Museum, with the statues covered in snow, and especially the Rodin 'Thinker' statue out front, with snow on his legs and on his raised hand.

Andrea Sachs: How tragically Parisian.

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Md.: Do you - or anyone in the peanut gallery - have a first hand experience with long distance Amtrak Travel? Specifically I hoping for information about the Capital Limited and Empire runs (DC to Chicago, and Chicago - west, respectively).

Scott Vogel: I'll throw this one out to the peanut gallery. I haven't done it recently, but vividly remember our train, the California Zephyr, breaking down just outside of Chicago in Galesburg, IL., where we were stranded for hours. Then again, Amtrak bused us back to the city and gave us $400 for overnight expenses, so it turned out okay.

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Had to brag!: Just bought $192 ROUND TRIP tickets on Northwest from Minneapolis to Sarasota in April! Mid-week departure and arrivals with stopovers in Atlanta. Not all is lost in the world of airlines! Of course I'm terrified of flying and just spent all weekend watching episodes of Air Disaster on YouTube, but I have six weeks to find some horse tranquilizers.

Andrea Sachs: Good for you! Bet you need some sunshine to defrost those frozen cheeks.

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Washington, D.C.: Last week someone asked about getting a refund for a Broadway show when one of the leads was replaced by an understudy. My understanding is that the only time you would be able to get such a refund (more likely exchanging your tickets for another date) is if the person who was missing is credited above the title (ex: Patti LuPone in Gypsy). You're probably out of luck.

But having recently seen a show where the lead actor performed despite having nearly lost his voice, I can safely say you may be better off with the understudy!

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the follow-up to the Broadway question.

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summer tickets: Hi, I'm looking to get a decent price for tickets from San Francisco/Oakland to Chicago for a wedding the weekend before the 4th of July. (Why can't people think about things like federal holidays when planning their weddings--don't they know how plane fares work?!?) Prices are hovering in the $350-400 range. I've recently gotten some great SF-DC or SF-NY tickets-- less than $200-- and am wondering if I hold out longer if the prices for summer will drop more too. Or do you think that with the proximity to the holiday, I should be grateful for my $350 fare? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: I'd wait. Several airlines offer nonstop service, and there will be sales. Plus you have time. Just keep tracking it. I like the email alerts from www.farecast.com - wish you could make it look only for nonstops, but that's my only complaint.

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Winterscape in Park City: Hi Travel Gurus,

Here's my favorite winterscape story. Several years ago my uncle invited to spend a week skiing at his place in Park City. As the week approached my anticipation grew because I love skiing and it was going to be my first trip out west. What we didn't know at the time was that cancer was growing within me. We learned about the cancer three days prior to leaving for the trip. It put a new perspective on skiing that week. And I never skied better. And I've been cancer free for 3.5 years since that trip!

Andrea Sachs: What a stunning story. And we are so happy that you are healthy and still playing in the snow.

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For San Francisco, who is seeking a European vacation in mid- to late-September: Check SATA (airline) to see if they're still offering their weekly summer Oakland-Terceira flights in September (I think they do). Lovely weather in the Azores that time of year, but fewer tourists, and the locals are all back from their August vacations! Link: http://www.sata.pt/EUA/en/Home/6137

Scott Vogel: Thanks for the suggestion...

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Arlington, Va.: I've been searching for flights for a summer trip to Germany. Every time I search Kayak, it seems like I can get decent flights on SWISS air from a variety of sites (Orbitz, Cheaptickets), yet when I select it, it says flight availability has changed and the price goes up. When I click on the new price, it does it again.

I've noticed this on Orbitz and Cheaptickets, but only with the SWISS flights. Have you heard of this problem with Orbitz or Cheaptickets consistently wrongly pricing other airlines? I don't want to miss an actual good deal on SWISS, but this is getting frustrating.

Carol Sottili: Have you tried going directly to the airline? I'd do that first. Go to www.swiss.com.

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Help!!: Just realized that my flight on Saturday morning from Dulles (at 8:30am) is too early to use the Washington Flyer bus from West Falls Church. Besides Super Shuttle and a cab, are there any other options?

Andrea Sachs: You can take the bus. Here's the schedule: http://www.commuterpage.com/schedules/sched.cfm?id=131&day=Saturday&r=776

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Washington - Midwest is the Best: I cannot say enough good things about Midwest Airlines. I fly to KC several times a year, and if I have to, I'll pay more to get a flight with them. Their customer and in-flight service beats everybody - and you get chocolate chip cookies on board! I don't think it's a coincidence that their name has "Midwest" in it and their employees are the nicest.

Andrea Sachs: So true.

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Winterscape?: Plum Island, Mass. You get the stormy grey water, gorgeous houses, snow and very few people. Well, the very few people is most of the time, but there's something about the New England beaches in the winter.

Andrea Sachs: As a New Englander, I agree.

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DR bound?: Looking at the possibility of all inclusives in Dominion Republic. How do they compare to the Cancun region for quality/price?

Carol Sottili: I haven't been to an all inclusive in DR, but Andrea Sachs has, and she says you don't feel safe leaving the resort and wandering around. I've stayed in Playa del Carmen, south of Cancun, at an all-inclusive and felt very safe going off the grounds. Don't know if that matters to you. There are all levels of all-inclusives in both places. My guess is that I'd like a very expensive all-inclusive in DR more than a middle-of-the-road property in Cancun.

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Babymoon, Md.: Hi all! My husband and I are interested in escaping somewhere local for a weekend before we welcome our first kid in May. I can't do too many active things (hiking) unfortunately, even though we are both very outdoorsy. B&Bs have a little bit of appeal, but we generally have a modern sensibility to style and dislike "country" floral designed places... We also don't want to drive too far -- an hour or two at the most. Any recommendations? Thanks for any help!

Christina Talcott: If you want the option of getting out in nature without having to backpack in, consider Shenandoah National Park. Get a room at one of the lodges or rent a cabin, all of which are rustic and simple with some modern amenities (you know, like running water) but where the main attraction is being up close with nature. The deluxe and the suite rooms are fabulous, some with fireplaces and kitchens.

Shenandoah's ranger programs start on April 4, and while there are Appalachian Trail hikes and the like, there are also leisurely walks in Big Meadows, visits to the historic Massanutten cabin and a trip to Herbert Hoover's camp (see the story we ran on July 16, 2008, in our archives). You can also just veg on the porch or in the reading room at Big Meadows lodge, drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway scouting for deer, bears and other wildlife or stop in small towns like Luray, Sperryville and Amissville (see our July 27 story, also in the archives).

Other ideas: Annapolis, St. Michaels, Easton or Cambridge, Md.; Charlottesville, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Va., or Berkeley Springs, WV. Any other babymoon suggestions?

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Nervous traveler: Hello, My husband and I are looking forward to an upcoming trip to Japan, my husband's first time out of the country. He is an anxious traveler, and I was wondering if there are any sites (or tips from the gallery) to help him know what to expect/bring. And I am interested in a good site to help us plan our two-week itinerary. I appreciate your help!

Andrea Sachs: The Japan National Tourism Organization's Web site is great place to start: www.jnto.go.jp/eng. I would recommend not trying to squeeze in too much: Maybe Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, plus some side trips. Also, purchase your train pass in advance, spend at least one night in ryokan, go the "food court" of a department store and bring a Japanese-English dictionary. Also, I traveled there in March and it was much chillier than I expected; so bring some warm clothes.

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Long Distance Amtrak: I'm a self-professed railfan who took AMTK from Washington to Seattle via Chicago and Portland on the Capitol Ltd and Empire Builder. Had a great time, trains were all on time, service was good and staff was friendly. The train is definitely part of the vacation itself, not just a means of getting there! I wrote about the experience on my website, www.orenstransitpage.com/amtrak. I also suggest visiting http://on-track-on-line.com/amtrak-tips.shtml and the forum at railroad.net to get more tips and if you have any specific questions.

Scott Vogel: Great info here for potential train-takers. Thanks a lot...

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Favorite Winterscape: A few years back, there was an ice rain that fell over a few inches of snow in the D.C. area. I took the Metro in to the Mall and hiked around to the various memorials. Presumably the weather scared everyone away because I was the only person at most of them, except for the rare cross-country skier, and never enjoyed a more peaceful day in D.C. The eeriest and most amazing was the Korean War Veterans Memorial, with the statues covered in snow and ice and the white ground reflecting their images on a gray day. I'll never forget them, almost ghost-like in the dim, with images of other faces carved in the granite behind them. Quite unsettling, but very beautiful and peaceful too.

Andrea Sachs: A gorgeous winterscape under our noses.

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Arlington: Hi there! My friend and I are planning a trip to Italy in August and have been tracking air fares since February. We are nervous to purchase this far in advance because prices keep falling. Do you recommend a purchase this far in advance? And what is typically a good deal to Italy in the summer from DC? Also, would you mind sharing which airlines have impressed you on flights to Europe. Any to avoid? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: Italy is usually more expensive than other European countries. But prices have gone down somewhat since Eurofly, a discount carrier, starting offering service out of New York. I'd say anything under $1,000 from Washington Dulles is a decent summer fare. As for carriers, United offers nonstop flights to Rome, but those are expensive. If you're willing to connect, British Airways offers good service in economy.

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Alaska state ferry: to the budget cruiser - there's no mall 'tude on the Alaska state ferry system. Wou can rent simple dorm-like rooms or set up a tent on the top level, under a rain shield. you see the same scenery, hear naturalists talk about what you are seeing (state park rangers come on board) and it is pennies compared to the cruise world. It is a jeans, polar fleece and slicker scene. Decent showers in locker-room style baths. Take food in cooler or eat at cafeteria. Great vibe, nice seats inside when you are tired of fresh air, a fun scene with all ages, zero pretense. We set up a tent and tied it two two lounge chairs, our daytime hang spot. Watched the islands float by eating ham sandwiches and chips with coffee, Lots of coffee to keep warm. You get way more than you pay for. check it out.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the tip!

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Atlanta, Ga.: Heading to Cape Town next week and plan to go on a two day safari near Port Elizabeth on the Eastern Cape. Can you or any readers out there recommend a lodge to stay out? There seems to be a wide variety of places to choose from so any recommendations would help.

Christina Talcott: Are you going to Addo? I'd stay at Addo Dung Beetle Guest Farm just for the name alone (found it on www.sa-venues.com), but you could also check out reviews of places on TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forums. In the last minutes remaining, anyone have a tip?

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Washington, D.C.: Summer beach planning on such a winter's day. Anyone know of good vegetarian-friendly restaurants on the Outer Banks? Staying in Southern Shores, quite close to Duck, but willing to travel a bit.

Andrea Sachs: Check out Happy Cow for veg restaurants: www.happycow.net. The chamber of commerce also has a listing of restaurants that you can pick and choose from: http://www.outerbankschamber.com/vguide/restaurants.cfm.

If all else fails, hit a supermarket and pack up your own meat-free meals.

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Virginia: Thanks for the Lexington article. Also www.vmi.edu will show you when the parades will be. I noticed that the State of VA doesn't advertise Lee-Jackson Day since I went to DMV last year on that "holiday" and nothing was posted why it was closed.....

Christina Talcott: Interesting. Glad you liked the story!

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Arlington, Va.: Favorite winterscape: Cervinia, Italy (the Italian side of the Matterhorn). When I was last there -- admittedly 20+ years ago -- there were hardly any Americans there. It's a cute little town, emphasis on "little," but the real point is skiing. The vertical drop is about 5700 feet, the trails are vast and beautiful, and perhaps best of all there is real Italian food everywhere!

While in Cervinia with a small group of airline employees, we met for dinner one night at a restaurant on the mountain -- say at the 10000 foot level. We rode the gondola up and were told to bring our skis if we wanted to participate in the torchlight procession after dinner. I did, and it was an amazing experience -- talk about night skiing! My only regret was that I didn't get to see the procession from down in the village.

Andrea Sachs: Love it. thanks!

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Ex-Washingtonian: When we were living in the Maryland suburbs, one winter was particularly snowy. So after a particularly heavy snowfall, once the streets were plowed, we drove down to Sligo Creek Park and cross-country skied. We'd taken along our camera in order to get a few pictures of one another, but after we were passed by a dog-sled pulled by three huskies, when I saw them returning later on I stopped so I could get a picture of them too. Dog-sledding in DC -- who knew?

Andrea Sachs: How funny. My mom once tried that with us and our two huskies when we lived in Canada. Bad experience: The dogs just wanted to run to Alaska, without the extra kiddie weight.

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Washington, D.C.: Cross-country Amtrak travel: the key is not to be in a hurry. The trains are NEVER on time. Expect to miss your connection in Chicago (they'll put you up in a hotel if you do). And then sit back and enjoy the scenery!

Andrea Sachs: Important tip, thanks.

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Favorite Winterscape: Sledding on my parents' land in eastern Nebraska with my brothers and dog. I'm nearly 30 and I still love to do it when I get a chance.

Andrea Sachs: Hey, you should hitch your dog and sled to the folks in Maryland.

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Midwest: I want to second (third?) the praise of Midwest. They were awesome when I had to get home for my grandmother's funeral. However, beware that they are contracting out a number of their flights now to a small regional flyer (Republic Air) which has worse service and smaller planes. Man, I miss those big leather seats!

Andrea Sachs: Yay Midwest!

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All-inclusives in the DR: It wouldn't surprise me if an American didn't feel safe going off-property at an all-inclusive in, say, Punta Cana, but there are a number of all-inclusives in Cabarete as well. We have been to Cabarete three times in the past 4 years and have always felt completely safe going into town and wandering around. We didn't stay in an all-inclusive, but the point is we were quite comfortable in town.

I have no first-hand knowledge of Punta Cana, but from what I've heard, I wouldn't want to go off-property -- and I'm a Spanish-speaking New Yorker who's used to just about anything.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the insights.

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Paris in August: Thanks to conflicting (and sometimes last minute changing!) school and military schedules, the only time we can for sure take a vacation is during the first three weeks of August.

What will we miss if we go to Paris then as opposed to earlier in the summer? And are there any bargains to be had at that time?

Christina Talcott: There may be some shops whose owners close up for the month, and some of the smaller museums are closed for all of August, but for the most part you'll be fine. Just be aware that there are fewer Parisians and more tourists there in August - could either be a good or bad thing, depending.

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St. Martin car rental: Husband & I honeymooned there for 5 days and used taxis. Our hotel was on Orient Beach and we took taxis to go to certain restaurants, and outings to the Dutch side, Philipsburg and Maho Beach. It wasn't that bad, but I don't know exactly how it would have added up against car rental. Also, like other places in the Caribbean and Europe I have visited, I don't mind having a local drive rather than myself.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for sharing.

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Last-minute winterscape: We could not bear to stay in town during the 2005 inauguration, so we escaped to the Brandywine Valley. We strolled through Longwood Gardens just after a good snowfall, and ours were the first footprints. It was magical and very soothing.

Andrea Sachs: How magical.

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Dupont Circle: I have a question about where to find a travel product. Maybe the chatters can give me ideas.

I am looking for a line of "solid" perfumes or small perfumes that are less than 3 oz and not made of glass. I don't want a broken bottle all over my stuff.

L'Occitane used to have a line of "solid" perfume and the last time I went there they only had rose. Yuck.

I like to wear a light scent (not overpowering) when I go out and I wish I could bring something on my travels. Does anyone have any recommendations?

washingtonpost.com: At Sephora they'll fix you up a little tiny sample bottle of ANY perfume for free if you ask nicely -- might help if you are buying something else while there. I seem to remember it was a plastic vial I got but can't swear to it. -- Elizabeth

Andrea Sachs: Here's a tip from our perfume expert, Elizabeth: Sephora.

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Visa for China: My girlfriend and I are planning a vacation trip to China and are wondering about the visa process. None of my previous overseas trips have required a visa so I'm completely unfamiliar with the process. What visa do we need, where do we get it and how long does it usually take to get? Thanks.

Andrea Sachs: You need a tourism visa from the consulate office, which is on Wisconsin Avenue in Glover Park (near the Whole Foods). Bring your passport and a passport-appropriate photo; you also have to fill out a form. Process takes about 4 business days. Cost is $130, I think. See www.china-embassy.org for more info.

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Andrea Sachs: Thanks everyone for your sled load of questions.

Please come back next Monday to talk travel again -- probably with temperatures in the 70s!

And for the chatster who "borrowed" some snow, please send me your address at sachsa@washpost.com for a prize. It won't melt, promise.

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