Talk about travel: Thanksgiving weekend travel stories, space between airline seats, Cancun, Budapest

Got a travel-related question, comment, suspicion, warning, gripe, sad tale or happy ending? The Post Travel Section Flight Crew is at your service. They were online Monday, Nov. 30 at 2 p.m.

Browse an archive of previous live travel Q&As.

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Nancy Trejos: Greetings, travelers. We hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving, and that you made it through the biggest travel weekend of the year unscathed. I personally decided to avoid the Sunday mad rush back to D.C. and took an 11 p.m. train from New York City on Saturday night. It was still packed! And the taxi line at Union Station at 2:30 a.m. was even worse. We'd love to hear your holiday weekend travel stories. Any snafus you want to share? Or perhaps you were surprised at how smoothly things went?

Let us know. Joe, Zofia, Andrea, Chris, Carol, and I will be here for the next hour to hear your stories and to answer any questions you have about upcoming trips.

Let's start!

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Arnold, Md.: This is too late for the couple who could not find an affordable flight to Boston for Thanksgiving, but I am wondering if they considered Southwest? Southwest does not participate in any of the "bargain" travel web sites, but their fares are frequently lower than you can find elsewhere.

My wife and I flew R/T BWI to Boston, leaving the Monday before Thanksgiving and returning on Saturday. The total cost per ticket, including taxes and fees, was $139! To say the least, we were VERY pleasantly surprised! We booked about a month before Thanksgiving using the Southwest web site.

Carol Sottili: There were some decent Southwest fares out there for Thanksgiving travel, but depended on destination and dates. Leaving on Monday probably saved you a considerable sum. My mom paid $159 r/t from Long Island Islip to BWI on Southwest, departing Tuesday. My brother and his family bought tickets pretty late from JFK to DCA, leaving Wednesday night and returning Saturday, and got a very good fare of $159 r/t on Delta. Airfares are such a crap shoot. BTW, Virgin America is holding a Cyber Monday sale today: $109 each way plus taxes coast-to-coast.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I am looking for the best deal on a vacation to Disneyworld for 2010. Any ideas??? Thank you!

Andrea Sachs: There are tons of tricks, from deals on hotels to bundled park tickets. One of the best Web sites around for Disney deals is www.mousesavers.com/wdw.html. Also check Disney's own specials at disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: I missed the live chat last week, but wanted to respond to the poster from Takoma who mentioned Nicaragua as a possible vacation destination in January. I went this year in January and loved it! It was beautiful weather and I felt quite safe. I would recommend knowing a little bit of Spanish, but I was able to get by with my very minimal Spanish (and my little brother, who was my travel companion, knew none). We were there for ten days total and went to a Spanish language school for five of those days and traveled the weekend before (we stayed in Grenada) and after (we went to San Juan del Sur). It was a fantastic place to visit and I plan to go back. I do think you need to be the slightly adventurous type to really enjoy it because Nicaragua does not have the tourism base that many other Central American countries have, but this was part of the appeal for me. After coming back, I loved to share with others (particularly those that asked, "Why would you possibly go to Nicaragua for vacation?") what an amazing country it was to visit.

Nancy Trejos: Thanks for sharing. Your story makes me want to go to Nicaragua as well! It's not the first time I've heard great things about it.

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Arlington, Va.: Are airlines greatly over-estimating flight times in an attempt to improve their "on time" performance? I flew several times over the last month and all of the flights arrived "early" based on the airlines' flight times. I can understand that estimating the times for long haul flights is difficult given potential weather issues and so forth. But my flight from Doha to JFK, for example, departed nearly an hour late but still arrived nearly 30 minutes "early". My flight from JFK to Dulles was listed as departing 19:05 and arriving 20:30. But our actual flight time was less than 50 minutes and arrival was a good half hour early. It seems like they are all padding the times by at least a good 30 minutes.

Christopher Elliott: They are.

Back in 1979, the average scheduled flight time from New York to Los Angeles was 339 minutes, according to OAG. This year, it takes an additional 41 minutes to travel the same distance, an increase of nearly 11 percent.

The scheduled flying time from Chicago to Houston is up almost 18 percent in the same time period, while the average flight from Miami to Boston takes 26 extra minutes than it did three decades ago, an increase of almost 14 percent.

Airlines have a variety of reasons for doing this, from worsening air traffic to a desire to improve their on-time ratings. But the bottom line for us is that "padding" is dishonest. It's overestimating the time it takes to fly in order to give the carrier an unfair advantage.

The government shouldn't let airlines lower the bar like this. But that's a topic for another column ...

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Dallas, Tex.: Hi Crew,

My mom is anxious to take a trip to Europe while she's still young enough to get around easily. Dad has no interest in a trip to Europe and I know Mom will not traipse around Europe alone. A tour group that plans itineraries and encourages mingling among the members would be ideal for this trip; any recommendations for tour groups specializing in solo travelers or women-only travel?

Zofia Smardz: We addressed this in a Travel Q&A column last July. Have a look. I'm having trouble getting you the link to that column, but the main companies mentioned are Solo Travel Network and Women Traveling Together as well as Grand Circle Travel, which specializes in travel for people over 50, and O Solo Mio Tours, which is for single travelers generally, not just women.

Hope this helps!

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Bowie, Md.: Hi, Crew, hope all of you had a nice holiday!

It's been a while since I've checked in so I'm wondering if there are any recent reviews of the DC to NYC Chinatown buses? We're thinking about going up Dec. 26th and returning the next day. Which company would YOU choose?

Also, I read something about hotels in Jersey; which are most convenient to the subway line?

Thanks.

Kinch

Andrea Sachs: We ran a comprehensive piece on cheap buses to NYC in August. In short, MegaBus and Bolt rank high, though I am also partial to Washington Deluxe and DC2NY. Just book early, since many buses leaving during prime times sell out.

As for Jersey, I recommend staying in Jersey City or Hoboken (there's a new W); then you can take a bus, train or ferry over to Manhattan.

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Washington, DC: My sister is going to Israel in March, the lucky duck! She read somewhere that her usual guidebook of choice, The Lonely Planet, was too political in covering the Holy Land. Do you have any other recommendations? She also likes Frommer, though not nearly as much as TLP.

Thanks.

Nancy Trejos: Some companies that have either updated their Israel guidebooks in recent years are Fodor's, Frommer's and the British-based Insight Guides. I used Frommer's when I went to Israel a couple of years ago and liked it. I'm sure she'll have a great trip.

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Arlington, Va.: Is there a minimum space required between airline seats for safety reasons through any Federal regulation (FAA?)?

I worry that passengers in middle rows, especially those with 5 seats, could not get off the plane in time if there were an accident.

At a minimum, one should be able to stand up straight at the seat.

Christopher Elliott: No -- and yes.

I've asked the appropriate government agencies about this numerous times, because like you, I think there should be a minimum requirement for seat pitch. The closest the government appears to come to mandating how much leg room we get is requiring that exit rows have enough room to safely evacuate a plane (here's the chapter and verse of the FAR).

In other words, they can squeeze us in like sardines -- and get away with it.

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Rockville, Md.: I had a pretty satisfying holiday travel experience with one glaring exception.

Driving from Rockville to Dulles was easy though the traffic in the other direction on 270 and the Beltway didn't look like it was much fun. Parking was doable, though not easy at Dulles - they really need a sign directing people to the location of the empty spots. TSA screening was a breeze. Hate the people movers but they do work. Landed 17 minutes early. Easy screening and on time arrival on the way back.

Then I had to get my car from the economy parking lot. Shuttle was so overcrowded that the bags piled around the luggage rack blocked the door. The system is confusing enough that a retired military man who had carefully remembered his aisle number and letter didn't know where to get off the shuttle as at least two stops corresponded to that information.

On trying to exit the parking area, the people in front of me were so confused that they got out of their car to wave me back from behind them. Fortunately a line had not yet formed behind me. I managed to get into the next line, where a young woman, sitting alone in a lit booth under a sign showing her line was open, insisted that I couldn't give my already paid ticket to her because she was closed. Her evidence of this was an alleged traffic cone that I should have seen blocking the exit. On being required to back up all the way out of the aisle, I saw the cone she had mentioned - all the way on the very edge of the asphalt and in no way blocking the entrance to her gate.

I was able to cut across two other exit lines to finally get to a person who took my ticket and let me out. This move would have been impossible if even a moderate number of people had been lined up to leave at the same time.

It is long past time for one or more of the private airport parking places that surround BWI to set up around Dulles. The airport is in serious need of competition.

Joe Yonan: This sounds horrific.

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Washington, DC: I recently was on a trip from Germany-NYC when the person behind me decided to spend the entire eight hours kicking, punching, pulling the back of my seat, once offering how I "wasn't a man" because I got out of my row and turned around as opposed to a manly up and down. On landing, he decided to bop me again with his bag. I didn't acknowledge him at all but a piece of advice, flight attendants live for comment cards that say nice things and if you do that, they give you free things like writing paper or in some cases, confront a jerk with a terse "what's your problem?"

Joe Yonan: I sat in front of a woman on my way back from Portland, Maine, on Sunday, who kept getting up -- and each time grabbed the back of my seat, jarring me. Thankfully the flight was only 1:15. If that had happened all the way to NYC from Berlin, I wouldn't have been nearly as kind as you. I've never used one of the comment cards. Were they in your seatback pocket? Could you have filled it out anytime, or only at the end of the flight? I'm trying to figure the best way to use this tip...

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Bethesda, Md.: We took the train from DC to CT Weds night and back on Sunday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised about how smooth it went.

Nancy Trejos: Good for you! I took the Amtrak from D.C. to New York on Thursday. It was crowded but not too bad. Not sure why the Saturday train was packed. I guess there were lots of people out there like me who thought they'd just avoid the Sunday rush.

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Kansas City, Mo.: Hello Flight Crew, I wrote in last week asking for recommendations for guided tours in India. The ones I am considering are Intrepid, Gate 1 Travel, Gecko's Adventures, and Peregrine Adventures. The prices are all over the place (one tour includes airfare from NY to Delhi for $1200, and another offers just the tour for $900 - with practically identical itineraries). Does anyone have any experience with these companies' India tours? Or maybe someone can recommend another company? Thanks in advance -- it's so hard to wade through so many different companies' offerings!

Andrea Sachs: I can answer you halfway, then the chatsters have to take over.

Intrepid has a great reputation and a very respectable approach to travel (basically, sustainable tourism and cultural immersion).

Gate 1 is stable, but nothing special. (I assume the trip is pretty fundamental with few frills?)

As for the rest: Any input from out there in Chatland?

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Edgewater, Md.: I landed at BWI Airport at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. My sister, who had flown out earlier in the day, had left my car at the far end of the lowest level of the airport's Hourly Garage.

I have heart problems, walk slowly with a cane, and my rolling suitcase kept tipping over. Plus I could not find the down elevator to the garage, and the escalators were moving so quickly I nearly fell down one and lost the suitcase.

Fortunately, a woman standing nearby saw what was happening and came to my aid. She rescued me and my suitcase, located the proper elevator, walked me and the suitcase all the way to my car, and put it in the trunk.

My helper explained that she and her wheelchair-bound brother were waiting for a wheelchair-accessible van that would not arrive for another hour. Her brother had been hit by a car while riding his bicycle, and had broken his neck. Despite this terrible accident, they were grateful he has now regained use of his arms and hands, though not his fingers; and that he was not brain-damaged.

I am grateful to this kind woman not only for her assistance, but also for helping me realize on Thanksgiving Day how much I truly have to be thankful for.

Nancy Trejos: Thank you for sharing this story. I'm glad you were able to find such a kind-hearted person to help you out. You're right, sometimes we need someone like her to remind us how thankful we should be.

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Washington, DC: I just won a 4-day hotel stay at a spa resort in Cancun/Riviera Maya, Mexico. We have 6 mos. to use it. When do you think would be the best time to get the lowest flight deals to Mexico? We were thinking mid-February to celebrate my husband b'day, but checking fares for those dates I come up with about $450/per person. Is this a good deal for that time of year?

Andrea Sachs: Congrats to you. (I never win ANYTHING! What's your secret?)

Fares to Mexico are pretty reasonable these days, after a series of bad events (swine flu, drug wars, etc.) scared off tourists. For the lowest fares, go during off-peak times: In other words, avoid holidays, spring break and the dead of winter. The fare you found is high. I am finding fares in mid-Feb for less than $300 on American (from DCA, too!). Keep on looking, I say.

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Washington, DC: We have accumulated lots of points with a major hotel chain and can stay basically anywhere in the world for about a week or so. We have been toying with the idea of taking roughly a week off just before Christmas and are having a hard time deciding. The reason? Airfares! I know that the 5-7 days leading up to that holiday are prime travel time, but since we are completely flexible on the destination and dates of our travel do you think we could get some last minute fares as the dates approach? Our first choices would be in Europe, but it seems to be a minimal $1000+ outlay per person just to get to most destinations across the pond. We'd be leaving any time after 12/17 and coming back before 12/28, 5-6 nights anywhere in between.

Carol Sottili: You could get lucky, although I wouldn't count on last-minute deals to Europe. Check Expedia, Independent Traveler and Kayak.

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Zagat Survey: I am not at all surprised Portland airport was rated top.

It's an easy airport to get to and from if you are traveling to Portland.

You have quite a few good local restaurants in the airport.

Outside security you have a decent shopping area. People waiting for family and friends to arrive can spend time shopping.

The airport isles are also wider as opposed to the narrower ones in some of the older airports, or non-major terminals.

Joe Yonan: Yet another reason to go, as if we needed one!

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Anonymous: When is the cheapest, most comfortable (weatherwise) time to travel to Budapest, Hungary in 2010? We will use our air miles for the air ride. We need advice on land transfers, what not to miss (museums, events, sights to see, hot baths), Budapest City Card. day tours outside Budapest. Discount on HOTEL KULTURINOV (our first hotel choice, we can be Hotel Kulturinov's advertisement couple).

We have been to Europe during Thanksgiving weeks in the past few years ( less time off from work), is this a good time to visit Budapest? Are we getting a good value for our dollars here instead of any other EU members? Is Euro the currency or still the Forints (side by side)?

How about safety? Local customs that we need to know, so as not to be "THE UGLY AMERICANS"?

Approximate dollar amount to save for the trip? ($1,000, $1,500, or $2,000)?

Thank you very much for your help.

Zofia Smardz: Wow, you're asking for quite a lot from a travel chat, but I'll get you started, and maybe other chatters can chime in on other aspects of your trip.

When to travel, weather-wise? Probably not Thanksgiving -- it's chilly in Central Europe in late November. Spring -- April and May -- and fall -- September and even into October -- offer good temperatures (in the 60s and 70s) -- and probably better prices than during high season. That said, Hungary, like most of the former Eastern Europe, is still fairly affordable, so yes, you're getting a good value for your dollars, though less so now that the dollar is so weak. The official Hungarian currency is still the forint, which is currently trading at about 183 to the dollar.

Things to see and do: Tour the fabulous Parliament building, the Buda Castle where the Hungarian kings once lived and the whole castle quarter with its Baroque buildings. Andrassy road is a fabulous boulevard of gorgeous old buildings and is now home to chic boutiques. Check out Heroes' Square.

Day trips: Szentendre, Lake Baikal. Other ideas, chatters?

I don't think you'll have any major safety concerns in Budapest.

As for your budget, depends on how long a trip you're planning on.

And I throw the rest out to the chatters.

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Berkley Springs?: Just discovered we have a gift certificate in Berkley Springs expiring RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of the Christmas shopping frenzy, and we are trying to decide if it merits the crazy scheduling it would take to get it used.

Any thoughts on what one does in Berkley Springs (I have no idea except the spa)? or what it is like in December?

Joe Yonan: Well, you can cut down a Christmas tree, like I did last winter. And yes, there's the spa. A couple nice places to eat. A few cute shops.

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New York, N.Y.: Submitting early because my boss had the nerve to schedule a meeting during this chat. Question - is there any reason why I would not want to register all my points with a website such a points.com? I poked around the website but couldn't find any drawbacks. What am I missing?

Thank you.

Joe Yonan: I've read about them but haven't used. They're getting some good press -- looks like to swap points there are some fees involved, but other than that nothing jumps out at me, either. Chatters, have any of you used it?

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Petworth, DC: Couldn't have been smoother, local edition. Family Thanksgiving on Thursday, work on Friday, but still able to get in a quick backpacking trip Saturday/Sunday. Sky Meadow is only about an hour away. We hiked in, set up our camp, hiked up to the ridge, the long way back to the car. We went to the cozy and fun Hunter's Head in Upperville for dinner. The park ranger gave a tip about getting back into the state park after closing time, and we hiked back to our site without flashlights because the moon was almost full. A beautiful campfire, then to bed awakening to a clear gorgeous day Sunday.

Joe Yonan: Very nice.

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Baltimore, Md.: Hi Crew, My fiancé and I are getting married next November (first week), and are in the midst of planning the wedding and honeymoon. We would really love to go to Paris, but are worried that it may be too chilly and rainy to really enjoy it. We're not really beach people, so going to some all-inclusive Caribbean resort doesn't really appeal to us. Any thoughts? Is there anywhere in Europe that has decent weather in November? Thanks.

Nancy Trejos: Congratulations! For a November trip to Europe, you should consider Spain. Madrid will be cold but places like Seville and Granada are warm that time year. Portugal is also generally warm then, as is southern Italy (Hello Rome!). Enjoy.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hello Flight Crew! I would like to take my boyfriend on a romantic winter weekend for his birthday in January. I have never been skiing and he has intermediate skills. The focus does not have to be skiing as I would also like to do other snow related activities like tubing or snowmobiling. The drive should be within two hours. Can you direct me to the best resort (any packages?)that fit the needs above? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: There aren't many ski resorts within two hours of Silver Spring. Ski Roundtop, Liberty Mountain Resort and Whitetail are all within that distance, but they are better as day-trip destinations. I'd probably up the distance to three hours and go to Wintergreen in Virgina, which has extensive amenities.

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Anniversary Trip Help: We would like to plan a cruise for our one year anniversary in May 2010. We went on one for our honeymoon to the Southern Caribbean and loved it! Is it better to book way in advance (like now) or wait until about six-eight weeks out? Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: Cruise prices fluctuate as the cabins fill or stay empty too close for the cruise line's comfort. As the rule goes: If you see a good price, grab it. If not, wait closer to the departure date. Unlike airline fares, which rise as the departure date inches nearer, cruise fares often go rock-bottom as the date nears. Some cruise specialists might also refund the difference in fare if the price drops between booking and sailing. In addition, you are not traveling during a peak time, so you should be able to nab a good price.

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pushing and pulling on seat: I have found that if the person in front of me reclines their seat, I can't avoid jarring them if I need to put the tray table up or down, get out of my seat, or retrieve anything from my carry-on under the seat. I don't enjoy disturbing people, but sometimes the airline configuration makes it unavoidable.

Zofia Smardz: That is so, so true! I basically never recline my seat to avoid that push-me-pull-you effect.

Joe Yonan: And then you have people like the woman behind me, who pulled it/pushed me even though I hadn't reclined! I wanted to say, use your arm rests to push yourself up. Maybe the flight attendants should do a little demo of this technique.

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Baltimore, Md.: We'll be celebrating our 5th anniversary in April and are thinking about HI. But we're stumped: Which island? Which part of which island? We're looking for some peace and quiet (we have a 2-yr-old), some hiking, and nice beaches. Renting a car would be OK but we'd prefer to be in say, 30 minutes, of a couple restaurants (nothing fancy) or a grocery store so we could cook for ourselves.

Andrea Sachs: So much depends on your taste in getaways, since each island is so unique. I am a big fan of Oahu, especially the North Shore area. You get a great mix of laid-back island life as well as big city culture and attractions. (Bonus: You don't have to change aircraft for a small island-hopper.) On a "smaller" scale, the Big Island has wonderful parks and the small town of Hilo on one coast and the more commercial area of Kailua-Kona on the other. And, of course, Maui is a classic, but with a little one, I don't think you'd really want to drive the Road to Hana.

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Burke, Va.: We're flying to Santiago, Chile in January. The flights are United to Buenos Aires, then LAN to Santiago. Will the airlines check our bags all the way to Santiago, or will we have to pick them up in Argentina? Also, whose baggage limits will be in force (i.e., United allows more weight than does LAN). Thanks.

Christopher Elliott: Typically, your bags have to be picked up when you clear customs, which in your case will probably be in Santiago. Typically, also, your luggage rules would be on the carrier you started on (particularly if there's a codesharing agreement in place). But in your situation, you might want to give United a quick call to find out how this will be handled.

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Cancun bound: The Cancun bound poster should also look at Spirit Airlines (They are a budget carrier and don't show up on Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, etc.).

I thought even $300 was high and took a peek. Mid Feb on Spirit (from DCA!) is $208 RT all in.

Andrea Sachs: Score! Let's all go to Cancun.

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Tenleytown, DC: This may be a better question for Dr. Gridlock but I have a travel tip as well.... We had college kid to pick up at BWI Wednesday Night, managed to do a work around 95north but came to a dead stop on 195 about 2 miles from the airport. It appeared to us that it was a jam up due to the airport terminal design being overloaded. Now the tip- We did manage to get off on the 1A exit to the Daily parking garage. We had our son take the free Daily bus out to us, we paid $2 for parking and were on our way out long before we would have made it all the way up to the terminal. We use BWI a lot for Southwest and have never seen it like that. I guess its just getting to be a very popular airport.

Nancy Trejos: Thank so much for the tip! It must have been the holiday rush too. I'm sure our readers will appreciate your input.

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St. Petersburg, Fla.: I am an active 80-year-old considering an August junket by public transport starting at Calgary, Alberta, going on to Banff, to Jasper and then by train across British Columbia to Prince Rupert on the Alaskan passage; then by ferry to Port Hardy on Vancouver island; by bus to Victoria and then home from Seattle. Is this a reasonable endeavor for someone my age?

Andrea Sachs: The fact that you could even put that itinerary together reveals a strong mind and energetic spirit. I think as long as you feel fit enough, and you get a second opinion (from a doc and/or loved one), I say: Go do it!

(Just be sure to remember any medications and have someone close to you keep at hand a detailed itinerary, including hotel phone numbers.)

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Arlington, Va.: Hi Guys, I'm headed to Italy for a week right before Christmas and have my plans narrowed down for Rome, but I can't seem to find a good hotel in Florence. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Chris

Joe Yonan: I haven't been to Florence in too too long, but here's a piece our sister publication, Budget Travel, had a few years ago that gives you some good starting points.

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Herndon, Va.: Crew: I just received an email from United Airlines - one day sale (11/30) for travel through 2/11/10. It has some pretty good deals - ones is Dulles to San Francisco for $198 round-trip, but, as always, it depends on what days you're flying and how many days between flights.

Carol Sottili: Taxes bring it up to $219, which is still very good. Details are on the United Web site.

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Rockville Md.: A fun thing to do in Budapest....Jazz Festival! This year I think about the 8th through 12th of September. I did a trip where that was the only thing I planned, then just spent the rest of the time wandering around, popping in and out of cafes and museums, hanging out on the bridge, just delightful to be there.

Nancy Trejos: Sounds fun! Makes me want to go.

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Arlington, Va.: Lake Baikal on a day trip from Budapest! That's quite a day trip. Maybe Lake Balaton, which is also in Hungary, not Siberia.

Zofia Smardz: Oh dear, my bad! I swear I was just typing too fast! Of course, Lake Balaton is what I meant. Though Lake Baikal would be a great trip some other time. . . :-)

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Silver Spring, Md.: For Washington who wants a last minute trip and doesn't care where - check out the United e-fares as the dates get close. There's always SOMETHING, and if you're flexible you can grab it.

Other airlines may do the same, but I am familiar with United's practices and have snagged Christmas week fares that way more than once.

Carol Sottili: Many airlines offer e-fares, and you can sign up on their Web sites for notifications. Good idea.

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Budapest in October: We honeymooned there the third week of October and the weather was sunny and comfortable.

Save lots of time for thermal baths!

Zofia Smardz: For the Budapest travelers. Thanks!

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Washington, DC: We tried to drive back from north Jersey to Silver Spring on Saturday afternoon, thinking we were smart by avoiding Sunday's madhouse. However the Jersey Turnpike was closed at exist 7... literally! Every car had to go around a very bad accident by going off the turnpike and onto another road. We opted to retreat, head back to my parents house and woke up at 3:30 am on Sunday to make the drive, made it in a record time of 3 and a half hours. Last year it took about 10 hours for the same trip when we left late Sunday morning. I promised myself that I would never do that again, hence the crazy early departure!

Nancy Trejos: Another holiday travel story. Thanks for sharing! The New Jersey Turnpike can be so unpredictable. I've gotten stuck there many a time.

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Silver Spring, Md.: For Dallas: Why not take the trip with your mother? The best gift you could give her is to do the travel research and keep her company. Maybe she'd even spring to cover part of your costs.

Another possibility at the other end of the spectrum is a cruise. True, you don't spend much time anyplace, and you only go to port cities. But it is a very safe and convenient way to travel.

Zofia Smardz: I like your thoughtful idea!

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Rockville, Md.: Since it doesn't snow much around here anymore, I'm going to Quebec City in February, during their winter carnival. First question, am I completely insane? Second question, hotel recommendations? I've looked through TripAdvisor and am having trouble making up my mind.

Joe Yonan: I think Quebec City for the carnival would be a blast. I'm planning to go to Montreal at some point this winter, because I've never been that time of year and have always wanted to go. I haven't stayed there, but friends (OK, travel writers David Harris and Patricia Lyon, writing for me when I was at the Boston Globe) raved about Hotel Dominion 1912 (888-833-5253, hoteldominion.com), classic architecture with contemporary furnishings.

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DC: If the gov't determined (I believe they already have) that too little leg room on long flights can lead to deep vein thrombosis, couldn't they simply regulate it as a health matter?

Christopher Elliott: I think if enough passengers died, and enough people lobbied Congress and the right regulatory agency, then ... maybe. But as it stands now, there would really have to be an epidemic of DVT cases and deaths.

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Nova: I was stuck for 2 hours on the Jersey Turnpike, engine off... PARKED. All because a tractor-trailer hit an overpass and caught fire. We had a 2-year-old in the car. Luckily we also had Handy Manny on the iPod and a dozen bagels in the back seat.

Nancy Trejos: Sorry to hear that. You're not the only reader to get stuck on the Turnpike, apparently. Glad you made it back.

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Harrisburg, Pa.: I was on a flight from Charlotte to Harrisburg yesterday on US Air. When the flight attendant asked what I wanted to drink and I asked for hot tea, her reply was that she didn't have time because the flight was too short. Does that seem odd? She had a real attitude, too...

Joe Yonan: I suppose the window is a little tight on those 1.5-hour flights, but still -- don't they have a microwave? And there's never a good reason for a frosty attitude.

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Alexandria, Va.: I'm looking for some ideas for a long weekend birthday trip for my wife in mid-January. Preferably someplace with at least decent weather. Also, places with historic or distinctive architecture would be a plus.

My initial thoughts are Miami or San Diego.

Any better suggestions?

Zofia Smardz: San Diego's beautiful, but seems kind of far to go for a long weekend. Miami would be great. But we just recently ran this story on Amelia Island. Sounds lovely, no?

There are also those two wonderful standbys -- Charleston, S.C., or Savannah, Ga. Definitely historic, and with distinctive architecture, though mostly of the 19th-century type.

Your ideas, chatters?

Zofia Smardz: Oh, and also want to add St. Augustine, Fla.

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New Years fun: Good Day and thanks for the chats.

What is a single girl to do over new years? Any place exciting to ring in 2010?

It is time for a "re do" and I would like to start the new year right...

:-)

Nancy Trejos: I can definitely relate to that. How far are you willing to go? Do you want to stay in the U.S. or go abroad? Are you going alone of by yourself? Domestically, some fun New Year's destinations are Miami, L.A., Vegas, and New York. Miami especially seems to be a great place to go when you want to regroup and have a good time (My girlfriends and I are actually considering Miami for a weekend in December and found some decent fares on Expedia.com.) If you have the time and money to go abroad, my favorite cities when I feel like a re-do are Istanbul, London and Paris. Or maybe you can hit the Caribbean? What about Puerto Rico? I hope you have a great time whatever you decide to do.

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Carlisle, Pa.: I haven't been able to check in for awhile, so I apologize if you have addressed this question recently. We are traveling to Spain at the end of March and are concerned about whether we will be able to use our swipe credit cards. Visa has said just to tell merchants that they have to accept them, but that doesn't seem like a very helpful suggestion, especially if there is a language barrier. Our biggest concern is retrieving pre-purchased tickets and using credit cards at a gas pump. Any thoughts?

Christopher Elliott: Most European cards use Smart Card technology, which your U.S. Visa card probably doesn't (as far as I know, only American Express uses the embedded chips in its cards).

You can probably talk the merchant into accepting the card, but a better bet would be to use an ATM to withdraw cash. ATMs shouldn't have any trouble with your old-fashioned striped card.

Visa has a helpful page on its site about what to do if a merchant refuses to accept your card.

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Paris in November: For the Honeymooners, November is a great time for Paris. Yes - it gets dark early (here too) but the weather is fairly mild. Like anywhere, bring the right clothes and you will be fine. It is 44 degrees and rainy there right now, and it is is 52 and rainy here. What's the difference?

Nancy Trejos: You're right. I shouldn't have crossed Paris off the list. Paris is always wonderful regardless of the weather.

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Day trips from Budapest?: Zofia, I think you mean Lake Balaton! Lake Baikal, while absolutely gorgeous (I've had the pleasure of seeing it firsthand), is located just north of Mongolia, an 8-hour flight from Moscow - definitely not a day trip from Budapest!

Also, re: politics and guidebooks to Israel/Palestine/The Holy Land, perhaps the sister needs to visit a bricks-and-mortar bookstore (or her local library) to comparison shop? Especially in that part of the world, one person's "too political" is another's "collaboration".

Zofia Smardz: Yes, I've already been reprimanded for my brain glitch, and my apologies to all and thanks to those who've written to correct me.

And thank you for your advice on the Holy Land guide. What you say is right on the money.

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Washington, DC: Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

As a holiday gift, I am hoping to take my significant other to Paris for a long weekend in January. I would like to spend $250 -300 per night, and would like to stay in a hotel where we could easily wall to cafes and restaurants and walk or metro to museums. We've both been to Paris before, so I'm looking more to soak up Paris (i.e. cafes, restaurants) than sightsee. Can you suggest (a) a neighborhood and (b) specific hotels Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Nancy Trejos: I consulted with one of my best friends, who is from Paris. She recommends you stay in her neighborhood, Montmarte. It has tons of cafes, bakeries, boutiques and other shops. I've been there before. It's a great neighborhood. She said the Timhotel Montmarte has gotten good reviews and is about $120 to $150 a night. The Le Relais Montmartre is pricier but nice. Enjoy!

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Re: Budapest Travel: I was there this year the first couple days of September and the weather was gorgeous! We were walking around in short sleeves. I highly recommend this city. Though I didn't have enough time there to see everything I wanted to see, I would recommend Buda Castle and the Fisherman's Bastion for some superb views both on the Buda side of the river and looking back toward Pest at Parliament. The food was fabulous and reasonably priced. Next time I want to go back and do a winery tour in the Hungarian countryside. If the poster is at all interested in wine, that would be a good thing to do. I found the people to be very friendly and most people in the touristy areas spoke some English. Culturally, I didn't find that I had to make any special concessions. I just did what I always do: observe what the locals do and show respect. One thing I would recommend is having some cash. Not every place took credit cards.

Zofia Smardz: Excellent advice. Thank you! (And for not mentioning that "B" lake. . .)

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Follow-up on "Denver or Chicago": A few weeks ago, I asked you whether I should take a business trip to Denver or Chicago (I had a choice between the two). Most of the replies recommended Chicago, so that's where I went, and I had a great time. We were too busy for me to go into Chicago (we were in Schaumburg), but the weather was great, and the people in the Chicago Schaumburg Marriott could not have been more helpful! Thanks for your help!

Joe Yonan: So glad we could help.

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Thanksgiving Travel: We rented a car so we could bring our large dog to Boston for the holiday (from NYC). We left on Tuesday around rush hour, so we met typical rush hour traffic, but it wasn't too bad. We came back on Saturday, early afternoon, and the traffic was OK except for two highway changes with a single off-ramp from one major highway to another. Long waits at those, but it only happened twice. Having come home through the Bronx many times, I was surprised to find that once we got into the Bronx, it was smooth sailing. A note about the car rental: we didn't need the car while we were there, so we got two one-way rentals, which weren't too bad: $89 going and $106 coming back. For some reason, the guy at the counter in Boston indicated that we would be traveling less than 75 miles (even though he knew where we were going), so when I returned the car in NYC and noticed the charge, I asked Budget to remove it, and they did, no questions asked. (Then again, it would be difficult to say that the distance between Boston and NYC is less than 75 miles!)

Joe Yonan: Thanks for this -- I'm surprised your one-way rentals weren't more expensive. Maybe I should check these more often; I always assume they'll be out of reach.

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Ashton: Paris in November: Still wonderful...just bring a few extra layers and a raincoat. Things are not as crowded as in other seasons and all the great museums, cathedrals,etc. are all open. Celebrated my 70th birthday there and in London and had a wonderful time. Dinner cruise down the Seine on the Bateau Mouche is hard to beat...great views while feasting and drinking champagne and wine!

Nancy Trejos: Thanks for this. You're right, Paris is great any time of year.

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Amtrak travel: Do you have any insight to getting deals on Amtrak? I'm trying to price a trip from here to El Paso with elderly relatives, and since it is two overnights, need berths, but the cost is astronomical. any thoughts to help us look for a better deal?

Andrea Sachs: Deals and Amtrak don't really go hand in hand. If you book at least three days in advance, you can apply an assortment of discounts (veterans, senior, AAA, etc.). Also check the special Web deals (for example, 20 percent off the Sunset Limited). Otherwise, have you considered flying?

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Clifton, Va.: Boyfriend skiing:

Try the Homestead or Snowshoe. Both have more to do then just skiing and better conditions than most area places. Also take a look at the Greenbrier.

Carol Sottili: I didn't recommend them because they're even farther away. But they're all nice places. Snowshoe is best for those who want to dive into skiing. Homestead has skiing, but it's not the focus. I don't believe Greenbrier offers skiing.

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RE: Passengers Behind You: I've also had experiences where the passenger behind me pulls on my seatback, etc. But I also had one experience last year that went the other way.

I was in an aisle seat on a full plane to Denver. As we touched down, the door on the baggage compartment above me sprung open. The man sitting behind me reached up just in time to catch a carry-on bag that came tumbling out and which was headed straight for my head (and which I couldn't see). Needless to say, I thanked him profusely.

Joe Yonan: Nice! I always try to help people with their bags, etc., when I see they need it on the plane. Besides my Southern upbringing, it seems good for the old karma bank.

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for the Florence-bound: I have no idea what the cost was, but I stayed at the Hotel Malaspina in Florence several years back. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was clean, on a nice quiet square, and within walking distance of the sights. I believe breakfast was included.

Nancy Trejos: Thanks for the recommendation!

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Baltimore, MD Again: Thanks! But just to be clear: We're not taking the 2-yr-old with us. She'll be having fun with Grammy and Grampy while we get away. So maybe Hana would work for us? I'll look into it.

Andrea Sachs: Oh, sorry I was already setting up the car seat for your toddler. The road to Hana is crazy-fun, and the mid-route accommodations at the YMCA are gorgeous (and cheap!).

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St. Paul, Minn.: Something wonderful this weekend: I was visiting my mom in New Jersey and doing some shopping for her on Saturday..got totally lost getting out of the mall and ended up in some unfamiliar towns...after 9 p.m. so most stores and gas stations were closed. I saw two women in a car, asked them for directions and they insisted that I follow them so I wouldn't get lost. They took me to the exact place where I could get onto the GS Parkway...I was miles out of my way and, without their help, might still be roaming the far reaches of Morris County. What a great way to start the holiday season!

Nancy Trejos: That's a great story! You're the second person to write in with a heartwarming experience. Glad there are still people out there willing to help.

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Hungary travelers: I went to Budapest a few years back at Thanksgiving time, and although it was chilly, we bundles in cashmere and good outwear and were fine. I also agree on visiting Szendere (sp?) and the Castle district. Another good stop is the historic synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. There are also a few AMAZING pastry shops in the Jewish Quarter. There's a nice casino right on the river which is a fun thing to do at night. When I traveled there the dollar was so strong that we ate like kings at the best restaurants in the city for next to nothing. Most people I encountered did not speak much English, and Hungarian being a difficult language, I was glad to have my family who could converse. Learn the basics though (yes, no, please & thank you.) Have fun!

Zofia Smardz: Appreciate your tips!

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Sterling, Va.: On Budapest: Try heading out to Eger. Some nice history over there, as well as plenty of wine. I was in Hungary in March, the weather was fine but there were a few things that don't open until April. (The Roman museum in Obuda is one I remember.)

On Dulles parking: I find it much easier to take a taxi there. Of course I also live 5 miles away, so your mileage may vary.

Zofia Smardz: Thanks!

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Houston, Texas: Trying to get a ticket for my Mom from Norfolk to Cancun for a week in February - everything I am seeing is over $500, which seems really high, even coming from a smaller airport like Norfolk. Do you think it will go down or is it just one of those bad combinations of February in Mexico and a small airport? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Carol Sottili: Three airlines fly from Norfolk to Cancun, but they're all traditional legacy carriers. No discounters. I'd keep an eye on the fares for a couple of weeks. You can track through a third-party booking site, or go right to the airline sites - American, Delta and US Airways. $500 really isn't a bad fare to Cancun.

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Washington, D.C.: To the person complaining about the $100 cancellation fee on JetBlue - my husband and I were booked to fly to Paris on 10/10. We both came down with swine flu on the 6th and had to reschedule our trip for 10/24. USAir charged us $250 PER TICKET to change the flight - even after explaining our swine flu situation. All the agent could say was we should have bought travel insurance....

Christopher Elliott: That's an unacceptable response from US Airways. The airline should be doing everything it can to keep infected passengers from flying.

I agree with the airline that travel insurance would have been helpful, but what if you'd decided to travel instead of taking the loss? You could have infected a planeload of people.

My recommendation is to send a brief, polite email to US Airways via its Web site, asking for an exception to its refunds policy. If you have a doctor's note, that would help.

Please let me know how US Airways responds.

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Washington, D.C.: We are normally very frugal, self-propelled travelers but want to treat ourselves to a few days at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica in March. Still want to be budget-conscious, but also just want to relax and be a little pampered. Is Sandals (Montego Bay) a good choice for us, or is it too popular/cookie-cutter? It fits in our budget but it's hard to tell from the website if we'd like it. Thanks!

Andrea Sachs: I don't know your style, but Sandals is the mold on which other cookie cutters were made. (Years ago, the all-inclusive excluded same-sex couples, but its ban has since been overturned.) However, if you just want mounds of food, loads of pool time, bottomless bars and lots of beached-whale tourists, it's a good bet. (Hint: Try Sandals Inn for a more intimate experience.) Grand Lido Negril also gets top marks, and for a different look, check out Sunset at the Palms in Negril.

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BWI: I just played over $500 round trip to SLC for the week before Christmas. I was planning to go to Spain for about 10 days in February or March, should I be buying a ticket now or when?

About 3 years ago I paid $200 for a round trip to LA nonstop, am I ever going to be seeing those prices again?

Carol Sottili: The $200 fare to Los Angeles has now gone up by maybe $20. It's still very cheap to fly there because so many airlines cover that route - lots of competition. As for Salt Lake City, it's ski season and the week before Christmas, so you are going to pay up for that. You can get cheap fares there, too, especially in spring and fall: Even in winter, United now has fares of $240 round trip if you're willing to travel midweek and connect.

Buy your tickets to Spain now. US Airways has a r/t fare of $560 including taxes for travel in February/Spain. It doesn't get cheaper than that.

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Getting to BWI : I'm planning on taking the MARC train to BWI, then getting on the shuttle from the station to the airport. How often do the shuttles run, and how much time should I allow to get from the station to the airport? I have the choice of two trains - one that is scheduled to arrive 90 minutes before my flight and the other that is scheduled to arrive 130 minutes before my flight.

Andrea Sachs: The shuttles come pretty frequently. I have never waited more than a minute or two, and the ride is very short (about five minutes or less). I would go with the shorter wait.

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Early March get away: Leaving DC I want to do something easy to get away to relax with my husband. We are looking to drive about 3 hours. We have visited VA Beach and the Tidewater area. Would winter in Ocean City MD be a nice get away? I was also thinking the beaches in Delaware. Or I could chuck it all and stay in DC and take in a play and some jazz. Thoughts and ideas are welcomed.

Thank you!!

Zofia Smardz: Would you be willing to drive a little longer and go to Cape May, NJ? It's lovely in the winter. We were there for a February anniversary a couple of years ago and had a wonderful time (we got a good winter package at Congress Hall, a restored hotel from the Cape's "grand hotel" era). Though it's off-season, there are enough restaurants and hotels and shops open to give you plenty to do. The beach is empty and strollable. And just wandering the streets oohing and aahing at the Victorian gingerbread houses in their rainbow colors offers an afternoon of fun. I highly recommend it, but other chatter ideas welcome!

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Arlington, Va.: re: Israel travel guide books

I'm partial to the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides. Their Jerusalem and the Holy Land book is very good and includes Amman, Petra and the Sinai peninsula in addition to all of Israel.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the tips!

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Dandridge, Tenn.: Off to Munich for the Christmas Markets this weekend and wondered if you folks had any recommendations about which ones to visit outside of Munich, but within a reasonable train ride away.

All the best...Thanks.

Zofia Smardz: Nuremberg has a must-see market, as does Salzburg, Austria. Both are within reasonable training distance of Munich. Salzburg is about 70 miles southeast, and there are daily trains from Munich practically every hour. Nuremberg is only an hour from Munich by train. Be forewarned that train tickets can be quite pricey, though, so be sure to check out a German Rail Pass, which you can buy for a set number of days and could be much cheaper.

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National World War II Museum--fascinating!: No question today--just a comment about the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, to follow up on the Post's Nov. 1 story on the new Tom Hanks film there.

Visited the Museum last Friday for the first time and was blown away by it--I spent about 5 hours there poring over the fascinating exhibits, watching the oral histories and documentaries, looking at real personal artifacts from the D-Day invasion and the Pacific campaigns. It was SO interesting, including a chance to talk with actual veterans about their service. I met a 91-year-old former pilot who showed me a photo of himself in his plane taken in 1943. And yes, the Tom Hanks movie was interesting, but to me the biggest draw was the museum itself.

The location isn't too convenient if you're staying in the French Quarter, but it's absolutely worth the effort to get there...the highlight of my long weekend in New Orleans.

washingtonpost.com: A new addition to WWII Museum (Post, Nov. 1)

Zofia Smardz: Thanks for your report! Glad we did the story, and glad you liked it!

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Mount Pleasant, Mich.: Re: Couple with two-year-old child planning to go to Hawaii. Friends of ours rented a condominium on Maui (their daughter was about 4 at the time). They had a wonderful time--and didn't have to worry about meals and so forth. There is a great aquarium on Maui as well as well as a whaling museum.

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the great suggestion. I rented a VW camper and never had to go far for my food, sleep or beach.

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Quebec City in Winter: To Rockville on Quebec City during their winter carnival -- GO!!!

I was there during winter carnival back in the early '90s and it was a BLAST!

Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the boost.

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Northwest/Delta experience: We flew out the Friday before the holiday. The outbound trip was great - Delta flights all the way. However the "Delta/Northwest merged company" leaves a lot to be desired when traveling on those NW flights: Because I was traveling with just my 3-year-old, I'd asked at the gate if we could have our seats closer to the front so we could have time for a potty break, and get to the connecting gate.

Not possible at a Delta computer I was told to wait for the lady helping 5 people in front of me at a terminal that could access all things NW.

Then we get on the plane & when the web site said NO MOVIE - well there was NO nothing! No jack for the headsets to listen to music, etc. Thank goodness I had multiple Disney movies on the iPod, and a charged laptop for the 4 hour flight.

Gotta tell ya - flying the day after Thanksgiving is great - airports/planes relatively uncrowded, plenty of seats and room to spread out.

Andrea Sachs: Clever!

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Space between seats: If you think that YOU are crammed in your seat, think about the guy here.

According to the Airline blog on Dallas Morning News, this IS an actual picture and the flight DID take off!

Wow.

Andrea Sachs: Yikes! Thanks for sharing the misery.

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Nancy Trejos: Thank you all for sending in your questions. Hope we were able to help you. And thanks to all who shared their holiday travel stories! Happy holidays!

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Nancy Trejos: I forgot to announce the winner of the prize for best holiday travel story. The winner is Edgewater, MD. Please send your mailing address to travel@washpost.com and we will send you your prize. Again, thanks for joining us! We'll be back next week.

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