Coming And Going
Amtrak Security Changes
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ON TRACK
Amtrak Security Changes
News that Amtrak will be randomly selecting passengers and swabbing their bags for explosives inspired CoGo to remind travelers to beware of false positives that could lead to your bags being searched. One common ingredient that can prompt false positives: the glycerides used in many hand lotions. Tip: Don't slick up before packing , even if you suffer from dry hands.
The nitrates used in fertilizer also can be picked up by explosive-trace-detection machines, so wipe down your golf clubs or, if you have a nitrate-happy lawn service, the shoes you pack.
Generally, though, Amtrak promises that new security measures will not delay trains or require passengers to arrive at stations far in advance, as is required for airline flights. Random passengers chosen to have their bags scrutinized will be delayed for no more than a couple of minutes, according to Amtrak's chief executive, Alex Kummant. (CoGo assumes that promise does not extend to anyone actually carrying explosives.)
The most visible change: bomb-sniffing dogs and counterterrorism agents wearing tactical uniforms and carrying automatic weapons patrolling stations and trains. Plainclothes officers, too, are part of the new "mobile security teams." They will begin working on the busy Northeast corridor, between Washington and Boston, and later across the country. For security reasons, Amtrak will not reveal when the new procedures will begin .
Kummant said the action is simply the right thing to do and is not a response to any new or specific threat.
ON THE MENU
Dining With the Stars
After learning that Tokyo handily beat Paris in the number of restaurants worthy of Michelin stars , CoGo wondered how much you'd have to spend to dine your way around the best restaurants in those two cities.
The news, in case you missed it, is that Michelin handed out a total of 191 stars to Tokyo restaurants in its 2008 restaurant guide, compared with only 98 stars for Paris . CoGo tracked down menus for the 10 Paris and eight Tokyo restaurants that each won three Michelin stars, the highest possible rating.
The most expensive Tokyo three-star: Hamadaya , where dinner entrees range from $278 to $390 . In comparison, Paris's most pricey three-star is Arpege , where a fixed-price dinner is $500 and dinner entrees range from $179 to $433 .
The least-expensive three-star restaurant in Tokyo: Sushi Mizutani , where both lunch and dinner have a set price of $139 . The cheapest three-star in Paris: Pre Catela n , where a fixed-price dinner is $265 and entrees range from $222 to $294.
CoGo has long advised having lunch at places you're dying to try but can't afford for dinner. Lunch at Pre Catelan, for example, is $110, less than half the dinner price.
Alternatively, save airfare and money on fine dining by heading to New York , which has three three-star restaurants. A four-course fixed-price dinner at Jean Georges (1 Central Park West) is $98. At Le Bernardin (155 W. 51st St.), a fixed-price dinner is $107 (add $150 if you want Kobe beef). Per Se (10 Columbus Cir.) is the most expensive, with fixed-price dinner at $275 . The cheapest way to try the best of the best : Go to lunch at Jean Georges , where two plates, be they appetizers or entrees, cost $28; a third plate is $12 extra.
TRAVEL TICKER
AirTran will launch new nonstop service from Baltimore-Washington International to Burlington, Vt., and Los Angeles this spring, and prices are good. Once-daily nonstops to Los Angeles begin May 6, with fares as low as $219 round trip, including taxes. Beginning May 21, three daily nonstops to Burlington begin at $139 round trip. The 1 1/2 -hour flight is a great gateway to Canada, and car rentals are cheaper if you rent on this side of the border. . . . March apparently is beer festival month in Philadelphia. Philly Beer Week, March 7-16, takes place at locations all over town and includes craft beer tastings, a beer trivia contest, desserts featuring beer as a main ingredient, and beer-and-food-pairing events, such as a French dinner with French beer, or Pennsylvania wild game served with Pennsylvania beer. Details: http:/
BARGAIN OF THE WEEK
South African Airways is offering leap year sale fares to three South African cities. Pay $1,101 (including $248 taxes and fuel surcharge) to fly from Washington Dulles to Johannesburg, and $1,153 (including $300 taxes and fuel surcharge) to Cape Town or Durban. Purchase by Feb. 29; travel by April 30. Fare to Johannesburg costs $181 more on competing airlines. Info: 800-722-9675, www.flysaa.com.
Reporting: Cindy Loose
Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles tocogo@washpost.com. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
