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Talk About Travel; Trip Tips and Deals

Byline: The Flight Crew

The Post's Travel Section Flight Crew will take your comments, questions, suspicions, warnings, gripes, sad tales and happy endings springing from the world of... the world. Of course, the Flight Crew will be happy to answer your travel questions -- but the best thing about this forum, we insist, is that it lets travelers exchange information with other travelers who've been there, done that or otherwise have insights, ideas and information to share. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain's chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers.

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You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions.

Did you have travel plans to the Gulf coast? Check out our

Katrina Q&A

for an update.

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Carol Sottili: Welcome to the chat, although if you live in our region, you may want to step away from the computer and head for the great outdoors: 37 percent humidity and 84 degrees at 1:50 p.m. It doesn't get much better.

We have several questions for you today.

1. Next Sunday is our annual "Way to Go" edition, where we make a noble attempt to detail all manner of travel-related info and resources, including Web sites, specialty travel and local airports. For those of you who are familiar with the section, two questions: Do you find this special section valuable? Is there something the section hasn't done that it should do?

2. Any more tips on favorite attractions, hotels or restaurants that we may have overlooked in our Sunday cover piece on Niagara Falls?

3. I've been hitting the road frequently lately, driving kids to college in Conway, S.C. and St. Louis, Miss., and going to the beach in Ocean City. I've eaten more than my fair share of yucky rest area meals. Any tips on great roadside restaurants? I'll start you off: Holly's Restaurant off Route 50 in Grasonville, Md. The best find gets two books: "Greetings from the Lincoln Highway: America's First Coast-to-Coast Road" by Brian Butko and "Highway A1A Florida at the Edge" by Herbert L. Hiller.

Here today to answer all your travel queries are K.C. Summer, who recently returned from Croatia; John Deiner, our resident Las Vegas/Outer Banks expert who spent last weekend in San Diego; Andrea Sachs, who was just evacuated from the Keys; Cindy Loose, back from a visit to a sea turtle preserve in the Puerto Vallarta, Mexico area; and Steve Hendrix, who recently spent several weeks in Guatemala. And yours truly, who drives kids to college.

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Washington, DC: We would like to take our elementary school age kids to Williamsburg for a weekend. I have been to www.gowilliamsburg.com website and there appear to be about 8 different ticket packages. I don't want to go to the theme parks and I don't want to go to Jamestwon/Yorktown (they will go there later in the year on a school trip) can you help me sort this out. What tickets should I get to see Colonial Williamsburg, is there enough to do for 2 full days and are there any less well known things-to-do/places-to- see that I should add to the itinerary (I can add an extra day if needed.)

Thanks so much!

Cindy Loose: There will be those who disagree, including the folks at Williamsburg, but personally--and for the kids I've taken there over the years--one day in the village is enough. If they like waterparks, I think they'd love a day at Great Wolfe Lodge, which is an indoor waterpark.

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Washington, DC: I am concerned about buying (2) RT tickets on Independence air in light of Delta and NW's bankruptcy filings. In yesterday's post there was a note about buying flight insurance, but only if the ticket was bought through a third party. I am not sure I can buy a ticket on IA through a third party? any advice?

Cindy Loose: Any travel agent in a brick and mortar site would sell you an Independence Air ticket, but if you weren't buying other parts of the travel experience from them, they'd probably charge you at least $25 and probably $50, at which point, when you add in the insurance, you could probably just buy it from another carrier that isn't bankrupt for the same price. Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia also sell Independence Air tickets.

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Baltimore, Md: I will be taking my first cruise at the end of this month. However, I have severe motion sickness. I tried Dramamine years ago but it did not help. I also tried the "patch" and while I didn't get seasick, the effect the patch had on me was quite unpleaseant. Any suggestions?

Keith

Carol Sottili: If you're going to the Caribbean, you shouldn't get sick. It's usually flatter than a pancake out there. Ginger is good, and you may want to buy the wrist straps designed to stop seasickness - www.sea-band.com.

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Re: Roadfood: I have an answer to your Qs 1 and 3: www.roadfood.com. It is a great tool when you are traveling across the US but want to avoid typical highway food stops.

Carol Sottili: Can't wait to spend time looking at that site.

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Fairfax Station, Va.: We're thinking about using frequent flyer miles to fly to London for Spring Break. We really want to go to Italy, but using miles to get there seems harder. What do you think of using miles to get to London and then taking Ryan Air to get to Florence or Rome? We're a family of 4, with about 10 days available for the trip.

Thanks in advance!

John Deiner: Hey, Fairfax. That's a great idea, and a top-notch way to go somewhere you actually want to go to with your miles.

I did the same thing last year -- I used frequent-flier miles to get to London, then took EasyJet from there to Milan, where I spent a few days, then onward to Rome via train.

It worked great, though if you can, try to book a budget carrier to Italy that flies out of the same London airport you fly into. Traveling among airports -- with luggage, kids and jet lag in tow -- can be a nightmare. We stayed at an airport hotel the final nite after flying back into London, just to catch a breath from all the travel. Well worth it, and 10 days should be plenty of time to do Rome or Florence right (even better would be to spend a day or two traipsing around London).

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Washington, D.C.: Hello,

As a high school graduation gift, I gave my godson a trip - to any place of his choosing. He hasn't travelled much at all - he's never even been on a plane so as you can imagine it is difficult to winnow down the options. I'd like to provide him with some books or resources that would help guide his choices. Unfortunately, everything I come across is either a guidebook for a particular place or region, or an overwhelming compilation of things to see (e.g. 1,000 Places To See Before You Die). Could you recommend any books or other resources that could help an 18-year-old first-time traveller figure out where to go?

Thanks.

KC Summers: What a lucky godson. You gave him no geographic or economic restrictions whatever? I feel like Ed Sullivan here, but I hear "the youngsters" like a site called myspace.com -- and it has a travel forum. Might be a good place for him to check. Also check Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum, that's also very lively and youth-oriented.

One piece of advice -- try to help him pick a destination that he feels some kind of personal connection with, no matter how tenuous, to give the trip more meaning. Maybe a roots thing would get him excited -- if he's Italian, for example, wandering around the boot might mean a lot to him. Or if he's studied Asian history, a trip to Japan? Or for a a grunge fan, knocking around music sites in Seattle? Or for a ROTC type of kid, WWII sites in France?

Anyone have specific resources to recommend for Wash?

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Arlington, Va.: I am headed to France next month for 10 days. While in France, I plan to travel between cities using the rail system and have purchased an EUrail pass. When I received the pass, the enclosed materials said I must book "reservations" for travel on the TGV. But then it said book those through my travel agent or at the station while in France. Well, I don't have a travel agent. I would "reserve" a seat just by walking up to the ticket window before boarding my train but am concerned that there will be basically no advance notice and the train will be sold out. Any advice on how I can make reservations in advance (if I even need to)? Thanks!

Carol Sottili: I booked reservations through the same place I bought the rail ticket. You should be able to do this. Be aware that reservations will cost extra, and sometimes it's quite a bit extra. But if you want to make sure you get a seat/berth on a train, it may be a good idea. France in October, however, is not high season, so you may want to go without. Any one out there have bad/good experience with train reservations?

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Washington D.C.: Re: Way to Go Section -- I'm not familiar with the section, but it sounds great! One thing I'd love to see is a guide to direct flights from the DC area. Sometimes I want to take a last minute or weekend trip, which doesn't allow for alot of travel time. I'd love to see a list of the three airports, where they fly direct, and on what airline. What do you think?

Carol Sottili: Meanwhile, go to www.mwaa.com and www.bwiairport.com. Your info is there.

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Arlington, Va.: "you could probably just buy it from another carrier that isn't bankrupt for the same price."

HAHAHAHAHAHA! And which airline would THAT be? Darn near all of them are in bankruptcy.

But why didn't you give that gal real advice about consumer protection against an airline liquidating?

Cindy Loose: Jet Blue, Southwest, Continental, American, are not in bankruptcy or even close to it, to name four of the biggest.

It's clear she also read the item in the paper, which suggested buying by credit card, since if a service is not provided, the credit card company will refund your money--although there might be some hassle in getting it, and besides, at that point, you might have to pay major bucks to reserve another flight.

Further, if a carrier disappears, other carriers are required by law to provide alternate service as available for $50, which could mean a major hassle finding an empty seat.

If you have better advice, why not share it?

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Washington, DC: Thursday to Sunday anniversary trip the first weekend in November. We want to go somewhere relatively warm, not too expensive ($250 or so a night) and accessible (under 5 hour drive or direct flights). Current ideas are Outer Banks or Savannah. Any ideas.

John Deiner: Hey,DC. Depends on your tolerance to driving--Outer Banks can easily exceed five hours, even in the off season. Just one little traffic tie-up . . . and that's a pretty long ride for a long weekend. Plus it could be really chilly down there in early November. I'd pick Savannah of the bunch, or, even better, Sanibel Island or Naples, Fla., via Southwest, USA 3000, Spririt or some other budget carrier. It's a quick flight, and it's beautiful in those parts. Safely out of the hurricane season as well, or at least in the tail of it.

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Washington, DC: I spent two weeks in Alaska and reserved a rental car ahead of time through Enterprise. I don't have a car, but am covered for all the insurance except liability, which I planned to buy through Enterprise and which was listed as part of my online reservation. But when I went to pick up the car, they said that liability insurance couldn't be offered by Enterprise - "they hadn't been in Alaska long enough." ???? Have you ever heard of anything like that before?

Cindy Loose: Nope, that's a new one on us. Wonder how long you have to be in a place to sell insurance--like, more than an hour?

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Your questions, From Washington DC: Hey Crew!Yes, I love the "Way to Go" section. I usually keep it in my pile of "keep" magazines until a new one comes out. I wouldn't say anything is missing, though I would offer a few websites I like looking at for travel and travel-related information: www.budgettravel.com is the site for the magazine, and always has interesting extras and free "podcasts" to download; www.seatguru.com to find out which are the worst seats on various aircraft.

A great roadside eat is in OhioPyle, PA, not far from Pittsburgh and also Fallingwater (The Wright house)...I can't remember the name, but it's like the only eatery and general store in the town. Cheat, good home cooked food.

Also, Dr. Gridlock had a similar discussion in his Sunday column this weekend. I guess everyone is looking for alternatives to plastic fast food!

Carol Sottili: Look for info on www.seatguru.com in the Way to Go section's Travel Toolbox. Anyone know the name of the restaurant in Ohiopyle? We're familiar with Dr. G's column on the subject, and applaud those suggestions. But how about some farther afield ideas? I drove 14 hours to St. Louis a couple of weeks ago with only one decent meal!

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Lexington, Va.: Do I really need anti-malaria medication for a trip to India, as recommended by the CDC? The side effects of the drugs seem so severe. I'm going in January to Rajasthan with a side trip to Agra. So it'll be 70 or so degrees in the day and lots of desert--not prime mosquito conditions, it seems to me. Any advice? Thanks.

Cindy Loose: I'd look to a travel medicine clinic for an answer to that. There's an organization of travel medicine clinics that lists clinics all over. Go to www.istm.org for one near you. You are right that a country-wide advisory isn't specific enough. But a good clinic should be up on the latest nitty gritty.

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Bowie, Md.: Hi Crew....a roadside dining treasure??? Dayton's Restaurant in Cambridge, MD (off of Rt 50) just on the other side of the bridge going into Cambridge. THE place for locals...when I stumbled into one time on the way to OC, the waitress said "You're in luck, it's chicken & dumplings day!" Ya know what? I was...DELICIOUS. Never go the shore (or return) without stopping there!

Carol Sottili: Danke.

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Roadside food?: I don't know if this counts as "roadside," but you can get great Indian food off the Garden State Parkway in Iselin.

Carol Sottili: Anyone know the name?

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Rosslyn, Va.: I'm planning on taking a tour to Morocco. The tour operator is Noble Journeys out of Tucson, AZ. How can I research their reputation (besides the BBB)?

Andrea Sachs: Check with some of the travel associations, like ASTA, which accredit travel agencies. Also, ask the company for a list of past travelers to hear from them about their experiences. If the company balks, then you have to wonder: What are they hiding?!? You might also try travel blogs or Web sites like TripAdvisor where guests share their unadulterated views.

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi, I am looking for a weekend escape to Europe in October or November, preferably with a non-stop flight to maximize my time in the destination. I've been to Lisbon, Paris, and Brussels before. Thinking about London, Amsterdam, Dublin, or Rejkjavik but open to other suggestions without breaking the bank. Ability to sit back and relax, watching the people and the culture, good food and cafes, and minimum interruptions or hassles are a priority. Any ideas?

KC Summers: I assume you're talking about a long weekend! And of course you know the weather in Europe might be dicey in Oct-Nov, but you'll avoid the summer mobs. To my mind, you can't go wrong with London, so if you haven't been, for god's sake go! They're not too big on the cafe scene, but the food has come a long way and there are wonderful parks (large and small) to while the time away if that's what you want to do. Dublin would be another good bet, and the weather can actually be quite nice there in late fall. I've lucked out there in Nov, anyway. And Ireland's so small you can take a day trip or two and see more than just Dublin.

Other suggestions for Beth?

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Alexandria, Va.: Dear All,I am looking to go on a Mediterranean Cruise next summer. Do you have any recommendations as to operators? I would prefer a European operator. I would ideally do this all by ferry but that takes a lot of time. Plus, since it would be for my anniversary I would like it to be a little more cushy.Have seen cruises that hit Alexandria, Egypt - this would be wonderful as well as Istanbul (have been to the Greek islands, would like to see other parts).Thanks

Carol Sottili: European operators to try include www.msccruises.com, www.deilmann-cruises.com, www.swanhellenic.com.

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Re. Anti-malarial Medication: It doesn't hurt to carry anti-malarial medication for a just-in-case situation - it's your health. Don't forget to stock up on DEET mosquito repellant to decrease the probability of malaria.

Carol Sottili: Thanks.

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Arlington, Va.: On road trips, my instinct is to follow billboards to local restaurants, and I've rarely been disappointed.

Two recent finds are the Apple House off of 66 West just before Front Royal for mouthwatering homemade donuts.

And off I-68 near Grantsville, MD is Penn Alps, a homey restaurant, store and artists' village. Last year, I had an openfaced turkey sandwich with the best gravy I ever tasted. Unfortunately, I don't drive that way very often.

Carol Sottili: Mmmmmm....gravy.

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Dulles, Va.: Good afternoon Flight Crew!Would you or the chatters have any hotel recommendations for Frankfurt, Germany? We had excellent luck with one of your Rome recommendations last year (Daphne Inn -- great place), so I'm hoping lightning will strike twice.

Thanks!

KC Summers: Alas, our Germany expert, Gary Lee, is away today. So let's throw this one out to the clicksters -- anyone know about Frankfurt hotels?

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Speaking of rental cars:: The last few times that I've rented a car, they've wanted to charge me insurance for "lost rental time". I probably ought to check with my credit card or auto insurance erson, but is this something that I need to be buying? This strikes me as a junk fee...

When I was a kid, my parents used to pack meals and soft drinks to avoid the cost and awfulness of rest area food. Sort of what one needs to do now on airlines...

BTW, thanks.

Andrea Sachs: I am not sure I know what a lost rental time fee is but I am guessing that it is if you crash their car, this is covering their monetary losses while the car is being fixed. If this is the case, then skip it. Your other insurance, like collision and comprehensive, should cover you enough.

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Washington DC and Boston Mass.: Hi!My honey and I want to go away for his "spring break" which is actually Feb 20-24. Since we are both students the budget is kind of tight and neither of us is into the stereotypical spring break mania or skiing. We were wondering if you had any ideas for an interesting, romantic, budget-friendly week. Somewhere not cold is a bonus. We weren't sure if there might be good off season deals somewhere like Bermuda? Thanks for your help!

John Deiner: Hey, DC. Bermuda is a great spot, and it can be done on a budget if you're willing to do-it-yourself a bit.

Look for good airfares on USA 3000, which offers a couple of flights a week. Remember that it won't be real hot then, but it should be pleasant. Then opt to stay in a cottage or efficiency on the island; lots of homeowners open a part of their home or a separate cottage on site to visitors. There are also cottage complexes throughout the island, many near the water, some of them far cheaper than the resorts (that means, of course, that there are some real pricey ones as well).

Then you can cook some of your own meals that way. Use the great bus system instead of renting mopeds, hike on the railway trail, picnic at the beach, eat lunch at the nicer restaurants instead of dinner (when prices can double) and look for signs touting happy hours.

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Philadelphia, Pa: Hey Guys,

I'm a long-time reader and now a first-time submitter. We are planning a 7 day get-a-away with our 2 sons, ages 18 and 19. We were considering the week before Christmas and possible destinations were the Poconos or Quebec City. We'd like to do a site that would provide skiing, snowboarding, etc. for the boys and relaxation and some site seeing for my wife and myself. Do you have any suggestions for hotels in those areas. We have heard so much about Quebec City being the most European-like city this side of the Atlantic. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work.

Cindy Loose: Yes, Quebec City in winter is a fabulous idea. I took my daugther there a couple years ago, and will post the story I did, which should include a details box about places to stay.

Don't miss the toboggan slide at the Frontenac Hotel, and if you have a car, there is a fabulous place outside of town that is a waterpark in summer, and becomes a snow slide extravaganze in winter. (The story should mention the name; what I remember is that my daugther keeps begging to go back there.)

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Washington, D.C.: Hello! I have another question about flights from D.C. Is there an easy way to find out if the flight you are booking is continuing on to another city? For instance, I often fly to Syracuse, NY to visit family, but I hate the small DeHaviland or Dash-8 planes that are used. I'd like to book a flight that is continuing on somewhere else, so the plane will be bigger. Any suggestions?

Carol Sottili: No flight is going to connect in Syracuse because it's not a hub. Check out US Airways from DCA - I think it may offer larger jet service. The best way to figure out this sort of thing is to go to the airport Web site and see who goes there - equipment is usually also listed.

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Off the road food: I don't know if you consider diner food quality, but growing up on diner food in the northeast I can attest to the high quality and large portions at the Thru-Way Diner just off of I-95 in New Rochelle, NY.

Carol Sottili: Mmmmm.....diner food.

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RE: India Malaria Risk: Here's what TRAVEL MEDICINE ADVISOR has to say about malaria in India:

Risk is present below 2000 meters, year-round, throughout the country, including urban areas such as Delhi and Bombay. There is no risk in areas of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir, and Sikkim over 2000 meters. Chloroquine resistance is confirmed, especially in the eastern and northeastern states. Resistance is also increasing in central and western regions. Visitors to risk areas should take a regimen of appropriate, preventative antimalarial medication and take measures to prevent mosquito bites. A travel medicine specialist should be consulted for specific recommendations.

Carol Sottili: Thanks!

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re Eurail pass: You do need to have a reservation to use the rail pass on TGV trains, but they are cheap and are basically just a seat assignment. Booking them at the train station works fine, although TGV sales offices in Paris at least can be really crowded and I would recommend not waiting until the last second. You can sometimes also find SNCF offices outside of train stations and they can help you with this.

Carol Sottili: Thanks. I didn't have that experience, but I wasn't traveling within France.

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Arlington, Va.: Yes I do have better advice.

Book a flight on US Airways. We are just about to leave bankruptcy and we're the best darn airline in the world. In. The. World.

(Our PHL operation needs work, I'll grant you that.)

Carol Sottili: Get back to work!

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Detroit, Mich.: Can you give some more info on how bankruptcy is going to affect Northwest as a carrier? I know it will continue having flights, but will it cut back on the number of flights a day, or will the prices go up? As a Detroiter, Northwest is often my best bet for flying, with the cheapest flights (usually ~$50 cheaper than the next airline) so I'm concerned about this development. Thanks.

Cindy Loose: NW probably will cut back on flights, but my guess is that they'll keep most of the the direct flights out of Detroit, and cut things like the connections from Detroit to small cities. If you tend to fly from Detroit to a hot spot, as opposed to Detroit to Grand Rapids or something, you'll probably still have plenty of flights to choose from.

As to prices--everybody is going to have to raise prices at some point, assuming jet fuel prices stay high. But Northwest has always been the one to refuse to match the increases of other carriers, and then they'd all back down. With bankruptcy, maybe they'll stop being the spoiler (from theviewpoint of other carriers.) But they can't afford to raise their prices beyond that of the competition. I know that's how a politician would answer a question, but I think it's also as truthful as anyone can be.

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Maryland: Heading to Newport RI and mountains in MA in a few weeks. I know to look for fall foliage, Newport mansions, and the harbor area. Would appreciate news on great things off the beaten path and any restaurant recommendations, great or small.

KC Summers: Well, do the cliff walk, for sure. It's great for both wild seaside scenery and to see the mansions from the back doors. Also, I really liked touring Jackie Kennedy's girlhood mansion, Hammersmith Farm. But wait! I just did a Web check and it looks like it was recently sold and will no longer be open to the public for tours. Bummer, because it was a gorgeous house and setting -- I'm a sucker for how-the-rich-people-live house tours.

Other offbeat Newport suggestions for Maryland?

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Washington, DC: For the Williamsburg visitor. As a kid my husband's family went to Colonial Williamburg every summer. They never to the amusement parks or Jamestown. Just the Restored area. My husband and his sister are still complaining about this. This summer my in-laws were so excited to show my kids Williamsburg. My husband insisted we go to Busch Gardens and Water Country along with the "Restored Area". We all had a great time. And the ironic finish was my in-laws commenting. "We should have done this when you were a kid." The kids will do better if they have something to look forward to. Busch Gardens in open until the end of October and is so much more enjoyable in the cooler weather.

Cindy Loose: Thanks.

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Alexandria, Va.: If you can stand another Niagara Falls tidbit from a former local...

Goat Island on the American side. It sits in the river near the precipice of the Falls. You can stroll across a small footbridge and, even in this day and age of insurance and lawsuits, walk right up to the water's edge without a fence in sight.

Also, a personal delight is a visit on a cold winter's day where real icy beauty abounds with small ice needles constantly pricking your face and uncovered extremities.

Cindy Loose: Thanks.

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Arlington, Va.: I recently flew on Spirit Airlines for the first time. They sent me an e-mail the day before my flight recommending that I arrive at National 2 1/2 hours before my flight was scheduled to depart. I followed their directions and spent 1 1/2 hours sitting in the airport bar. What is the general recommendation for a domestic flight?

On the same note, National always seems to get people through security quickly. Will Dulles improve in this respect now that they've hired National's former manager?

Steve Hendrix: It's all over the map, Arl, depending on such variables as day of week, time of day, whether you have bags to check and, of course, which airport. With a pre-printed, internet bording pass in hand, I had breeze-through arrivals at National that remind me of the just-in-time, five-minutes-to-take-off days of old. On the other hand, I've run into plenty of security lines that eat up an hour or more of my pre-flight time. Dulles is always a nightmare; National (with far fewer flights) seems always a breeze; BWI varies radically--God help you on a Monday or Friday morning. Personally, I tend to time my step on the departure curb for one hour before flight (w/o bags). That's cut it close a few times, but I've never actually been locked out.

The airlines advise you to get there ealier and earlier from both an err-on-the-early side philosophy and a let's-cover-our-own-tailflaps philosophy (so they can always say "we told you get here 30 hours in advance" if you miss your flight). If you want to do a little research on your own, the TSA maintains averages for all airport security lines based on day and time. Go to www.tsa.gov, to Travelers & Consumers, Air Travel and then Wait Times.

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Fairfax, Va.: K.C.By any chance did you visit Baska on the island of Krk, Croatia? I just returned last Friday from a fanatstic trip to Croatia and Prague and found Baska to be a piece of Paradise.

KC Summers: No, and it was frustrating to have to pick and choose from among all those islands! I think there are over 1,000, right? I only had a week, so decided Korcula would be my island, and it was wonderful. Also got in a lot of island/coast scenery as we ferried up the Dalmatian coast from Dubrovnik to Split. Anyway, I also crammed a couple of cities in there, too, further reducing the island time. But wouldn't have missed Split and Zagreb for anything.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Dear Flight Crew,

I know you don't have a crystal ball but could you theorize? Now that 4 legacy carriers are in bankruptcy, do you think the government might step in to help them out a la Chrysler in the 80's?Before it was just one or two but now that the whole beast appears to be going belly up, I'm wondering if there might be some low cost government loans available.Mind you, in many ways they brought it on themselves, but to all the people who depend on them for a living, it may be worthwhile to keep the economy churning. Your thoughts?

Cindy Loose: My theory: the government might take over some of the pension obligation of bankrupt airlines. Other than that, I'd be surprised to see a big bailout. It doesn't fit with this administration's economic theories, and even if it did, they've got Katrina and Iraq already driving us into a big hole,and I doubt they'd dig another one. More likely: mergers.

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Bowie, Md.: Hi crew....need your help with a wonderful situation! Last week, my spouse won website contest for $5,000 of travel packages on American! Now, this can be used in increments of $1000 or all at once. Decisions, decisions! So....eliminating South America and the Far East(A/A doesn't go there), where would you absolutely HAVE to go?? and would you take one GRAND vacation or perhaps one long weekend in the US and one week in one European city? (Paris, Rome, London, Madrid, etc.) Tough predicament, huh? We're open to all ideas....

Carol Sottili: I'm guessing that you have to book the entire event on American, including hotel, car rentals, etc. I'd start by going to www.aavacations.com to see what's on sale. It also has a kind of neat search engine, where you can plug in how much you want to spend and what activites you enjoy. It's such a personal decision. Do you like to ski? American offers good ski packages. More of a sun person? Hawaii & Caribbean destinations are offered. And most major cities in Europe are on the table.

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Washington, DC: I have been considering going to Great Wolf Lodge this fall. We went to Splash Mountain in Erie, PA last fall and loved it. With Splash Mountain there were several hotels attatched that you could book a package. We stayed in the least expensive one. With Great Wolf Lodge there only seems to be the one property and it is not cheap. Is it worth the money to stay on the property?

For the traveler heading to Niagara Falls. If you are driving Erie is a few hours from the Falls and Splash Mountain would make an excellent stop.

Cindy Loose: You are right--Great Wolf requires you to stay there to use the park. I went during the week during the school year to save money. And thanks for reminding me: it is overpriced if you're going on the weekend or on school holidays. Maybe the thing to do is to look for some wierd day off, like teacher training day, that Great Wolf doesn't know about, then you can stay and play for less than $100.

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Ashburn, Va.: Hi Crew - I didn't know who else might know this, so I figured I'd throw it out there just in the hopes you guys might have an answer. Does anyone know how Commander's Palace in N.O. fared? I know since it was in the Garden District, it had more of a chance of getting ruined, but my hubby and I loved that place, and would be very sad to hear it was no more. Thanks for the chats!

Cindy Loose: From what I hear it looks good. In fact, I've seen pictures, and from the outside it looks fine. Could take awhile for owners to get inside and make sure it isn't suffering some invisible damage. But like you say, French Quarter wasn't immersed, so I'd be very hopeful.

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Washington, DC: I am starting to plan a trip to Hawaii (Maui, Oahu, Kauai) for my birthday in early-mid January. I was wondering if the water temperature will be warm enough for water activities such as cliff jumping, snorkeling/swimming, and kayaking. Also, are there any parts of the islands that will be colder at that time? I heard we should avoid North Shores. Thanks!

John Deiner: Cliff diving? Man, I'm happy just watching waves wash ashore.

But, yeah, DC, you should definitely be able to frolic in the surf that time of year. Weather on the north shores, I believe, is usually rainier than other parts of the island (correct me if I'm wrong here), but most of the big tourist areas have beaches aplenty. And early-mid January is prime whale-watching season off of Maui, which is really cool.

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washingtonpost.com: Snow Big Deal , (Jan. 21, 2001)

Cindy Loose: For the Quebec City over winter folks......

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Can't believe you forgot New Zealand!!: NZ has a lot of penguins, and wasn't even mentioned in your "places to spot penguins" article. I saw a blue penguin last month in Akaroa. Go further south from there and see lots more - various types.

John Deiner: Sorry we missed those critters in the roundup. Seems as if those are everyone's favorite tuxedoed friends these days. Thanks for the heads-up.

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Arlington, VA.: Flight Crew -

I see that K.C. has just returned from Croatia and as I'm thinking of including the Croatian coast, particularly the Istrian Peninsula, on an upcoming trip to Central Europe, I wondered if you had any suggestions. I've been to Dubrovnik and won't be returning there on this trip -- it's just too far given the time I have. Thanks.

KC Summers: I am so high on Croatia right now. As far as I'm concerned you can't go wrong wherever you go in that wonderful country. I didn't make it to Istria, but it sounds fantastic -- it's on my list for next time. Pictures of it just melt your heart. I spent a lot of time ferrying up the coast and it is gorgeous. I would highly recommend the island of Korcula -- it's like a mini-Dubrovnik, a walled city with a highly refined cafe culture, lots of cats wandering around, fantastic fresh fish, cute little museums. Go!

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Guatemala-bound: I'm going to Guatemala in November for 5 days. I know it'll be impossible to see it all, but can you recommend a 5 day itinerary that would cover as much as possible? So far Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlan are on the list. Is it worth spending any time in Guatemala City if we only have 5 days? I've heard that it can be skipped.

Thanks!!

Steve Hendrix: I'm all about Guatemala these days, friend. Been five times in the last year and half!

Definitely skip Guatemala City. For your purposes, it's there to hold the airport and that's it. Antigua, the old colonial capital, is but 40 mins from the airport, so make that your final night.

You've got the basic itinerary right, but five days is pushing it to do it all. Tikal requires a prop flight from G.C. and demands a full day and an overnight. Antigua is just a fabulous city built on old colonial bones (hotels you'll never forget, good shopping/food/cocktails). That's good for at least nights. Lake Atitlan is about 2.5 hours from Antigua by shuttle, so it needs two nights, two. Stay one night in the arrival town of Panajachel for textile shopping (just about as good as the massive twice-weekly market at Chichicastanengo) and then one night at one of the boat-only hotels on the North Shore (Casa del Mundo, the volcano lodge, Villa Sumaya). And take the public launches to the villages of San Marcos, San Pedro.

Can you do it all? If you're brutally effecient. Otherwise you may have to jetison either Tikal or the Lake.

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Washington, DC: Is it smart or stupid to book on Delta/Northwest right now?

Cindy Loose: If they have the best price, it's smart to book them, esp. if you aren't booking out a year. They're too big to just disappear overnight. I'd book without a thought for the next three or four months. After that, I'd think about it, but would probably do it anyway. Do not consider that a guarantee, just a studied opinion.

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Re: Grandson: I don't know how old he is, but if he's never been on a plane, I'd try to send him somewhere with minimum connections. Some airports are a hassle even for those of us who travel often. Also, if he does not speak foreign languages, or has not been abroad before, I'd start with a destination where people speak or willing to speak the language and are super friendly. I'd hate for him to show up at Charles de Gaulle airport for example, where people have no patience and it is confusing enough for many people not to mention all the people who are trying to take advantage of inexperienced travelers (I love France and the French, but sometimes it is a rough experience). If I were him, I'd pick New Zealand (non-stop from CA, very friendly people, safe, and if somebody else is paying the farthest you can go). But to be practical, I'd probably pick Amsterdam, London, or Brussels. If he is based in one of these destinations, in a couple of days he'll feel well-adjusted and can easily travel to many other locations by train. Before you buy him books, take him to the library and he can browse and pick up various books to narrow down his choices. Good luck!

KC Summers: Great advice. For some reason I was assuming she was going with him, but maybe not. And if not, this definitely makes sense. Thanks, Re.

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Burke, Va.: The spouse is going on a business trip to Santiago, Chile sometime this fall. Is this a worthwhile tagalong destination for me? What is there to do? (Hint: I'm more the nature walk-sightseeing type than the restaurant-nightlife type.)

Andrea Sachs: Yes, go! Santiago has a bit of a European flavor to it, with lots of culture, arts and architecture. It's also much less rowdy than some of its South American neighbors. For example, you can see the Coin Palace, now the presidential palace, Cerro Santa Lucia Hill, Valpariaso (an artists' inspiration point 75 miles from the city), the Garden City and the beaches, El Morado National Monument (hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing), a condor-spotting tour in the Andes, wine tours--and on and on. For ideas, check with your hotel concierge or Chile's tourism office.

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Poolesville, Md.: We want to celebrate combined 10th anniversary, 40th Birthday for Fall of 2006. Intention had been every five years to Hawaii (did honeymoon and fifth anniversary). Had to rule out Hawaii , with 1.5 and four year old, couldn't see the long flights with the kids. We've never been on a cruise before, seemed too "touristy." Grandparents, mid 60's, still active, might come along. Are there Cruise destinations to the Caribbean that are hurricane-free. Is there a cruise line that fits these requirements?

Carol Sottili: No Caribbean destination is totally hurricane proof, plus, if you're leaving from Florida, you have to cruise through a hurricane-prone area before getting to your destination. Cruise lines reserve the right to change itineraries. The ABC islands - Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - have few hurricanes if you're looking at resorts. Aruba is easiest to get to. If you decide on a cruise, Royal Caribbean would probably be a best bet for your crowd.

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Washington, DC: When it comes to trips out to the eastern shore there is a place called "Island BBQ" right behind the Dairy Queen off 50 in Stevensville. Get a pulled pork sandwhich and fries, go to Dairy Queen, you're in heaven. But as a word of warning, Island BBQ is only a carry-out joint. But there are some benches outside you can sit on.

Carol Sottili: Mmmmm.....barbecue.

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Buzzard Point, Washington, DC: For the Newport question - The Vanderbilt Hall Hotel on Mary Street has a good restauarant and a nice lobby bar. Grab a drink there and bring it with you to their rooftop deck - great view of the city.

Now, on the other hand of the price spectrum, for off-highway dining I like the Doghouse in Delaware, on Route 13 near the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Great foot-long dogs.

KC Summers: Thanks for the tips, BP.

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delta buddy pass - where to go? : Hi

I have two buddy passes on Delta. are they basically worthless once they file for bankruptcy?

if not, where would be a good/relatively pain free place to visit from DC (i.e. minimal layovers to reduce chances of being stuck somewhere...)

Cindy Loose: Frequent flyer passes and miles should not be harmed by bankruptcy. They'd be harmed if the carrier went out of business, which is not likely to happen to Delta any time soon. But go ahead and use em in the next six months, to be absolutely safe.

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Baltimore, Md.: Hi!

Was wondering if you had any information on JetBlue's expansion plans? Any chance they'll start service out of BWI? They have expanded to LaGuardia and Newark in NYC, so I am hoping they might do the same here. Also, they are starting to take delivery of regional jets, and have not heard of where these will be used. Thanks!

Cindy Loose: I haven't heard of Jet Blue heading to BWI, and I'd think that Southwest would fight that tooth and nail. It would make more sense for them to expand at their current locations. But hey, next week I'll make a couple calls and see if I can get any intellligence on where they might expand.

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Germantown, Md.: Anyone know of a car rental Office near where the ships dock in Naples, Italy?

KC Summers: Just throwin' this out.... anyone?

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Alexandria, Va.: Last year, United ran a Washington-area promotion designed to prevent defections to Independence Air. I flew enough to earn a free domistic roundtrip. However, whenever I try to redeem this award -- which only can be done on the phone, not via Internet -- I am told I can't use it for any flights that meet my criteria. And I'm not being picky; I'll take anything reasonably close. But all that seems to be offered are redeyes or connections in Los Angeles or San Francisco. (Not really helpful for a promotion aimed at Washingtonians.)Does the company have any sort of customer service line or customer advocate to whom one can plead one's case? The phone agents range from unhelpful to hostile. How do they expect to emerge from bankruptcy if the reward customer loyalty this way?The airline I fly the most, America West, has been very good about award redemptions -- even at the last minute.

Carol Sottili: I vaguely remember the promotion. As for customer service, have you asked to talk with a supervisor? That sometimes helps, although the last time I got a United supervisor on the phone, he was angry and unhelpful, so that may not help. Anyone else out there have problems with this promotion?

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Dandridge, Tenn: Re: Frankfurt Hotels, check out the Monopole. Directly across from the railway station; big rooms; good breakfast.

KC Summers: I knew you guys would help out. Thanks, Dandridge.

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Anonymous: Help! My wife and I were about to book accommodations in Camp Curry in Yosemite Valley, but noticed that the "heated tent cabins," the best accommodations available on Sept. 29 and 30, have heat usually only from early to mid-October. Dare we risk booking and hope for either warm temps at night or the heat coming on early? Only other accommodations available are $180 a night and up (vs. $39 for Camp Curry).

Cindy Loose: Just checked a chart for temperatures in Yosemite in Sept., and they range from 82-48. I don't consider 48 warm enough, but I guess if you're sleeping bag is a good one.....

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McLean, Va.: Hello Flight Crew! I'm interested in jewelry making, and I love all the different beads. Where can I go to get them/see them made? Are there specific tours that cater to this sort of thing? Thank you!

Andrea Sachs: Germany and the Czech Republic have a big glass-making industry, and you can see some of the bead-making there (see our TQA from this week for towns, though that question dealt more with Christmas glass ornaments). A number of tour operators offer tours to some really interesting beady destinations, such as Ghana, New Zealand, Ireland and Jablonec, Czech Republic. Beside doing a Web search, you might want to contact the Bead Museum in D.C. for ideas.

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United and Dulles: I have to relate a horrible time that we had at Dulles recently. We were flying United to Boston and it was so horribly confusing. There were three different checkin lines, one for no luggage, one for luggage and one for paper tickets. After waiting in the wrong line for 10 min, we finally got close enough to the sign to see that we were in the wrong line. So, we moved to the other line. We almost missed our flight because Dulles has a 45 minute cut off. But there was no one pulling people out of line and I can't think how one would cut all those people without help. So, when we got to the machine and it told us we couldn't check our bag, we had to go around to the other side and get in yet another line where the most unfriendly and unhelpful ticket person insulted us for not getting out of line soon enough. She finally suggested that we try to get through security and gate check our one bag (a garment bag since we were going for a family wedding). You know an airline customer service staff is in trouble when the TSA people were so nice and let us through. I just couldn't believe how rude they were and I don't think I'll try United again. I'll stick with the USAirways shuttle flights where they have some respect.

Carol Sottili: It can be confusing for someone who doesn't travel much, especially now that the airlines are trying to convince everyone to use the kiosks. Thanks for sharing.

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Orlando, Fla: I couldn't help but notice that 31 of the 33 questions answered came from Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia -- the major area where the Washington Post in purchased.

That seems like a ridiculous percentage. Will you keep favoring your local area or will this be a real chat for the US and beyond?

Carol Sottili: Guess what? We have answered all but two questions. So it seems as if the people who are joining are chat must be locals today.

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Bethesda's weekend escape: I've never been, so I can't personally comment, but I've always wanted to take a weekend in Iceland. IcelandicAir flies there for relatively cheaply, and it's a pretty quick flight, so I think it would be just fine for a weekend trip.

KC Summers: Yeah, it is quick and can be cheap, but the temp in Nov doesn't sound too much fun -- low 30s and sounds like it's rainy then. A lot of people do do weekends in Reykjavik, though. Especially the youngsters. (I'm kinda liking this Ed Sullivan gig.)

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Washington DC: A restaurant recommendation: If you're heading to central VA, stop at Giovanna's Italian Eatery in Madison, on Route 29 about a half an hour north of Charlottesville. We went in figuring that even a place in rural VA couldn't screw up pizza. It turned out to be better than just about anything in DC, and brought back memories of the great pizza I had when I lived in New Jersey.

Carol Sottili: Mmmmm.....pizza.

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Derwood, Md.: My husband stays at the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof in Frankfurt whenever he travels there for work. Loves the place!

http://www.frankfurter-hof.steigenberger.de/servlet/PB/menu/1003760_l2/index.html

Carol Sottili: Thanks.

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Washington, DC: O, travel gurus, please advise...

I'm going to take a much-needed rest in the Keys or Caribbean for about five nights in early/mid-October. First, do you know of a super laid-back, mid-priced dive destination and hotel for this single girl? Honestly, I've looked, but I don't know how to pick. Second, though I'm pretty well traveled, I've never had to consider the possibility of hurricanes in my vacations. I'm not particularly skittish, but what do you do when you're planning?

Thanks!

John Deiner: Hey,DC. We're doing a big splash on the Keys in early November, so we've been researching hotels and such. One thing we're finding is that just about EVERY hotel is a decent dive resort, as charters and such are everywhere. Not sure where you want to go, but I'd suggest finding a spot that meets your budget and do some research. Check sites like tripadvisor.com to see what other travelers say about the resorts, then call the resort to see where the nearest dive charter is. Call PADI or check its Web site for some advice. As for laid-back, that ain't going to be a problem in the Keys.

Funny you should ask about hurricane planning. It's tough, really, since you don't want to cancel/avoid trips to anywhere in the Western Hemisphere where a hurricane might hit. So we cross our fingers and book and hope they blow elsewhere, alsways keeping in mind that a hurricane is a distinct possibility. Our own Andrea Sachs just got back from Key West last night -- one day early because she was evacuated because of Tropical Storm Rita -- and I canceled a trip to Orlando because of Katrina.

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Washington, DC: For the Newport traveler. I took a side trip the the Henry David Thoreau site. It was truly woderful. There was a small visitor center and a few signs showing where things used to be. It was quiet and beautiful. Just being at Walden Pond was a thrill for me.

KC Summers: Hey, I did that too. I didn't think of when the person said Newport. Great suggestion. There's a ton of cool stuff to do in that part of New England.

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Bronx, NY: Just a comment on the Northwest bankruptcy: A friend of mine is an FA for them, and he says that it's more a union-busting move than a sign of truly dire financial troubles. He hasn't heard anything (yet) about reduced service or ticket prices going up, although both probably will happen. But the airline is too big to just disappear overnight.

Cindy Loose: I agree it's too big to suddenly disappear. But something, somewhere has to give. Fuel price increase alone are going to cost the industry an extra $9 billion, says industry trade group. Even if they're exaggerating by 100 percent, that's alot of money to be lost.

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Arlington, Va.: I saw a TV program recently that talked about Roman conquest and development in northern Europe, specifically Germany. Do you know if there are any sort of organized tours of Roman sites in Germany? Or particular places of interest?

Steve Hendrix: We don't know of any ruins-specific tours, Arlington (they're probably are, though). But the German tourist info website, www.visits-to-germany.com, talks about the Roman baths in the Rhineland and other areas. This might be a good querie for their live human operators. They also give a list of travel agents who are certified as "Germany Specialists."

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Carol Sottili: Thanks everyone. We answered all the questions in the cue! All that talk of pizza, donuts and diners has made me hungry, but prize goes to the chatter that combined Dairy Queen with barbecue. Now you're talking....Send your address to sottilic@washpost.com.

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