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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.
We know you have a choice in online travel forums, and speaking for theentire Flight Crew, we want to thank you for flying with us.
You may submit a question before or during the show.
You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions.
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Carol Sottili: Hi everyone. Chances are, you're starting to think about Thanksgiving, and travel is probably involved. I figured out years ago that I would rather cook and have everyone come to me. But I still must pick up relatives at the airport, and counsel my driving brother about best times to hit the road. Over the years, I've developed my own strategies. For example, I live in Northern Virginia and have to drive to BWI to pick up my mother. In order to make the trip manageable (for me), she arrives on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and leaves on the day after Thanksgiving. But this approach evolved after it took me five hours on one memorable Thanksgiving Eve to make the round-trip drive. So please dish about your own holiday travel tactics and tips. Do you get up at 3 a.m. to hit the road? Have a secret entrance to the airport security lines? Take the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend off? Let us know what works,and we'll award the best idea with a copy of Lonely Planet's "The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World."
Five of us are here today to answer your travel questions: our esteemed leader, K.C. Summers; our esteemed deputy leader John Deiner, who just flew in from a Disney weekend; Gary Lee, who spent the last week in Tobago; Andrea Sachs, who wrote Sunday's neat "Our Town" story on Morgan Freeman; and myself. Let's get going.
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Fairfax, Va: I travel with Independence Air from time to time and think the service is exceptional. However, I'm slightly disappointed in the marketing side of the airline. The other day I received an email from the airline after my return trip on Friday for a free trip for myself plus one...the only catch was that I had to use it in Three or Four DAYS! Why do companies try this stuff?
Carol Sottili: Believe it or not, there are people out there who would rearrange their schedules to take a free trip on short notice. It's a bit of a come-on, but it sounds kind of fun to me.
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Springfield, Mo: We traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in 1988. We primarily stayed in local small hotels that were simple and clean. We encountered no problems getting around, exchanging money, or getting reservations. We are thinking of returning to these countries and adding France. How has traveling changed since our last visit aside from introduction of the Euro?
Gary Lee: I have traveled through the parts you mentioned every couple of years since the early 1980s. I'd say the biggest difference since your '88 trip is that it's a lot easier to get around. You have very few if any checks along the border between countries, and except for Switzerland, all the countries you are headed to use euros. The biggest shock you'll probably encounter is the rise in prices. In 17 years, Europe has gotten pretty expensive.
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Vienna, Va.: London/Paris question. My husband and I are travelling to London over the holidays (for 6 days) and would like to take a two-day side trip to Paris. Any thoughts on the most cost-effective way to get from London to Paris? The train (Eurostar) is incredibly expensive. Can you recommend any airlines? THANKS!
Gary Lee: Try Ryanair. You should also check out the eurostar rates offered online. Sometimes cheaper special fares pop up.
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Reston, Va.: Hi Travel Crew -
I'm going to be going to Niagara Falls/Toronto during the post-X-mas week. Do you have any advice, suggestions, or must-see places that will make the trip extra special? Also, I need any recommendations for a romantic restaurant in Toronto for a 5-year anniversary dinner.
Thanks a bunch in advance!
KC Summers: Boy, do we have suggestions for you. We ran a piece recently on which side was better -- U.S. or Canada -- with our reporter dutifully checking out and rating each side in various categories (Canada did *very* well). And then a couple of weeks later we ran another piece in which readers responded with lots of tips and recommendations for their own favorite restaurants, activities, attractions, etc. Links coming right up.
Re a romantic restaurant in Toronto, I'll have to throw that one out to the clicksters. Guys?
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Wheaton, Md.: We're flying out of DCA on Dec. 28th. What are our chances of getting a long-term parking space at 11 am that Wednesday? If both daily and economy parking are full, what to do then? Thanks for any tips!
John Deiner: Hey, Wheaton. I wish I knew what your chances are, as your's is a popular question around this time of year. Truth is, and you know it already, parking is tight there, so I'll say what I'm sure DCA will be telling folks: Don't drive if you don't have to. That's a real quiet week for Metro, and Wheaton has a great stop right on the Red Line in the middle of town. Or burden your friends and have them shlep you down there.
Here's what the airport Webs site has if you want to give them a ring ahead of time, presumably to ask about the parking situation the day of or before travel: "Call (703) 417-4311 for a tape recording or, to speak with a parking representative, call (703) 417-PARK [(703) 417-7275]."
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Alexandria, Va.: I flew into National Airport last week on a US Airwaysflight operated by Wisconsin Air (regional jet), and wassurprised to hear the captain and crew tells us thateveryone had to remain seated once we were 30 minutesfrom DCA. I thought the new security of homelandsecurity lifted that restriction. What's up with that?
KC Summers: That was one out-of-date captain and crew. The 30-minute rule was (rightfully) rescinded by the Dept. of Homeland Security last summer. In cases like this, though, it doesn't pay to argue with the flight crew. The best thing to do is comply and then once on the ground, bring it to the attention of the airline.
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Fort Smith, Ark.: We're going to Key West on November 27th. How is life there, tourism in particular, post-Wilma? Thanks!
John Deiner: Hey,Fort. From what I've been reading and some folks I've been talking to, Key West has made a pretty fast recovery from the storm. Its big Fantasyfest has been reskedded to early December, and most events are going on as planned these days. I understand that there's plenty of evident tree damage in the Keys and they're still cleaning up in spots, but power is back everywhere and most businesses have reopened or will shortly. Check Key West's web site (http://fla-keys.com) for updates.
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washingtonpost.com: Both Sides Now , Niagara Brawl (Sept. 18, 2005)
KC Summers: Here you go, for the Niagara-bound.
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Gaithersburg, Md: my wife and i have off jan 1-15 and we're hoping to go to paris and rome, as we've never been to either and we're not sure when else we'll get the chance to go. how would you recommend we plan the trip? should we book round trip tickets to paris and then get a flight on ryan air to rome? are there any good packages that you would recommend? we're novice european travelers, so any help would be appreciated!
Gary Lee: Even if you're novice Europe travelers, I think you're best off doing this on your own. Your idea about buying roundtrips to Paris and then Ryanair tickets to Rome is a great one. For hotels, check out the Italian-owned hotel website www.venere.com. The day trips around Paris (Versailles, Giverny, Chartres) are pretty easy to do on your own, too. But if you want to do something more adventurous, you might check out a company called Paris Visions. They do one day package trips to Normandy and other places around Frace.
For further ideas, Fodors, Fodors and Time Out are all guidebooks worth checking out.
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Washington, DC: I have never been on a cruise. It's just not one of the vacation options that have appealed to me. But after seeing reports about the attack by pirates or terrorists (opinions seem to differ) on a cruise ship last week, I wondered whether cruise ships routinely carry armed security officers. I would think that a floating hotel with several thousand guests, stores, casinos etc. would have at least as much need for armed guards as the local shopping mall or art museum, but I have never seen anything about the subject. Apparently the cruise ship that was attacked used a high-tech "noise cannon" to repel the invaders, and the next step might have been to break out the high-pressure fire hoses and aim them at the rafts, but if the attackers had actually gotten on board, would the crew have been equipped to put up a fight?
Carol Sottili: The Seabourne Spirit was off the coast of Somalia (not exactly the Caribbean) and escaped by using a variety of tactics, including a sonic weapon. I found this in an article on cruise ship security: The International Maritime Organization requires that every cruise ship operating anywhere in the world have a security officer and between six and 20 crew whose only job is security. All crew members receive security training and are assigned a responsibility in case of fire or emergency.
Also, security officers are permitted to carry arms.
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Derwood, Md.: I wish you would have commented on Alaska Canopy Adventures in the Ketchikan rain forest (yes, they have them). We did that one in Aug while on a cruise & it was wonderful. We were at eye level with bald eagles, bears were wandering thru streams below us and beautiful fjords and mountains were in the distance. Plus, the guides were amazingly helpful to us novices. As I remember, we were up 180 ft and the total of zip lines and rope bridges was almost 5,000 ft. long.
KC Summers: That sounds fantastic. Our list wasn't comprehensive and was more focused on tropical sites, but this sounds awesome, thanks for letting us know.
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Bowie, Md.: Thanksgiving Tip: After years of hosting my wife's six brothers and sisters and their families, we're now doing dinner at my brother-in-law's in Salisbury, MD and involved family trips from Philadelphia, Dover, and other parts of Maryland. That seems to help everyone avoid the main interstates and such. For those who can't make it, we video part of the day and then email it out to the rest of the clan by the end of the day so no one feels left out.
Carol Sottili: That's a clever idea.
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thanksgiving travel days: woe is us, we are flying the evening before thanksgiving and returning on sunday. To get through it, we pack: a light bag that WILL fit in the overhead bin, good books, and patience! We actually like our families and look forward to seeing them for a long weekend, so the good attitude goes a looooooooong way. Getting to the airport early and having a beer or two helps too.
Carol Sottili: A couple of cold ones sound very much in order here.
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Washington, DC: Hi Flight Crew,
We have booked a family trip to Jamaica this winter and have now just started to wonder about the crime and relative safety of two 20 year females who will want to go places on their own. Any information you can share will be appreciated.
Andrea Sachs: A lot depends on where you are going in Jamaica. Kingston is bit a troublesome, but the touristy areas of Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril are pretty safe--within reason. If you are staying at an all-inclusive, let the girls run free (within the borders). Also, daytime activities outside the resort are pretty safe, such as mountain biking through the hills (with a guide) or exploring some of the beaches and markets in the area. The hotel will also have shuttles to certain attractions, and they should be okay to do those on their own.
However, for nighttime distractions, I suggest the young lasses travel as a group--that means, more than two people and preferably with a male in the mix. Also, check with the hotel on recommended clubs and bars for this age group; some places are decidely safer than others. Sadly, these days, you can never be too safe.
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Paris is burning?: I'm headed to the city of lights next week. Any advice given the current unrest in the region?
Gary Lee: From everything I have read and heard, you shouldn't be too vulnerable. Still, although the disturbances seem to to be fading, I would recommend steering clear of the suburbs to the east of Paris. My Parisian friends also say that if there is any unrest in the city itself (which there has not been so far)it would be most likely in the edges around the 20th arrondisement.
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Arlington, Va.: When you travel to tropical destinations do you usually get the vaccinations? I am planning my Thailand trip and according to the CDC there are number of things I ought to get immunized for in advance of my trip. They also recommend powerful insect repellants (up to 50% DEET). I imagine their recommendations are good ones. I also suspect that a great many people ignore them.
KC Summers: Hmm. I hate to set a bad example, but I didn't get any shots to go to Thailand. I just took regular insect repellent too (not super-high DEET). And I did fine. The CDC knows what it's talking about though, so I probably should have been more responsible.
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Anywhere, USA: For a X-mas gift, I bought my parents a long weekend package trip to London for travel in March. They fly out of Dulles and will have a one hour lay over in Amsterdam. I'm nervous that if their flight is late leaving Dulles that they might miss their connecting flight. I'm trying to figure out if upon check-in at Dulles, will they be able to check their bags all the way through London or will they have to re-check their bags in Amsterdam? (they're booked through Luftansa but are flying on United) Any information you can provide on this would be great! Thanks so much!
Carol Sottili: Yes, they will be able to check their luggage through, so they won't have to worry about that in Amsterdam. An hour is a bit tight, but there are probably frequent flights between Amsterdam and London, so even if they miss their connection, they won't be left high and dry.
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Annapolis, Md.: Thanksgiving week we usually go to Orlando and keep the food simple and enjoy just being together. We usually toured the parks on Thanksgiving Day. We typically leave this area the Friday or Saturday before (sometimes we drive down and autotrain back against the flow of others going or coming from Fla.)and return on Friday, or Saturday to avoid the traffic scene. My guess is that might be the same for any famous destination, tour the sights on THE day.
Carol Sottili: What, no overeating? What a concept!
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Thanksgiving travel: I Just Say No. Seriously. I moved here from the midwest 8 years ago. My family is still there. I haven't spent thanksgiving with them since. This has nothing to do with my family, who I actually like. But, I go home every year for Christmas, and I just don't see that doing it a twice in six weeks (more or less) is worth the hassle of Thanksgiving travel. I either have the meal at a (local) friend's house, or just hang out at home like any typical weekend day. This year, I'll be dog sitting. If the weather is nice, I might travel as far as the 5 minute walk to the local park. I'm actually looking forward to it.
Carol Sottili: Another person who won't need to diet.
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Over the river and through the woods... or not: My solution - I pick one holiday to go home - Thanksgiving, or, Xmas. Xmas usually wins, so I stay in town for Thanksgiving. Problem solved.
Carol Sottili: That works if your family lives far enough away.
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Richmond, Va.: Last week someone was looking for a place to spend a few days in San Juan post cruise. Then someone mentioned the El Canario hotels. My husband and I stayed at the El Canario by the Sea both pre and post cruise. It's a modest hotel, but you are steps away from the beach. They provide a continental breakfast in the morning plus have pool access to the nice Marriott next door. If you book online, you may be able to snag a Internet discount. (www.canariohotels.com)
For the person who is looking for something to do during a layover in Seoul, if you are going through Incheon, check out their website. There are several transit tours available including Seoul city tours, local area tours and a spa tour (that's what we're doing when we go through this week.) In addition, they also have a transit hotel where you can grab some zzzz's. http://www.airport.or.kr/Eng/guide/change/changetour_iia.jsp?#iia. The airport website is chock full of goodness on what to do.
KC Summers: Hey, thanks for the tips. I was scrutinizing the online reviews of El Canario hotels recently when booking a trip to Puerto Rico -- the price was right, but I just wasn't sure about the quality, so ended up going with something else. Nice to know these were okay, if there's a next time.
And thanks for the Seoul advice.
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Harpers Ferry WV: Does anyone have recommendations for a weekend in Pittsburgh in Dec? My friend and I have started a tradition of spending a weekend before xmas in various driveable locations. This year we are thinking of Pittsburgh as we've heard its a fun city. Suggestions from the travel crew or readers? Special restaurants or xmas events we should know about? We like shopping, shows , house or historic tours and of course eating. Any recommendations for two fifty year old women out on the loose is welcome!
Carol Sottili: I'll post a story we published about Pittsburgh.
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washingtonpost.com: The Pittsburgh Two-Step , (Oct. 3, 2004)
Carol Sottili: Here it is.
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Glover Park, Washington, DC: Hello Flight Crew,
A friend of mine from Cologne has offered to show me around the city the first week of January. I would also like to see a few other cities in that region while I'm there. What side trips from Cologne would you recommend? My friend mentioned that Paris is only four hours away by train, so that might be a possibility, but I would love to hear some other suggestions. Thanks!
Gary Lee: I spent several years living in Bonn, 20 minutes away from Cologne by train. Although there are few destinations more worthy than Paris, I would greatly recommend that you spend some time in German cities. In particular, Bonn and Dusseldorf both make excellent day trips. There are some great museums in Bonn, starting with a small one dedicated to Beethoven, who was born there. Dusseldorf is excellent for shopping or checking out the ready to wear fashion offerings.
Munich, around five hours by train from Cologne, is a wonderful and very manageable city too.
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For Thanksgiving...: Flying BWI to Islip -- on Thanksgiving Day itself -- did it last year and it was a breeze. However, I flew back on Monday and this year I'm flying back on Sunday night, so it could be interesting.
On a related note, flew the same route over the weekend and last night, my 8:15 got delayed until 10:15 -- only one announcement was made (and it was wrong -- they said the plane would be in at 9:40) and that was at about 8. They never posted a change either. I was quite disappointed. Had I known of the delays (the gate sign said 8:15 the entire night), I could have gotten on the delayed 7-something that left after 8. It was kept under wraps. A few people strolled over and ended up getting on. I had checked luggage, so it probably wouldn't have worked any way...
Carol Sottili: Once your luggage is checked, you don't have many options. They don't let luggage on without the person who owns it.
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Falls Church, Va.: Just saw a $99 special for Atlantis in the Bahamas for December. I will be in Ft. Lauderdale and would love to go stay there for a few days. Any inexpensive ways to go from South Floida to Nassau roundtrip.
John Deiner: Hey, Falls. That's a great deal for Atlantis. I can suggest maybe checking out airlines like Spirit and Bahamasair, which offer service between the two, but I'm not aware of any regular boat service between the spots.
Anyone out there with info on this?
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washingtonpost.com:
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Washington, DC: For your Thanksgiving question, my approach this year is to not deal with any travel. For the first time I am staying in town and plan to volunteer T-Day at a local shelter. After too many trips on the train and by car up to NY, I decided to save myself alot of headache and stay here.
I also have a question. I plan to fly out of DCA on Christmas Eve. I specifically picked this day thinking it would be less traveled. Am I right to think this or just crazy? I plan to metro over to DCA so parking won't be an issue.
Thanks.
Carol Sottili: I think Christmas Eve can get pretty hectic, depending on what time you are traveling. Early in the day, it'll be much busier.
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Rockville, Md.: Am planning a trip to South Africa - flying from DC to Johannesburg - and weighing whether to fly "direct" or to choose a flight that involves a change of planes. Which mode makes the long, long trip more bearable? Do the direct flights allow passengers to get off the plane to stretch their legs? Any input you can offer will be most helpful in the decision-making. THank you!
Andrea Sachs: I flew direct from NYC to Joberg, with a stop in Senegal (during which we sat on the ground while a crew came in to clean and perform a security check). My advice: An hour or so layover is not worth it; just get to your destination. The only alternative is if you have a prolonged layover during which you can grab a shower and shut eye in an airport hotel or spend a few hours touring. However, if you are simply stuck in the airport, that's just prolonging the agony. Just remember to wiggle your toes every so often.
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Arlington, Va.: My only holiday travel strategy is to avoid driving! This is after many times getting burned driving from Long Island to Virginia (including the time it took me 3 hours to get to New Jersey! 3 hours!) I'll take the MARC train to BWI, or the metro to National, but I refuse to drive anywhere within 2 days of Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Carol Sottili: I think the Long Island to Virginia trip must be the worst one. Took my brother nine hours one year.
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Washington, D.C.: Hope this question is appropriate for your chat....we have some friends moving to London in a month and as a going away present we would like to get them a gift certificate to a hip store or restaurant in London...something that they don't have to worry about packing and shipping, they can just stick it in their wallet when they fly over. Got any suggestions? Thanks!
KC Summers: How about a gift certificate to the Ivy restaurant, near Covent Garden? It's super-trendy and supposed to be amazing. Hard to get a table there, but if they're living there they've got lots of time. I'm jealous already.
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Arlington, Va.: My husband and I are planning a 10 day trip to Brazil in early March. We plan to fly into Rio, and are currently thinking about how to divide our time between Rio and another area (either in Buzios or one of the rain forest/hiking areas). My questions are, have you travelled to Rio lately, and if you have, how many days do you think we should spend in Rio proper to see the sights?
Gary Lee: I think if you devote four solid days to Rio, you'll be able to see all the biggest sites, including the beaches at Cococabana and Ipanema, shopping and cultural sites downtown, and a few clubs and restaurants.
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Boulder, Colo: Has anyone used or heard of a small company called Jasmine's China Tours, based in California? The tours have a refreshing "off the beaten path" look to them.Thanks!
Carol Sottili: I'll throw this one out to our chatters.
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DC to NY for T-giving: Our strategy for staying sane and happy during the drive from DC to NY:
1. Leave before noon on Wednesday (though we know the traffic will still be horrendous).
2. Avoid I-95 as long as possible--we take 295 to Baltimore, then 895 through the other tunnel before rejoining 95.
3. Abstain from drinking any beverages for at least 3 hours before trip time (I had to learn this one the hard way--those distances between rest stops become so much longer when you're going 5 mph!)
4. We pack lots of sugary snacks to keep us awake and on a sugar high.
5. Most importantly, I always bring my favorite Christmas cd, John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together. Sure, one of us is Jewish, but who can't smile when hearing Miss Piggy belt out Deck the Halls!
Carol Sottili: Sounds like you have this covered.
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Washington DC: Good Monday Travel Team! I'm a single female getting ready to go on an extended trip..and have a weird question. Are there any countries that would frown upon, or restrict, me bringing birth control/condoms into the country? I'll be travelling in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Thanks!
Andrea Sachs: Unless you plan on distributing them or holding an "Our Body, Outselves" class, you should be fine. Though, you might not want to bring them into the Vatican; you never know who's watching.
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Washington, DC: Hi Flight Crew-
A friend of mine recently went to a bed and breakfast nearby where she said wild horses are known to run. Is there such a place nearby and if so, how are the prices?? Thanks
Carol Sottili: The only place I know of that might fit the bill is Chincoteague, and there are more than a few bed and breakfast inns there. Anyone have a favorite?
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Chevy Chase, Md.: I just wanted to pass on an experience that I had this week which underscores in my mind the need to keep after customer service agents when there are problems.I had booked a cruise for myself and my little brother. When we went to online register we saw that we were upgraded to a nicer room, but when I scoped out the room online, I found it was a room with only one queen bed. I am not sharing a bed for ten days with my 25 year old brother. Way too weird!When my travel agent called, the cruise line, unbelievably, told me that I would have to pay $400 to get a different room to avoid this creepy situation. They would be unable to get a cot or other accomodations in the room, regardless.I felt like I was being extorted!I would have been happy to go down to lesser accomodations, but they said there was nothing available anymore in a lesser category, so I would need to pay for what was available, ergo the $400. (Incidently, I checked online during this period, and cheaper rooms than ours were coming up available).My rockstar travel agent kept at them and finally talked to a sympathetic person at the cruise line who fixed this problem without charging the extra money.I am pretty annoyed with the cruise line for attempting to charge the money, but I am also grateful I used a travel agent to book this, because she was so tenacious with them.
Carol Sottili: If you have a good travel agent, you should treat her/him very well. Travel agents, especially those who do big volumes with a specific cruise line/resort, have clout that individuals don't have.
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Thanksgiving travel: After years of not visiting family in California for Thanksgiving, we bit the bullet this year. To make it easier, we're flying out of DCA at 10 am on Thanksgiving Day, arriving in Northern California at around 2:00 pm - just enough time for us to drive the half-hour to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. We don't return to Washington until the Tuesday after Thanksgiving - hopefully enough time for the holiday airport crowds to die down somewhat.
Carol Sottili: I hope your flight isn't delayed!
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Washington, DC: I am almost ready to book a Disney vacation for January and am wondering if 4 full days is enough to see what Disney offers. My husband and I will have a five year old who's never been, and neither have I. I was thinking one day each for the MK, Epcot, and the Animal Kingdom and maybe one day for rest or maybe Sea World. Is this too ambitious a schedule even staying at a Disney resort? I am also wondering since January is not a busy time, whether I really have to reserve every meal I plan to eat over the stay in advance.
John Deiner: Hey, DC. What, no Disney MGM Studios? Seriously, it's the BEST park of the bunch, especially if you like scary rides (Tower of Terror gets my vote for second-best thrill in Orlando).
That's a pretty ambitious schedule, and you will be exhausted and in pain from all the walking when it's done. Doable? Sure. Again, if you like thrills, you could exchange Islands of Adventure for Sea World, but both offer a big chunk of activity for one day. Animal Kingdom is NOT a full day -- so you could do Animal Kingdom in the morning/early afternoon then chill at a pool or shop the rest of the day. Epcot, the most boring place in the World, is a whole day, and depending on the lines, MK can be too, especially if you've never been before. I like your idea about getting off-campus one day, because everyone needs a break from the Mouse.
As far as reserving for every meal...gee, are you eating at sitdown restaurants the whole time? I'd pick a few that you really want to go to and make reservations then wing it once you're there. It's easy enough to walk up to restaurants within the park or go to guest services when you arrive to see what's available.
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Washington, DC: Hi, I hope you take my question. I have 10-day trip planned to Thailand in February. I'm growing more concerned about birdflu. Any advice? Should I start making contingency plans or is that premature? Is there any indication that people or tour groups are changing their plans?
Andrea Sachs: Go! You should be fine. Just stay away from live bird markets and farms, only eat poultry that is well cooked, skip foods made with fowl blood (pun attended), and don't kiss any birds, no matter how cute they are.
Check the CDC's Web site for more info (www.cdc.org).
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India is out for this winter...: I was tentatively planning a trip in February but my doctor, who has me on an intense anti-Lyme regimen, said, no way Jose, you're not cured yet and your immune system isn't up to par just yet. No India.
I've seen quite a fair bit of Western Europe, except for Iberia and Scandinavia.
do any places come to mind that would be more first-worldly but also different enough (I almost said exotic but it doesn't have to be, exotic to me now is someplace like Turkey or India) for me to try somewhere new? Would Croatia/Slovenia/Hungary make that list? (i.e. no Montezuma's revenge or other germ problems?)
Perhaps I should indeed consider Scandinavia this summer. I have my sights set on Asia however as my first trip to that part of the world was to New Zealand earlier this fall.
thanks
KC Summers: Sorry about the lyme disease, but glad you're still getting around. I would absolutely, enthusiastically, recommend Croatia and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Croatia is clean and modern, totally tourist-ready, with great food, amazing sights (Dubrovnik and Split will knock your socks off) and tons to see and do. And no worries about sanitation or anything like that. And yet, with all the modernity, there's still an air of the exotic just because it's not as known a commodity as, say, Italy or France. I haven't been to Hungary or Slovenia, but hear raves about both.
Scandinavia will always be there, but Eastern Europe is changing fast and it would be nice to beat the tourist hordes, which are surely coming.
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San Diego, Calif.: Is there any recourse when a foreign airline offers a voucher if the passenger will take a bump, and then won't honor the voucher in the way the airport representative promised?
Carol Sottili: You have to get it in writing. What does the voucher say?
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re: holiday travel tactics: Hi Crew,
I fly on the morning of the holiday whenever possible. The airports are completely empty, no lines - no waiting! Particularly at Dulles where one can wait hours just to get through security. And, most importantly, I make it home stress-free and in plenty of time for dinner!
Carol Sottili: The only problem I've ever had with flying on a holiday is a flight that is delayed, which can cause serious disruption to closely timed plans.
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For the Pittsburgh Traveler: I just came back from a long weekend there (second time in 2 years). Go to the Sheraton Square neighborhood and make sure you go eat at the Grand Concourse. It's an old railroad depot that was converted to a beautiful restaurant/bar. Not to be missed!
Carol Sottili: Thanks!
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Herndon, Va: We want to snorkel out of Key Largo during the Christmas-new Year's week, but hotels there are too stiff for our budget. Any suggestions that are a rerasonable commute to Key Largo?
John Deiner: Hey Herndon. I guess if it's really expensive out of Key Largo, it's going to be expensive south of there too? Did you try Marathon hotels? Not far at all, and it's a fun ride. One other suggestion would be try anyplace north of the Keys off of the Florida Turnpike...it's really a fast ride down there on the Turnpike, especially if all you're going to do is snorkel then turn around and leave. Then again, that could be a really expensive week all around in those parts.
Any other suggestions out there?
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McLean, Va.: Great story Cindy. I definetly plan of going "swinging" when I visit Puntarenas, Costa Rica to get my teeth taken care of. What else do you recommend with my 2+ weeks there? Volcanos, casinos, what else am I missing? Thanks.
KC Summers: Sorry to say that Cindy got called away on an emergency today, so can't respond to canopy tour questions. But hey, she hasn't been to Costa Rica anyway (she did her swinging in Mexico). Since none of us has been to C.R. either (I have GOT to remedy that), we'll throw this question out there -- tips beyond volcanoes, anyone?
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Baltimore, Md.: So, a possible trip to Belize might have "fallen" into my lap over the weekend. If everything works out, looks like my husband and I might be going there in March. Right now, I see flights for around $500. Is this a good rate?
Thanks so much!
Andrea Sachs: That's about the range for airfares to Belize. You might be able to get $480 or so (check with American).
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Anonymous: Last week, a poster asked about things to do during a long layover at Narita, Japan. You're right in saying that Tokyo is a long haul from the airport, but the city of Narita itself has some very historic attractions. I once had to overnight in Narita on my way to Beijing, and spent a pleasant evening walking through one of Narita's historic quarters. Ate well, too.
Andrea Sachs: Thanks for the tip!
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Washington, DC: Hello Flight Crew! I need to travel to Cincinnati for a family wedding in December. I was about to book a flight on Delta when I saw the story about pilot labor issues. Should I be concerned? Thanks!
Carol Sottili: I'd have a back-up plan. No word on whether a pilot strike will occur, but it hasn't been ruled out.
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Chesapeake Beach, Md.: Will there ever be airline courtesy/frequent flier lounges atBWI. I literally fly out of IAD instead so I can grab a meal andrelax instead of sitting in the main terminal hell of BWIbefore my long-haul flights. What's the problem with BWI?
John Deiner: Yo, Ches. I didn't realize that there weren't any courtesy lounges at BWI (I'm sorry, I really dig BWI, at least what they've done to the new Southwest terminal). I believe it's being refurbished now, but have you ever tried sitting in the observation deck area of the main terminal? I love it...seats are (or were) really comfortable and widely spaced, and it's a kick watching the planes land.
As for your question: I wish I knew, but it be a nice addition.
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Arlington, Va.: Best holiday tactic: My family are immigrants to the US, so grwing up, Thanksgiving was a relatively new idea and we didn't have any preconceived notions on what we "had" to do. Now that I host Thanksgiving dinner, I'm having it on Friday this year instead of Thursday. Many relatives can't get off work on Wednesday to make the trip and airline tickets are cheaper if you fly in on a thursday afternoon or evening. To me Thanksgiving is being with family and ofcourse giving thanks, so whether its Thursday or Friday doesn't really matter.
Carol Sottili: Great idea. Turkey tastes just as good on Friday, although you'll miss the Christmas sales.
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re. disney world for 4 days: that does not seem like nearly enough time to see eveything and get to relax a bit as well. I'd go for a week.
When i went there as a kid, we would get up early, head to disney/epcott then head back to the hotel in the afternoon for some relaxation by the pool before heading back to the parks for part 2 which included the light parade and fireworks. Was a great way to split up the day.
John Deiner: Good stuff...I just figured they were going for four days because that's all they could afford or had the time for. Yeah, a week anywhere is better than four days--and I'm with you. I'd go for a week, too, and squeeze in a day at Kennedy Space Center.
And midday breaks are the best way to survive Disney...thanks for the tip.
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Travel ON Thanksgiving: I know it's really obvious, but if I'm flying on a short trip, or driving less than half day, I just leave Thursday morning. The short time I lose visiting is more than made up by my improved disposition on arrival. And if the journey would have to be longer than that, well, I just don't go.
Carol Sottili: Seems like everyone is traveling on Thanksgiving.
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re: Toronto restaurants: For a reasonably priced but romantic spot check out Kalendar on College St. (cute bistro, with dark walls and low lighting--a great place to watch the snow fall) or 7 Numbers on Lawrence (small Italian place, great homemade food). For something a bit more expensive try Lemon Meringue on Grenview--also a cute, yummy bistro. There are a lot of more expensive places on Queen Street that look great, but are a bit snobby. All depends on what you're looking for. Enjoy--Toronto has great food!
KC Summers: There you go, Toronto person. Thanks, these sound great!
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Flying to South Africa: I just took the South African Air direct flight from Dulles to Johannesburg (and back) and didn't mind it much. You can't get off the plane during its hour or so stop in Accra, but everyone got up and walked up and down the aisles for 20 minutes, which helped. The only other options would be to fly from NYC or Atlanta, which would just add another leg, still leaving you with the same long flight, or to switch in Europe, which would make the total trip time MUCH longer. Plus, even in coach they had personal video screens with a bunch of movies and games, so that helped to pass the time when I couldn't sleep. A final hint: They give you A LOT of food, and you'll probably feel better if you don't eat all of it.
Andrea Sachs: Good to know, straight from Row 14B.
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Eurostar: Hi. This is for the couple who want to travel Paris during their stay in London. I've done it via Eurostar a couple of times, and the cost isn't too prohibitive. The trick is to play with times and days on their web site (www.eurostar.com) until you come up with something you can live with. I believe the best deal I could find involved taking the earliest train possible in the morning (sometime around 6:30 am), then returning on the last train possible that night, but you might be able to find similar for the two-day excursion you wanted. Good luck!
Gary Lee: Thanks. It has also been my experience with the Eurostar that you can get good fares if you dig around for them.
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ryanair?: novice european travelers again: how reliable/good is ryan air? also, for the january time frame, what would be a good airfare RT to paris?
Gary Lee: Sorry, we gave you a bad tip on Ryanair, which doesn't go to Paris. Easyjet does, for around US $100 rountrip or so.
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Washington DC: I'm tentatively planning a trip to Portugal next fall. We're mostly interested in the northern part of the country around Oporto and would like to focus on visiting vineyards and wineries realting to Port and Vinho Verde.
Can you recommend any on-line or print resources that would assist us in indentifying places to visit and containing practical info such as days/times open, entrance fees, etc.
We would like to rent a car and only need modest accommodations. Do you know of any travel companies that sell B&B vouchers that can be used around Portugal? We had a wonderful time doing this in Ireland, and liked the flexibility of vouchers and getting to know people and a culture better than staying in some hotel that looks just like any other. Thanks!
Carol Sottili: Try www.visitportugal.com. Anyone out there familiar with Portugal? Our resident expert, Cindy, isn't here today.
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Deep Valley, USA: These days I have local-ish family so we just drive up to Keymar MD midday Thanksgiving by back roads.
Before, when I had to travel I combined the first flight of the day on T-day morning strategy with the sympathetic-relative-serving-dinner-late-on-T-day strategy with the return-midday-Monday strategy.
One memorable time my group of friends and I decided to have a Displaced Thanksgiving the weekend before. Low travel weekend, easy time, fun collaborative cooking.
Oh, and don't take Amtrak even on T-day. Too crowded.
Carol Sottili: Displaced idea sounds like fun.
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Re thanksgiving travel: Am I missing something? I have never had a problem or gotten a major headache from holiday travel. Nothin that would make me give up spending the holidays with my family. I have flown the day before and up to 2 days before thanksgiving and have had no issues. I try to fly out earlier in the day and leave extra time, but even when I fly out in the evening thing run smoothly. Am i just lucky?
Carol Sottili: You are very lucky.
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Shop til you drop in NYC: I am taking my Mom to NYC the wkd after Thanksgiving (first one in Dec) for some Xmas shopping and just girl-time. Any recos on neat new shops to check out and great places to eat (nothing exotic or Asian as she likes mostly mainstream fare). thanks
KC Summers: I love, love, love the restaurants in the new MoMA. The main restaurant, the Modern, is absolutely beautiful and the food is fantastic, and if you don't want to spring for an expensive dinner there's also a more casual bar with the exact same food. It's just a gorgeous space.
But don't take my word for it, read what our esteemed food critic, Tom Sietsema has to say about it and nine other NYC joints. Link to his recent "Top 10" piece coming right up.
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washingtonpost.com: Taking sides on Niagara Falls , (Oct. 9, 2005)
KC Summers: Here's the second half of our Niagara Falls package, where the readers have their say. Thanks Kim.
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washingtonpost.com: 10 Appetizing Reasons to Visit Manhattan , (April 15, 2005)
KC Summers: And here's Tom Sietsema's NYC resto picks. Thanks Kim, again.
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Central Valley Calif: I'm sure everyone has had the fuel surcharge surprise when booking long distance flights. 2 questions: Any sense on when this might end since oil has stabilized somewhat? And are there websites that quotes the complete price up front? The usual ones tack the surcharge on after several levels in.
Carol Sottili: No word on whether the fuel surcharges will come off anytime soon. Seems to me like they go on faster than they come off. Most of the Web sites - Travelocity, Expedia, etc. - put them with taxes.
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D.C. Gal: Heading to Bucharest. Any must-sees that I have to take in?
Gary Lee: The biggest attraction in Bucharest are the museums. There are lots of quirky small storeshouse of art but the ones I would start with are the National Art Museum, the Village Museum of Folk Art and the Romanian Peasant Museum.
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Romantic Toronto Restaurant: There is always the CN Tower revolving restaurant (which I believe is called 360). It has good food, maybe a little overpriced, but the view is amazing and if the day is clear, you can actually see Niagara Falls!
KC Summers: More restaurant tips for the Toronto-bound. Thanks!
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Washington, DC: My flight tips: I always try to book an early morning flight for holiday travel, so that the delays haven't started piling up yet. This year traveling 8am on Tues and 7am on Sat after the holiday. I also do whatever I reasonably can to get direct flights, since connecting is twice the opportunity for delays. And of course, don't check a bag if you can avoid it. Fingers crossed, all will go smoothly this year, unlike last year's 8-hour flight to Chicago!
Carol Sottili: I seem to have more than my fair share of those eight hour nightmares.
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Re Paris & Rome: You might want to check out the web site for the Beehive. It's a hostel and hotel in Rome. (Rick Steves will have the exact name/address.) American couple owns it. Very pleasant and helpful front desk. READ your guidebooks ahead of time. I frequently heard of folks being fined (on the spot) 51 Euros for not validating subway or train tickets. Both Rome and Paris are lovely cities. Citizens of both cities appreciate Americans trying to speak their language.
Gary Lee: Thanks for your very good insights here.
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Fly I: I have tickets to vegas in January through Flyi. If they decide to scrap the whole thing will they refund the price paid or will that be money lost? I understand that it is a law that other airlines that fly that route will have to allow us to fly standby for $50, but will we get the cost of the original tickets back?
Thanks!
Carol Sottili: No, you won't get your money back, but if another airline will fly you for $50, that's not bad.
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Washington, DC: You guys should help to squash some of the hysteria about what's happening in Paris. If you look at French newspapers online, you can see that the violence has been limited to only a very few sections of the city itself, all far from where tourists normally tread. We are going next week. Sure, you have to keep an eye on things. But foreigners are not the subject of this attacks, and so far everywhere tourist-oriented has been safe.
Gary Lee: Based on my own observations, reporting and conversations with friends who love there, I totally concur with your view. The images of cars burning and crowds run amok that have been running on cable news channels seem to hype the situation.
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Re: Croatia: Sorry, but I'm not so sure about Croatia. My husband's beloved mentor was on vacation there a couple of years ago, ate some bad fish and died before he could get medical help. This was in Dubrovnik, I think. I know accidents can happen anywhere, but I suspect that bad sanitation and/or lack of easily accessible medical help played a part.
KC Summers: Gosh, that's a terrible story. Still, I have to say that I still wouldn't hesitate to go to Croatia -- it's a modern European country and Dubrovnik, especially, is a wonderful combination of ancient glories and modern amenities.
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Niagara Falls, NY: For all visitors coming to visit our fair city. Remember, you must say, "Slowly I turned, step-by-step," whenever someone asks you where you visited. It is not just a good idea, it is the law.
KC Summers: Gotcha. Thanks for that reminder...
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30-minute rule: It's possible that the 30-minute rule had to do with the aircraft configuration rather than being out-of-date. When I flew a Delta 757 a few weeks ago, they said that first class would have to use the lavatory between first and coach during the first 30 minutes of flight. Although you could get up, I guess the lav was too close to the cockpit. Perhaps it's something like that (though in my case, there was another lav you could use).
KC Summers: Interesting. Thanks.
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Canopy Tours: It sounds like the Canopy Tours in Costa Rica are mainly adrenaline-type adventure experiences like bungy jumping. Is there any emphasis on the actual nature and wildlife within the canopy?
I once read an article in National Geographic about a small airship that hovers noiselessly about the canopy, so that occupants can see the dense wildlife, often inches away, in the branches of the trees. I suspect that the airship was only for researchers and professional photographers, though.
KC Summers: That sounds really cool. Cindy's the only one of us who's actually done a canopy tour, so I can't say how much of the emphasis was on wildlife and how much was on having a screaming adventure. I know she had a blast, though.
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Paris de Gaulle airport: I'll have 4 hours' layover at this airport, both coming and going, on a trip to India. I'll be in Terminals 2A and 2C. Any especially good cafes or shops there? And should I use a credit card for any small purchases, or get a few Euros at an ATM in the airport? Thanks.
Gary Lee: You can sometimes find decent deals on perfume, etc and several of the duty free shops. But on the whole, in the several dozen times I have had layovers there, I have not found DeGaulle to be a thrilling place to hang out.
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Carol Sottili: Thanks everyone for another fun chat. Look for a story on visiting Ottawa in winter in Sunday's travel section.
And the winner is: Arlington, VA, who gives thanks on Friday instead of Thursday to help ease the transportation madness. It's a bit extreme, but effective. Send you address to sottilic@washpost.com.
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