The Flight Crew: Standing, from left: Andrea Sachs, Cindy Loose, Carol Sottili, Steve Hendrix. Seated in front: K.C. Summers, John Deiner. (Craig Cola/WPNI)

• Travel Section • Talk: Travel message boards • Travel Archive • Travel FAQ • Live Online Transcripts • Email the Travel Section • Subscribe to washingtonpost.com e-mail newsletters • mywashingtonpost.com -- customized news, traffic, weather and more

The Post's Travel Section Flight Crew – pictured at right – 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 the entire Flight Crew, we want to thank you for flying with us.

You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions and a list of frequently asked questions.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

The Flight Crew: Hi, everyone, and welcome to today's travel chat. Hope you all liked, and saved, our annual "Way to Go" issue yesterday -- we worked hard (our caffeine consumption went up about 200%) to cram in as many travel tips and hints as was humanly possible. In the issue, we divulge our seven-step system for buying airline tickets online, share our recommendations for the best travel Web sites are, and generally just spill the beans about everything we know about the world of travel. We hope you find it useful, and for God's sake, put it in a safe place so you can refer to it later!

We have an almost-full Flight Crew today -- Gary and Steve are out adventuring (one with kayaks, one with booze, and we'll leave it to you to figure out who's doing which), but Carol, Andrea, Cindy, John and I (KC) are all here to field your questions. Of course, as always, we expect you to do your bit and chime in when you feel can help out. By the way, did you see the article in yesterday's section reprising the Top 10 Chat Questions? Do the chat stalwarts out there agree that those seem to be the most commonly asked questions? We had a lot of fun compiling them. Let us know if you think we left any biggies out.

Foliage alert! We're working on a package for next week about a wonderful town in Pennsylvania where you can go see the leaves, buy crafts and browse for antiques. Which makes us wonder: Where's *your* favorite place to see the leaves? Our prize this week is a 16-inch stuffed Orca whale, sent to us by a seaquarium that shall remain anonymous. We'll send it out to the clickster who gives us the best leaf tip.

And we're off.

Native New Jerseyan: Congrats on the super travel section yesterday, even with the insult to my home state (question re: Metropark)! Maybe you could do a feature -- New Jersey -O-Matic.

The Flight Crew: Hey, NNJ, you just might be on to something there! Thanks for the comp.

Silver Spring, Md.: Hi Crew. I will be flying to California via America West. I plan on arriving at BWI an hour and a half early. I won't have any problems with curling irons, or wire clothes hangers in my checked luggage will I? Also, what can you tell me about America West, I've never flown with them. Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Hi, SS.

I won't even ask why you're packing wire clothes hangers (shades of "Mommy, Dearest"?), but you should have no problems packing those and your curling iron in your checked baggage. Many items that may otherwise provide a threat in the cabin are permitted safely tucked away in cargo.

As far as America West goes, I'm not a fan. I'm almost always delayed on the airline, and the service isn't particularly good (most of my experience has been on America West's heavily traveled BWI-Vegas route). That said, it's cheap! And you almost always get what you pay for, don't you?

Have a nice trip...

--john

Arlington, Va.: Do you think National Airlines is safe? What about the service? How'd their $1 sale go?

The Flight Crew: Hi, Arl.

Oh, those $1 fares! I tried to book one the day the fare sale was announced and got within one click of a $98 round-trip fare. Then it was gone. They sold out very quickly.

Oh, as for your other questions, no one here has flown National yet. Anyone out there have an opinion?

--john

Washington, D.C.: The Post did a great write-up of travel to Croatia a few months ago. My husband and I went to Dubrovnik for our honeymoon last month and it was gorgeous. I just want to warn readers, however, that you MUST NOT book a flight on United Airlines for travel to Croatia. We purchased our tickets through Expedia and got a ticket on United to Paris, changing to Croatian Airlines to Dubrovnik. Found out after we left the U.S. that United does not have an interline travel agreement with Croatian, meaning our tickets were invalid. We had to buy one-way tickets at considerable expense to get from Paris to Dubrovnik and back. Expedia has reimbursed us for this cost, but I recently checked several online travel agencies, INCLUDING UNITED'S OWN WEB SITE, and they all show that it's possible to fly to Croatia via a United/Croatian airlines flight. I don't want anyone else getting stuck buying useless tickets -- we were lucky we had room on our credit cards to buy the one-way tickets; several friends told me they would have been completely stuck as their credit cards are usually maxed out.

In addition to warning people about this problem, is there any recourse with United? It seems to me they have a legal liability here if they are offering invalid tickets for sale.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Interesting story. I know United does sell tickets on Croatia Airlines. Are you saying that you got there and Croatia Airlines refused to honor the ticket? That sounds very weird.

Santa Barbara, Calif. home prices, etc.: Hi there!

My husband and I really enjoyed the piece on Santa Barbara. We moved from D.C. to Santa Barbara (as it's affectionately called here among the younger set) last summer.

I hate to burst peoples' bubbles, but the average home price in the Santa Barbara area (yes, including Carp and Goleta) is $600,000 for a three-bedroom house. They hold lotteries here for condos for the people who can't afford the $400K and up prices.

As for renting, hubby and I went from a high-rise apartment complex in Pentagon City with amazing views to a 750-square-foot apartment in the "ghetto." It's still has its advantages -- we live right near the Monarch butterfly sanctuary and walk through a nature preserve to get the beach that is not accessible by cars.

Also want to mention that the distinct lack of seasons is nice for a visit, not so great for living here. I know, I know, count our blessings.

For the honeymooners, try the Bacara Resort & Spa. Other great restaurants include Downey's (a Santa Barbara institution), Epiphany, and our favorite, Bouchon. The food here is so much better than in D.C., mainly because of the higher quality produce!

Just giving some perspective on the "American paradise"! It's great to visit, in fact we highly recommend it as an antithesis to D.C., but there are serious considerations to living here!

The Flight Crew: Hi SB, KC here. Glad you liked the piece, and don't worry about bursting our bubble -- we all need a little reality check. Sounds like SB may be one of those places that's better to visit than to live in. Though I think I could get used to the lack of seasons in exchange for those incredible views. . . Thanks for the ground-level report.

Favorite Foliage: I live in DC now, but I graduated from VA Tech 6 years ago, si I am biased. My favorite spot to see the leaves is in Blacksburg, particularly from up high in the stand on the student side of Lane Stadium. You can see over the stadium and campus and are looking straight at Brush Mountain and into Giles County. The leaves are beautiful, even when the game isn't so good.

The Flight Crew: Great suggestion, FF. Thanks, and actually the games should be good this year, right? Go Hokies?

Petworth, Washington, D.C.: To see leaves in the fall I head north.

I actually have two favorite places for leaves:
First, northern Pennsylvania. Just beyond Wellsboro, there's a small canyon -- the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. A beautiful place, with many trees, and surrounded by nice little towns. And there are plenty of other things to see up that way, too. AND, you can raft down Little Pine Creek, right through the canyon.

Second, western New York -- head for the Finger Lakes. Many places to look at leaves, and lots of other stuff to do too, like waterfalls at Watkin's Glen, wineries, Mark Twain's study in Elmira (not far from Lovell's, my favorite Ice Cream place in the universe, and Curley's, the best chicken place there is), the Cornell campus in Ithaca, the glass museum in Corning. And there are places to stop along the way off Rt. 15, too. Little League Museum in Williamsport, Gettysburg (eat at the Lincoln Diner if you stop there.)

The Flight Crew: Two great suggestions -- thanks much. You're right, Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon is a swell place, and rafting through the canyon sounds wonderful.

Alexandria, Va.: Hotel tips needed! Friend and I are going to go up to Philly Columbus weekend to meet my family, coming down from New York. Family has a room at Holiday Inn Express Downtown, and I'd like to get another for friend and me. Hotel is booked (except for smoking rooms, which I just can't do -- bad experience once) as of today. Is there any way I can try for a room at this hotel, or should I just look for close-by alternatives?

Thanks!

The Flight Crew: You could try every hotel bookie in the biz. Call the 800 Hilton phone number, then try the local number. No luck? Try some of the online discounters, like Quikbook, to see if they list that property. Or check out the Philly tourism office, as they sometimes have reservation links. If you can't squeeze in that way, perhaps they have a suite that could fit all of you. Finally, you could always book at another hotel, then call the Holiday Inn up to the last minute (make sure you know the cancellation policy of your first hotel, though) to see if anyone bowed out--then pull the old switheroo.--andrea

Arlington, Va.: Where can I find out the laws pertaining to getting married overseas?

The Flight Crew: Cindy here, asking post.com to please post a link to a story 7/8/02 called something like Getting Married Overseas.

Dear reader: that article might answer your question, depending on where it is you hope to marry. The fact is that every country has different regs, and you'll have to check them out individually unless your country of choice is one we've already addressed. Short answer is that almost every Caribbean island has recognized marriage as a tourism tool, and have made getting married very easy.

Houston, Tex.: Hi Crew and everybody. What's the drive like from Tampa to Miami? Anything interesting along the way? Is it about a five-hour drive (as internet directions say it is)? Any recommendations for hotels on Miami Beach around $100. Has anybody ever stayed at Whitelaw Hotel? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Hi, Houston. The drive from Tampa to Miami is, in a word: Boring. Lots of highway, lots of swamp as you cross Alligator Alley. I'd guess that, yes, it takes about 5 hours. If you need some diversion along the way, stop for lunch or breakfast in Sarasota--it's a beautiful little town with lots of shops and restaurants. The Ringling museum there is world-class.

My preference (of course!) would be to pull off as you travel west to east and check out one of those hokey air boats with the giant fans. They almost invariably take you out into the Everglades far enough to meet up with "Old Herman" or some other gator the guides know well. They're usually pretty cheap and the tours are pretty fast.

As far as Miami Beach hotels, check out www.quikbook.com--lots of options it appears, especially with the off season upon us. And the Whitelaw? Hmmmm...anyone out there stayed there?

--john

Reston, Va.: Hello Crew! I follow your discussions every week and have been dying to have a good question for you. So, now I do and I hope you and fellow clicksters can help me out.

My husband and I are thinking about taking a cruise for our wedding anniversary this year. We had a very bad experience with an old boat in Europe that docked at two ports a day. We want to take all precautions to avoid that this time. We have heard great things about the Royal Caribbean ships but aren't too happy with the ports available for our time of year. We want to go either Memorial Day week or the week after. Here's what we're looking for: seven-night cruise that departs out of Fort Lauderdale or Miami (we have some free flight vouchers to use), Caribbean itinerary -- wouldn't mind passing up Mexico, Bahamas, Jamaica, no more than one port per day, budget about $3,000 for cruise only. Can you or anyone out there recommend a good cruise line and/or itinerary.

Thanks for all the helpful information in yesterday's travel section. I've already consulted www.cruisecritic.com for more help.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: $3,000 is a nice budget for a week-long cruise. But your problem is the date - most ships have repositioned to the Mediterranean or Alaska by the end of May. Look at Holland America's Zuiderdam, a new ship that leaves out of Fort Lauderdale and goes to the Western Caribbean: it offers dates that work for you.

Woodbridge, Va.: RE: National Airlines

We managed to get the $1 fare to Vegas and had a fantastic time. National is okay -- flight out was on time, but the return was delayed for about two hours. Service is sparse (no food on either flight), and the planes are old with very uncomfortable seats. That said, I would fly them again for the right fare.

One thing this trip solidified for me is how horrible an airport IAD is. McCarran in Vegas is worlds apart -- much nicer facilities and services. In comparison, IAD has a very "bus station" feel.

The Flight Crew: It's true, Woodbridge. McCarran is a peach--IF you're in the right area. Parts of it are ancient, and oh-so-Dulles-like. (Again, I'm speaking from America West experience.)Then again, parts of the updated IAD are absolutely beautiful.

National sounds great . . . for a buck. Thanks for the report.

--john

Herndon, Va.: Weird observation/question of the day. I was flying over Labor Day Weekend, and had a layover in Minneapolis-St. Paul. My husband and I both noticed that the restrooms had biohazard waste disposal for needles. (These containers were clearly not for diapers, or other biohazard waste - they were "sharps" disposal.) What was strange was that they were chock FULL of syringes. Why in the world would that many people need to throw away needles in an airport? Does MSP have a high population of intravenous drug users (or diabetics)? I've never noticed sharps disposal containers in other airports. (Although our destination airport, Calgary, did have the containers, they were practically empty, as would I would expect).
Do you or the clicksters have any ideas about this? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Maybe there aren't more needle users in Minn.; maybe the custodians just fail to empty them. (Cindy)

Washington, D.C.: I'm trying to fly to Ireland for the Christmas holidays but all the flights are going for $700 or more. Do you think that they will get any cheaper? Or do you have any advice for me?

The Flight Crew: If you are going on or during the holidays, then yes, that is what you will mostl likely pay. If you can wait it out, though, till after the New Year (or go before Christmas), then it'll drop by a couple hundred. Look around though for specials. Sceptre Ireland has great prices for off-season Ireland trips, like a recent $399 for a week, with air and hotel. However, read the fine print as some of these trips black out Christmas week.--andrea

Chinatown, Washington, D.C.: I am flying USAir to St. Louis then to New York, N.Y. with a bicycle packed in a rigid carrying case. Do you know of any special considerations or additional expenses for traveling with a bicycle?

The Flight Crew: Most airlines charge extra to carry bikes. I don't know US Airways' policy (they consider bike boxes oversized baggage), but I paid $80 one way when I traveled with my bike on American, from DC to Iowa. Depending on your schedule, it might be cheaper to ship it UPS three-day ground. Or just bike it across the country, if you have the time and quads, that is.--andrea

Washington, D.C.: My best friend and her 13-year-old daughter are coming to visit from Texas. To them, New York, N.Y. looks super close, and they are dead set on going up. So we are going to go up on a Saturday, just for the day, on the train. I'm worried about trying to do too much in one day, so I was hoping you or the clicksters might have some suggestions about how to realistically see some great things in roughly eight hours. Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Well heck, Wash, it IS close! I've (KC) gone up and back in one day, and while it's not the optimum way to see the place -- there's just so much to do -- it's definitely better than nothing. And since you're going up on a Saturday you can even fit a play in. Not sure what your interests are, but you'll just have to narrow things down and be real choosy.

When I did my one-day thing, I spent my time shopping, wandering around the Chelsea/Union Square neighborhood, which is just rich with shop ops and cool places to eat. But maybe you like museums. You can only do a couple befoer you get museumed out; you can't lose at the Met, or you could do a couple of the smaller ones like the wonderful Frick). Or you could do the Statue of Liberty/Empire State Building tourist thing -- probably only two "sites" in a day. Or see a Broadway matinee.

Do some research in advance and make dinner or lunch reservations at a place near your haunts -- Zagat.com is a good place to start. Have fun and let us know how it goes.

University Park, Md.: Downey's of Santa Barbara -- I had the amazing pleasure of lunching and dining there many years ago. I am glad it's alive and well. Their apple tart with apple sorbet was a revelation, and the chef was kind enough to share the sorbet recipe. Ahhh.

The Flight Crew: Okay, that does it, we gotta go back.

Cube Farm, Va.: I must absolutely second the recommendation for Blacksburg, I am a Hokie as well, and fall makes me homesick for Blacksburg.

Two local spots near Blacksburg that are wonderful for leaf viewing: Dragon's Tooth hiking trail in the National forest right outside of Blacksburg (ask at the ranger station), and Mountain Lake -- also just outside of Blacksburg -- it's where they filmed Dirty Dancing -- and you can stay for the night as well!

The Flight Crew: Well thank you, CF. Two votes for Blacksburg.

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Hello everyone,

Does anyone have good suggestions for a moderately-priced (100 USD/night) hotel in Athens? It should be in a central area near restaurants and shopping -- is Plaka the best neighborhood for this?

The Flight Crew: How about it, clicksters? Anyone got a good hotel recommendation for Capitol Hill?

Bethesda, Md.: Hi Crew!

Last week a friend and I drove to Ocean City Saturday morning on the spur of the moment. Much to our dismay, when we arrived Saturday afternoon, mamy hotels/motels that we tried to get a room for the only had rooms that required a two night minimum. We finally found a room for the night, however, it cost much more that it should have. When and Why has Ocean City become such an unfriendly "spur of the moment" destination?

Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Yo, Beth.

This is just a guess, but I'm wondering if the two-night-minimum rule is in effect now because there's no weekday traffic there after Labor Day. If you have to commit to two days, then the hotels are more likely to make some money when the crowds are down. Then again, I always think it's kind of dicey to head to the beach without reservations on weekends, even though lots of folks do it.

While we're on the subject, looks like www.ococean.com, OC's official site, has a bunch of fall packages available.

--john

Silver Spring, Md.: Some suggestions please!

My husband and I have enough points for a six-night stay at a Hilton hotel and a roundtrip flight on Delta to anywhere. We could like to travel in February to celebrate our 30th birthdays and prefer a beach destination in the U.S., Mexico, or Europe. It is important that the hotel be very luxurious and romantic (big fluffy beds?), and the beach be clean and nice. Has anyone had a great stay at a beach Hilton? Anywhere else you would recommend? Thanks very much.

The Flight Crew: First are you absolutely sure that you really have six nights in the kind of place you describe? It takes alot more points, generally, to spend a night at a beach resort than it does to get a room a hotel in town. It can take 10 times as many points at one location as compared to another, and of course, the spiffy beach places you desire are the ones that usually take jumbo points.

If that indeed is a problem, you might have to look at ''point stretchers.'' Those are hotels that see they have low occupancy for a given time and will charge many fewer points.

I know I havent exactly answered your question (Cindy here), but I suspect you won't be so overwhelmed with options that you'll need someone to help you choose. Or at least, narrow it down some and get back to us.

If I were you I'd start by picking several states or countries I wanted to visit, plugging that info in at www.hhonors.com, and see what comes up. It only takes a second to get your options in a given state or country. I just tried a few places, and came up with something that looked good in the Bahamas, but nothing came up as an option on a couple other country picks.

Dulles, Va.: Good afternoon, Travel Crew! I really enjoyed the Travel section yesterday -- what a great summary. So today I'm thinking about vacation plans. My husband and I are thinking about heading to San Diego for a vacation in October. Do you have any suggestions for can't-miss activities, sites, restaurants, etc., outside of the obvious (Zoo, Sea World, Wild Animal Park)? I'm doing my research, but nothing beats the opinions of people who've actually been there.

Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: San Diego in October is fantastic - the weather is great and the tourists are gone. I lived there for about 10 years and here are a few of my favorite things:
*Renting a bike at Mission Beach and doing the grand tour along Mission Beach and Mission Bay, stopping at the amusement park and taking a spin on the wooden roller coaster.
*Going to the beach at Coronado and then, in late afternoon, walking up to the outside patio at the Hotel del Coronado and drinking a gin & tonic while watching the sun set over the Pacific.
*Hiking at Torrey Pines
*Driving out to the town of Julian at apple harvest time.
*Watching the seals at La Jolla Cove and then eating at George's at the Cove.
*Wandering around the Gaslamp Quarter at night and eating at just about any restaurant down there (Vignola is super special).
I could go on.

washingtonpost.com: Saying 'I Do' in Provence, (Post, July 8, 2001)

The Flight Crew: Thanks, .com. Wedding abroad reader--here's a story that should have a sidebar talking about rules in various countries for non-citizen nuptials.

Baltimore, Md.: Any tips on keeping costs down when renting a car on vacation? I have always been wary of the costs of car rental, but I'll be flying to my next vacation destination and want to visit some areas not served by public transportation. Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Try hotwire.com and priceline.com.

Washington, D.C.: Plan to go to Charles Town racetrack. Has anyone heard of New Charter buses that goes there?

The Flight Crew: Can anyone one out there help us with this one?

Norfolk, Va.: We want to send my mom to Ireland for her 80th birthday. She will be traveling solo, she's outgoing and pretty active for her age. Can anyone suggest a tour they have experienced that would be appropriate for a single, spunky, and newly minted octogenarian?

The Flight Crew: Aren't you nice. The first group that comes to mind is Elderhostel, which offers wonderful trips for those 55 and older -- they have an educational focus and they're usually quite affordable. www.elderhostel.org. For more ideas for senior travelers, solo or otherwise, check out our newly updated resource list in yesterday's section, or you can go there online.

Arlington, Va.: Have you or any clicksters out there flown any of the European discount airlines? Airlines like Go, EasyJet, RyanAir, etc. I'm looking to to fly within Europe for a trip planned in November and want to do it as cheaply as possible. Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Cindy here. While I haven't had occassion to use them, I know they are growing like gangbusters. I'm assuming they do the job, and no doubt, they have transformed prices within Europe.

Arlington, Va.: The best place to watch the leaves change colors is not on a car accessible road, its by bike.

The C&O Canal runs through some very gorgeous forests, fields, and other areas which make it pristine to see the fall foliage changes. Even better, you get to do this all while out in the outdoors rather than sitting in your car in a traffic snarl because everyone else had the same idea on the weekend (can anyone say Shenendoah National Park?).

The great thing about the canal is that you can drive up to Great Falls or Harper's Ferry, jump on your bike and head off for 15 to 20 miles, then turn around and head back in the afternoon. Pack a nice lunch, and enjoy it at one of the many picnic tables along the canal.

The Flight Crew: Yes, we love the canal, it's a real Washington treasure. Thanks for reminding everyone.

Re: Athens Hotel in Plaka: I stayed at the Aphrodite Hotel in Plaka for orientation when studying abroad in February '99. Not sure on price but I'm sure its in your range. Great location in Plaka with views of the Acropolis! Have a wonderful trip, Yassas!

The Flight Crew: Thanks!

Washington, D.C.: I am flying to Atlanta this week on business. I will have a few hours free in the afternoon and wonder if you have any suggestions of "must sees" while there? Thank you and I really liked the special travel section yesterday.

The Flight Crew: Hi, DC. Thanks for the kind words.

Here's are some definite Must-Not-Sees: Underground Atlanta, which is a trap; the zoo (D.C.'s rules!); CNN Center (unless you want to take a tour of the news operation).

I'd head for the High Museum, which is really beautiful and good for a few hours' diversion. The MLK National Historic Site is a moving tribute to the civil rights leader. The Carter Center--Jimmy Carter's presidential library--is in a cool neighborhood, and it's far more interesting than you'd think. The Cyclorama in Grant Park is really neat--depicts the Battle of Atlanta in 3-D. If you must, you can head to Lenox Mall; it's a beaut, and it's right on the Marta subway line.

--john

Washintogn, D.C.: Hi Crew! Thanks for the wonderful travel section yesterday!

I'm going up to New Haven for work via the Acela in a few weeks. What's the latest from Amtrak regarding the repairs?

Thanks

The Flight Crew: Yo, DC. According to The Post's Metro section over the weekend, Acela is back up to 80 percent of capacity these days. Perhaps by the time you head north, it'll be fixed.

Arlington, Va.: Staff, If you have only three days in Los Angeles what would you HAVE to see/do? Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Well we just happened to sort of answer this question over a year ago, except we can give you itineraries for four days. We sent four reporters to LA, with only 24 hours to spend, and came back with four fun itineraries -- beachy, museum-y, movie-starry and Disneyland. A link is coming right up.

washingtonpost.com: L.A. Accidental, (Post, June 24, 2001)

The Flight Crew: Thanks .com

Washington, D.C.: My friends and I are planning a trip to Florence and Venice in late November. How easy is it to cancel hotel reservations in Italy if we change our plans? Can we cancel within 24 hours of check-in and not be charged?

We have an itinerary in mind, but were hoping to have some flexibility, too, in case we decide to divert to Bologna for a day or something. We only need to reserve two rooms for four people.

By the way, thanks for hosting this chat!

The Flight Crew: Wash, it really depends on your hotel, as different lodging places have different cancellation policies. Just fax or e-mail them -- luckily this sort of thing is a lot easier with the Internet -- and make sure you know what each place's policies are.

Rockville, Md.: My favorite place to view the leaves: Nearby Sugarloaf Mountain. My dog (who turns 13 in October) lives for it as much as I do. Instead of asking him if he wants to go for a ride I ask him if he wants to go to Sugarloaf.

The Flight Crew: Awwww.

Baltimore, Md.: We are planning a trip to Salvador, Brazil during Carnival. Any tips on how to get the best discount airfares and how soon to purchase the tickets?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: The sooner the better. Convenient flights into Brazil sell out quickly around Carnival. Also flights into Brazil are getting cut back - Delta announced this week that it would stop serving Rio. For hints about Salvador, take a look at the Gary Lee article that I'll post in a second. I can't recommend an airfare consolidator that specializes in Brazil, but if any of our clicksters have some good info, let us know.

Another Native New Jerseyan: Here's my recommendation for a great travel resource for folks wanting to visit off-the-beaten-path sites in New Jersey:

Check out www.wierdnj.com. They publish a quarterly magazine detailing all the weird and oddball places in the state.

The Flight Crew: Hey, thanks .com! We'll definitely check this one out.

washingtonpost.com: The Beat of Bahia, (Post, July 2, 2000

The Flight Crew: Here's the Gary Lee link on Salvador.

Arlington, Va.: If Silver Spring really does have the great Delta/Hilton deal, think Hilton Hawaiian Village!

The Flight Crew: A lovely choice.

Rental cars: If you are going to England, France for sure and other places in Europe, I'm not sure which try Easy Rent A Car. You have to book on line, but they are reputable. We drove a brand new Mercedes A class for about 14 miles per day. It was great (except for the orange sticker on the side of the car, but even that serves as a warning that you are a foreigner and other drivers steer clear of you).

The Flight Crew: Thanks!

Alexandria, Va.: Any suggestion of what to see/do in Moorea and Bora Bora? As in Can't miss it should't leave without doing it? Thank you.

The Flight Crew: Why, yes. See our correspondent Tony Faiola's report on Bora Bora, which we'll post momentarily.

Arlington, Va.: I am thinking of leaving my job to attend graduate school, but I would like to take some time off to travel before classes would start (either next fall or January 2004). I had thought I might try a round-the-world trip, but I am having a hard time figuring out how much money I will need to do this. I'm normally the type who would rather have three days of quality than a week of budget travel. I have traveled outside the country before, but never on this scale, or by myself. I am just looking for thoughts on budget and whether any of the clicksters have done this before.

Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Since transportation is such a huge part of that equation, I'd start by pricing airfare, then throwing in a train pass or two on a particular continent. As for the airfare, Cathay Pacific may still have what they call their around the world passes, which allow you a big chunk of time and so many destinations for a set price.

Once you know how much such a ticket will cost and where you can travel on it, I think you can pretty easily start figuring out a budget. No one can begin to give a guesstimate until you've settled on where, generally, you plan to go because prices vary so much. Like, you could live pretty well in Vietnam for a month on what it might cost for a week in Paris.

But it sounds to me like a terrific idea. Go for it. (Cindy)

washingtonpost.com: Bora Bora, I Adore Ya, (Post, May 2001)

The Flight Crew: Here you go.

Looking for a cheaper "Homestead": Do you have any suggestions for a resort hotel sort of like the Homestead, but not so expensive? Looking for the same type of location, out in the country. Looking to spend $200/night. The homestead starts at $385 and that's just out of our budget!

Any leads will be appreciated.

The Flight Crew: Help???

Washington, D.C.: Going to BWI at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, and my choices from downtown Washington are Amtrak ($24 each plus Metro fare to Union Station) or SuperShuttle ($40 for two people, plus tip). Although BWI fans laud how cheap it is, it certainly isn't convenient. Has increased travel at that airport from D.C. and environs led to discussions about a bus link from downtown (not from Greenbelt), or using MARC on weekends? (That could get us to Orioles and Ravens games, too.)

The Flight Crew: Hey, DC. BWI is horribly inconvenient to those who live south of Silver Spring, it's true. Too bad you can't take the Metrorail/Metrobus combo, but it appears you're going too early. One other option, of course, is to cab it--fare would be about $55, plus tip, but it be far more convenient than the SuperShuttle (it could take HOURS to get to BWI that way)and it would cost just a bit more than Amtrak.

We haven't heard anything about new bus or rail service out there. I remember when the Washington Flyer provided service from downtown to BWI, but those days are long gone.

-john

Tipping Question: Any advice on appropriate tipping amounts for hotel housekeeping staff? Concierge? Others one encounters during a hotel stay?

Thanks.

The Flight Crew: If you are in the United States, tip housekeeping $1-$3 a day. (The lower rate is for budget hotels, the higher for luxe resorts). If you have messy habits or use one towel per hour, up it to $5 a day. For concierges, it all depends on what the conciege has done for you. Handed you maps that were already out on the desk? A nice thank you will do. Booked you tickets to Broadway's Hairspray and found a babysitter? $5 to $20--though Fodor's says to tip 10 to 20 percent of the face value of hard-to-get tixs. (But don't get carried away and invite the conciege along). For bellhops, valet parkers and the like, $1 to $3 is good, depending on the services/number of bags carried, etc.
For foreign travel, all of the rules change. Some countries want you tip on everything, others don't want a cent for their services. If you prefer the latter, skip Saudi Arabia and head to Fiji.--andrea

Gaithersburg, Md.: Opinion question: I had planned to take a biking vacation starting on the 26th -- nothing formal, just my bike and me and some wide open spaces -- very low-key. However, a car hit me while I was training a few weeks ago, and while I recovered, I now can't do the trip I wanted to do.

Any suggestions for an alternative? I have a valid passport (I backpacked around the world a few years ago). I can afford to spend several hundred bucks. I love seeing new places and meeting people. I speak English and enough German to get by, plus a smidge of Spanish. I've never been to Mexico, and have seen only a little of Canada. And where does one find last-minute discount air tickets these days?

Thanks for your help. Love the chats!

The Flight Crew: Sorry about the accident. Also sorry to say that I'm thinking that the only foreign country in reach of several hundred bucks would be Canada. Otherwise, think U.S. I'd suggest starting by going to a budget airline, like Southwest.com, and checking where you can go for dirt cheap, and then plan a budget trip around that destination. (Cindy)

Ryan AIR: I flew Ryan Air from London to Dublin (and back) a few years ago (Fall '96, I believe) and found it fine. No perks, but it gets you where you need to go for a decente price.

The Flight Crew: You confirm my expectations. Thanks.

Silver Spring, Md.: We are heading up to NYC the weekend of 9/28 and I want to show my generally non-city-loving husband what a great place it is. Would love to get a good deal on a hotel -- but don't want to end up in a teeny tiny no character room. Have checked out quickbook and hotels.com -- but am not sure whether we should go with a bigger chain (more predictable, for the husband) or a boutique (sounds like more fun to me). Any thoughts or recommendation re: great places from the crew or the clicksters? Hoping for a midtown location -- no more than $200/night.

Thanks much!

The Flight Crew: SS, we generally avoid the chains and book ourselves into boutique hotels through discounters like Quikbook and hotels.com. I (KC) found a great new boutique hotel called Hotel 41 on quikbook a couple of weeks ago -- it's right in Times Square, the rooms have clean lines and are free of motel-type kitsch, AND you get free wine on check-in, and free cappuccino and muffins in the a.m. All this for $99 for a double! But my room was quite small -- if size is important, you might want to opt for a "superior" room for, I think, $135.

John likes the Ameritania, which goes for about $125 on Quikbook -- it's right next to the Ed Sullivan Theatre (of David Letterman fame). Not a lot of character but it's clean and safe and in a great location.

To Bora Bora bound: My husband and I honeymooned in Bora Bora two years ago and loved it. We definitely recommend the shark feeding excursion. Don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds. The tour operators take you out to a place on the reef and have you hold on to a rope that is strung between two boats. You use your snorkel to view underwater. They pour some bait downstream to attract the sharks. I don't know what it is, but the sharks all seem to stay on the other side of the rope. It was awesome! Afterwards, you get to go snorkeling, and swim with the stingrays. A can't miss excursion. Most hotels will have information about it.

Another can't miss is Bloody Mary's restaurant. Fresh fish on ice up front and sandy floors. It's like you're on Gilligan's Island.

Have a wonderful time!

The Flight Crew: Thank you, BBB.

re: NYC in one day: I would recommend checking out the USAir shuttle fares for a round-trip in one day fare on a Saturday. It'll probably come to $100 or less, and you save a bunch of time if you're determined to see all of NYC.

To do NYC success fully in one day, I'd suggest plotting out your route by deciding ahead of time what you want to see. And, use the subway!

The Flight Crew: Yeah, but they they've gotta get in from the airport. It's nice to get off the train and be right in town.

Arlington, Va.: What is the north of England -- around the Yorkshire Dales, perhaps -- like in January/February? I have several projects that should be finished at the end of the year, and am contemplating a winter escape to England. I know airfares should be at rock bottom, and suspect most hotels and B+Bs should also be heavily discounted at that time of year. How much daylight would there be then? What about temperatures? I'd be interested in seeing York, abbey and monestery ruins, historic homes (I know some will be closed) and the rugged landscapes without many other tourists around. Other European recommendations for that time of year? Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: I haven't been there in the dead of winter, but have visited in late fall. It's cold, wet, dreary, and I loved it. In the city of York, we stayed in a very posh historic hotel called The Grange - it was top shelf. The city also has many nice B&Bs. All the sites are open during winter within the city.

Washington, D.C.: I'm late, I know. But can anyone give me any tips where I can page through a lot of fiction and nonfiction about Africa? I'm traveling there in the spring, and of course I've tried the huge chain standbys -- Borders, B&N -- but they have pretty limited stuff. And searching on Amazon never really tell me what I want to know about the books. I kind of like to page through in person.

The Flight Crew: Gosh, Out of Africa? Can anyone help WDC real fast?

Key West Weather: My boyfriend and I are going to Key West the second week of October. Will it still be warm enough to lounge by the pool and swim in the ocean?

The Flight Crew: Should be good for swimming in a pool. But Key West isn't know for ocean swimming. It's a rocky coast for the most part. If you haven't been there before, make sure you're getting what you expect. Its a fine place, but not for ocean swimming so much. (Cindy)

Easy rent a car.: I meant $14 a day, not 14 miles! Sorry.

The Flight Crew: You can tell we're working fast here.....

Arlington, Va.: I've used Easyjet several times with no problems. Two things to watch out for: prices start to rise the closer you get to your date of travel. Book really early, get really cheap flights. Book late, you might as well go with the standard airlines.

Also, they really mean it when they say nonrefundable. I had to cancel a trip due to an illness in the family. Didn't think I'd get anything back, but called anyway. I was told that my money would be refunded, less a handling charge. My happy surprise turned sour when I contacted Easyjet again several months later after not receiving a refund. They told me that they never give refunds, and wouldn't explain why I was told otherwise. Would have been much happier had I just been told that at the beginning.

The Flight Crew: Thanks.

Budget Traveler: Nice section yesterday, but I must say that you didn't really have any great tips or info for "true" budget travelers. (i.e., hostel-only travelers).

So when are we going to see another piece on budget traveling? Not everyone sees the logic in spending $150 for a bed in Paris! (Heck, I don't even see the logic in spending $25) Or have those Washington Post per diem rates killed any chance of you experiencing how the lower half of travelers live?

The Flight Crew: Hi, BT. You must have missed the story on how to bag a low airfare. Or the question we answered about locating cheap hotels and restaurants in major cities. Or missed the several dozen Web sites geared toward budget travel--like budget booking sites, last-minute sites and budget travel advice. Did you see the chart on Inexpensive and Mid-Range hotels? Or the . . .

Oh, I'm just being a little defensive. We're very aware in that folks are traveling on tight budgets these days, because we do, too! But even we're willing to spend more than $25 for a bed in Paris.

--john

Falls Church, Va.: Hi Crew --

Must report a great hotel experience: the Windsor Court in New Orleans. It is an Orient Express property and just amazing. The decor, the facilities, the beds, the service, the dining, did I mention the service? Very luxurious, but at a very good online price of $175 per night, weekend and week day. If you are going for business, it is in the heart of downtown, adjacent to the French Quarter, and a much better option than the pricy but undistinquished Hilton, Sheraton and W hotels nearby.

As you may know, the Ashby Inn in St. Michael's that you so often recommend is also an Orient Express property.

The Flight Crew: Yes, we love the Ashby Inn. And the Windsor Court sounds amazing. Thanks for the reoprt, FC.

Re: wire clothes hangers in luggage: Hi. Silver spring here. Why will I carry hangers with me in my luggage? I am so my mother's daughter.

The Flight Crew: That's great! Enjoy the trip...and the hangers.

London Calling: Greetings! And thanks for the great tips! I'm envisioning a trip to London in January. This leads me to three questions:
1.What do you think is the least I could hope to pay for a roundtrip airfare? 2. Is the weather decent enough in January to enjoy walking around the city? 3. Is a junket to the French coast do-able in a day?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: In late January, you can get fares close to $300 round trip (it's more expensive in early January). The weather in January is cold and wet, but if you bundle up and wear a slicker, you'll live. You can take the train to France, but I'd stay overnight.

Bowie, Md.: I was in Atlantic City yesterday on a day trip. No question the coolest way to arrive is on the NJTransit train. But my question is, it seemed so much quieter than on my last few trips 3-4 years ago. Have the slot machines in Delaware racetracks slowed down their business, or was it just slow because it was a kind of icky day?

The Flight Crew: Hi, Bowie...

Boy, I bet it was just because it was an icky day. Of course, the Miss Americans are prowling the boardwalk now, so maybe that's chasing people away. As far as I know, AC is still a boomtown.

--john

San Francisco, Calif.: How many travel books do you usually take with you?

The Flight Crew: One. I try to look over a couple, and read websites, before I go so I have a good idea before leaving of what I don't want to miss. After that, I don't want to tote around a bunch of travel books; I want to experience the place with just a tad of a reference guide. (Cindy)

Glover Park, Washington, D.C.: Are you hearing any buzz about cruise/ferry service beginning from Florida (Tampa and Miami) to the Yucatan? I saw something online that mentioned service might begin in Fall.

The Flight Crew: Haven't been informed, but am intrigued and will check it out for coming and going pronto. (Cindy)

washingtonpost.com: FYI, the FAQs you guys put together now have a permanent home at the top of this page, from now until...the next one.

The Flight Crew: Why, thanks, .com. Hear that, you guys?

Charlottesville,Va: I recently encoutered the open jaws limitation while planning trip to Hawaii with a stopover in Vancouver. Do all the major airlines have open jaws restriction?
Does anyone know the origin of this restriction other than another way to enhance the revenue stream?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: If you mean that you're being charged more because you want to stop in Vancouver, that's the norm. Generally, airlines don't allow you to stop in another city when you're flying from here to there. That's not open jaw however - open jaw is when you travel into one city and out of another city. Many airlines don't charge more for that if the cities are close together.

Alexandria, Va.: What are optimum times to see Tanzania animal migrations? Been on safari before -- really want to maximize chance to see the migration.

The Flight Crew: Dry season (late June to August), when the animals are thirsty and on a quest for a good salt lick or lake.--andrea

The Flight Crew: Hey, where does the time go? We've got to get off the air now. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for our paper-and-ink edition next Sunday, when we blow the lid off the Pennsylvania leaf-peeping story.

The stuffed orca goes to Petworth, who recommended the Finger Lakes and Pa.'s Grand Canyon for foliage seekers. Send your name and mailing address to me at summersk@washpost.com and we'll send you the prize.

Thanks for being with us -- and happy trails.

   |      |