The Flight Crew, from left: John Deiner, Carol Sottili, Steve Hendrix, Anne McDonough, Gary Lee, K.C. Summers, Cindy Loose, Andrea Sachs. (Melissa Cannarozzi for The Post)

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The Flight Crew:



Welcome back, Travel chatters; here we are again after a week off for Presidents Day.

Let’s see, since we last gathered, the Feds have upped us to Hyperventilation Level Orange on the Terrorism Panic Scale, someone accidentally delivered Siberia’s winter to Washington and now toy stores have started collapsing around our ears.

Suddenly the phrase Winter Getaway has taken on a more literal meaning.

Here to talk about anywhere but here: Travel editor K.C. Summers and staff writers Gary Lee and Andrea Sachs are cued up to answer questions on the Non-Stop Beach package from yesterday’s Travel Section; Anne McDonough just back (as usual) from New York; Cindy Loose is in from the forbidden streets of Havana; Carol Sottili to help untangle the European air fare snarl; and me, Steve Hendrix, your captain for today’s chat, still reeking of hot sauce and andouille from a quick trip down to New Orleans.

So, my flights down to N’awlins on Wednesday were a complete nightmare. I won’t bore you with the details, but you can. Anyone else have notable travel adventures during the Blizzard of ’03 and its (continuing) aftermath? Share your woe and win a bauble!

Here we go…

..wishing I was in Barbados...: K.C. Thanks for the great article on my favorite place in the world, Barbados, W.I. I go every other year for one week. Some other suggestions...the Jolly Roger booze cruise (for twenty-somethings), the Atlantis submarine underwater tour (for families), the Tropical Spectacular floor show and buffet dinner(for everybody), tours of the rum factories (Mount Gay Rum being the best rum, anywhere) and Chefette, which is Barbados' version of fast food, selling salads, "broasted" chicken, and roti. Great duty-free shopping for jewelry, liquor, cosmetics at the shops on Broad Street. Also, purchase handmade pottery from local artisans made with Barbados red clay at Earthworks. Major attraction, at no cost, brilliant blue water. Can't wait to go again!

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the tips -- I will definitely be going back! You're right about the Earthworks pottery, I did come back with some wonderful blue bowls, just didn't put it in the story. It's not the lightest souvenir but I'm so glad I lugged it back, because it reminds me of the lovely blue water.

And I second your opinion of Mount Gay rum -- I'm not much for factory tours, but certainly did my civic duty to consume the stuff when I was there. Not sure I share your opinion about the Broad Street duty-free shops, but that's certainly another option for folks. -- KC

Arlington, Va.: Hi! I am not sure who to pose this to, so I'm hoping you can help. I am getting married in Hawaii this summer. I have the requisite large, poofy dress with train and veil. I am unsure as to the best way to transport this. Should I try to carry it on the plane with me? Or ship in advance? I have nightmares when thinking about checking it! Any advice you can give about transporting such an important piece of cargo is welcomed. Thank you very much!

The Flight Crew: I most certainly would not check it in the luggage hold, esp. if you're planning on arriving soon before your wedding. I'd hate to see you walk down the aisle in an Oahua bar t-shirt, while some business traveler is wondering why the airlines delivered him a wedding dress.

Carrying it with you on the plane would be ideal except if the dress really is poofy, you probably can't get it into a case small enough to fit in the overhead compartment. But ask the store about this---do you know how big it will be when folded?

I'm guessing, with 90% accuracy, it will be too big to carry, so shipping is your only answer. But you need a contact who will receive the package at least one week or more before your own planned arrival for the wedding. You want to build in time for the dress to get misrouted, lost, and then found. The hotel where you're staying or whatever should be able to do this.

Happy wedding. (Cindy)

Can't Afford a Vacation Home: I like the Everyman approach the travel section usually takes in its articles. But Gary Lee lost his average-traveler credibility with me when I read his piece on Tobago that mentioned he owns a house there neighboring Harrison Ford's property. Looks like The Post's elitism has filtered into yet another section of the paper. Boo!

The Flight Crew: Gary says: My neighbor in Tobago, who is a goat herder, will be delighted to know that we've been elevated to elite status. Boo back.

Baltimore, Md.: I hope you will take my question, I have been trying for several weeks. My fiance and I have decided to host our wedding in Puerto Vallarta next February. Unfortunately we are unable to price how much it will cost for our guests from the east coast to fly there since airlines haven't published their fares for next February. Right now the only prices we can get is for January is it is around $750 per person to fly from BWI to PVR. That is extremely expensive in my opinion. Do airlines lower their rates further in the year or this is the lowest we can expect the ticket to cost?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: You should be able to do better than that. I'd contact a travel agent who may be able to get cheaper flights through a consolidator. You can also try www.flights.com and www.cheapseats.com. If your crowd is willing to travel on the same flights, they may qualify for group rates.

Arlington, Va.: Hi!

We're driving down to Raleigh, N.C. next weekend to visit some schools and just check out the area. Do you have any thoughts on some places that we shouldn't miss while we're down there? Restaurant suggestions would be good too -- anywhere in either Raleigh or Durham.

The Flight Crew: Arl, on many drives down I-85, I've stopped in Raleigh for good Southern food (I consider that the sweet tea line), but can't say I know the city. Let's throw this out to the North Carolina experts among our readers. --Steve

N.C. experts?

Washington, D.C.: interesting article on barbados. only place i've ever been in the caribbean is St. Maarten. it was beautiful. unfortunately there is deep poverty on the island and as a tourist i sensed outright hostility from the locals. i hear the same about jamaica and bahamas. what is the situation in barbados...poverty, crime, tourism issues? thanks

The Flight Crew: Wash, I didn't get any hostile vibes in Barbados. The standard of living, and literacy, is high. I think unemployment is about 9 percent, and I was told that the majority of islanders own their own houses (although they don't necessarily own the land the house sits on). I'm sure Barbados has its share of crime, but I felt perfectly safe walking around at night, just taking the usual precautions you'd take anywhere. I found Bajans to be very friendly and are very proud of their island -- they love to show it off. Definitely didn't get the hostile vibes I've gotten in Jamaica and the Bahamas. -- KC

Columbia, Md.: Vancouver question: Hubby and I are planning a summer vaction to Vancouver (7 or 8 days). We're thinking about five days in Vancouver and the other days in Whistler and Victoria. Is this possible? Any ideas on reasonably priced lodging in Whistler? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: That sounds like a great plan to me. Recently returned from Vancouver, and found it to be a wonderful city. Ditto for Victoria (smaller but charming) and it's easy to get to from Vancouver. You might need to give up one of those Vancouver days, though--I'd stay overnight one night in Victoria as long as you're going there, and ditto Whistler.

Can readers help with ideas of cheap places to stay in Whistler? But as you do some research also check into some of the places that you think are going to be too expensive---summer rates should be better than winter rates since it has so many hotels for skiiers. My husband has taken his mom to fancy dancy places up there in spring and fall cause he can afford them at that time. Summer the prices don't drop as much, but .....

Readers have specifics on where to stay in Whislter in the summer?

Washinton, D.C.:
Enjoyed the article on the islands. I would really like to check out Tobago. Do you think the prices will go down any as they are pretty steep now? Thanks for the chat!

The Flight Crew: Gary says, it's true that the airfare on the direct flights really socks you. The saving grace is that everything else in Tobago is relatively cheap. BWIA Fares may go down after the Carnival -Easter period, which is high season down in those parts....

Silver Spring, Md.: My wife and I have the opportunity to fly free to any of several locations around the world (courtesy of a friend of hers who works at an airline; certianly my new best friend). For various reasons, we're currently looking at Tokyo (via Delta) or Guangzhou (via Delta and China Southern Airlines). We realize that Japan is expensive, but big cities in China aren't all that cheap, we hear, and my wife is concerned with health conditions and airline safety in China. Our trip would be in October. Your thoughts?

The Flight Crew: Does your new best friend need another one? I'm dying of jealousy from hearing about your dilemma: Japan or China. I'm always in favor of China over almost any other destination because I just adore the place but since I've never been to Japan I suppose you have to take my advice with a shaker full of salt. I can say that while it is super easy to blow a couple of hundred dollars a night on fancy hotels and the like in Beijing and Shanghai, it's also easy to have an elegant time without breaking the bank. I tend to stay in places that cost a dollar a night and don't have showers, but for more normal folks the hotel choices can be top-notch for not necessarily top dollar. The best meals I've had have been from el cheapo places rather than the fancy schmancy ones.

Guangzhou doesn't have the cache of China's top two cities, but it's a heck of a lot closer to Guilin (jumping off point for the wonderful Dr. Seuss-like landscape and wonderful atmosphere around Yangshou), about 2hours by train from HK, and of course has some pretty cool things to do right in town. Shamian Island is a throwback to earlier times, a trip to Qingping Market affords a great look at what's for dinner (and what shouldn't be), and lots of folks like to climb White Clud Mountain.

In case you haven't figured it out, I say China. I've flown on internal flights without reservation, and got sicker in Europe than I ever did in China. Have a wonderful trip, no matter which place you choose!
-Anne

snow shoveling tale of woe...: I know I'm not alone - lots of hardy souls were digging themselves out of the BWI satellite parking lot on Tuesday night.

I know that other people were digging their cars out at home - but at the parking lot people were working with broken shovels, itty-bitty emergency shovels, dustpans, or their hands!!!

2.5 hours of hard work, drifts up to my hip, and much thanks to some nice people who pushed my car over the last ridge of snow!

The Flight Crew: Ugh. I saw that myself, friend. My usual parking lot (PreFlight) was basically shut down. BWI did a good thing, though, they opened the new Daily lot for economy prices, $9/day.

Arlington, Va.: Submitting waaaaaaay in advance because it's fresh in my mind and I know I'll forget to do this Monday (you don't know how many times I've clicked on to the chat late in the game or afterwards only to find that I'd have the perfect response to win your prize of the day -- seriously).

I booked a flight for a week long convention in New Orleans through Cheaptickets.com. I got what I thought was a perfect flight for me, leaving National at 6:50 on a Sunday, on a nonstop at a great rate.

This week I got a notification that my flight's departure time was moved up to 2:50, which really doesn't work due to preexisting committment earlier in the day.

I'm not adverse to changing flights, even to one which has one stop, and there are 2-3 flights leaving at about 7 p.m. from National. But I am a little adverse to paying extra to do so, when they changed the rules on me in the middle of the game. Will I have to pay to change the flight (my confirmation from Cheaptickets.com doesn't say whether the ticket is unrestricted or simply nonrefundable)?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: You don't say what airline you're flying on, or whether those other flights are on the same airline, so this is tough to answer. But most airlines, if they change the flight times, will allow you to switch to another flight if there is room, or to get a full refund. Go to onetravel.com and click on rules of the air. Cheaptickets adds another layer to things, but I'd try contacting it first.

Bethesda, Md.: Hi Flight Crew! We were out of town during all the snow -- but kept track on television. We figured the hardest part would be finding and digging our car out of long-term parking at Dulles. We were very pleasantly surprised. By Thursday night, when we returned, Dulles had done a good job of clearing snow in the travel lanes of the parking lots. The shuttle drivers also made sure to tell passengers that they could get help digging their cars out, jump starting them, etc. They also were directing arriving cars to a "clean" parking area, to minimize the inconvenience. In all, we were very impressed with what a good job Dulles did -- and how well they communicated with passengers.

The Flight Crew: Glad to hear it, Bethesda. A couple of reporters here were begging for rides to Dulles last week to reclaim their buried cars. --Steve

Falls Church, Va.: Love the Carib-o-matic, but what about some typical prices for those nonstop flights?

The Flight Crew: Sorry about that. Prices vary, and it depends a lot on the time of year and whether there's a sale or not. We listed the fares to the three islands we focused on in depth -- Barbados, about $635; Tobago, $570; and Aruba, $850. These are all high-season prices for nonstop flights, and they'll go down in April. As for the other islands in our list, the Bahamas are generally just about the cheapest to get to, with lots of sales and package deals. -- KC

Help, please!: I am trying to surprise my parents with a trip to Ireland for their retirement. I would like them to go in September but the cheapest flights I can find from Chicago are $583. Do you think prices will go down? I have looked into use Septre tours and other but I found I do not get the flexibility of planning the trip on my own.

The Flight Crew: Have you looked into tours that offer air, car rental and B&B/hotel vouchers? These are good deals, and flexible, in that you can drive at your own pace and stay at hotels along the route that you plot. Check Isle Inn Tours, Sceptre, Costa Travel and Auto Europe. With all that is going on in the world, one never knows if fares will drop or not. That, however, is not such an awful price, considering that high season is just winding down. You could also play around with your destination airport, like Shannon vs. Dublin.--andrea

Baltimore, Md.: Greetings Flight Crew,

The two of us are heading to Aruba on Thursday morning (please no snow), so your section on the Caribbean couldn't have come at a better time. We're staying at the Aruba Grand, which is all-inclusve, but would like to make sure we see as much of the island as we can in the 4 days that we're there. Would you recommend renting a Jeep for a day, and if so should we do so ahead of time? Also, do we need to make reservations now to see the Butterfly Farms? What else would you recommend we check out? Much thanks!

The Flight Crew: Author John Briley responds:

Definitely rent a 4WD jeep for a day -- try ACE Rentals at the airport, and remember to HAGGLE! -- and head out early to give yourself time. To really explore the coast, leave yourself 5 hours. Don't get too excited about Natural Bridge -- it is heavily promoted as a wonder-of-the-world type spot, and thus is overrun with tourists. If you're touring the east coast, you kind of have to pass it anyway, so be prepared for the mass of people.

One other option is to do visit the coast on horseback, more natural than a jeep but you can't cover as much ground. Some details and links on www.aruba.com.
Another fun spot is Baby Beach, on the southern tip. As mentioned in the story, the snorkeling outside the break wall is excellent. Hang out at the beach for a couple hours, then drive or walk further south (from behind the concessionaire) and you'll come across perhaps the most scenic pet cemetery in the world. A little further along, the road ends at a rocky hill (partially old lava) from where you can hike up to the Serro Colorado lighthouse. It's a nice spot, with some great views.

For a late-afternoon/early evening excursion, check out the Tierra del Sol resort and country club, on the north end. Beautiful terrace with pools overlooking a golf course and the ocean, plus a fabulous restaurant. An even better place to take in a sunset is the Italian restaurant right next to the California lighthouse (also on the north end).
There is admission fee to the Butterfly Farm, but I don't know what it is. Have fun!

Waldorf, Md.: Are various travel agencies given blocks of tickets with different prices for the same flights? I'm searching for Cancun air only tickets for 10 people, preferably on one of the nonstop charters. The cheapest I have found is $480 and another wanted $620 for the same day. I've been told that June is a high travel month. Do you think the $480 is reasonable for that month. We've previously gotten tickets for $299 through Apple but it was a winter month. Will there be better deals on the commercial lines?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Have you tried the charters, such as Apple and Vacation Express? $299 sounds dirt cheap to me. $480 sounds much more typical. I paid about that much last month. Have you contacted the airlines directly to see if you qualify for group rates?

Washington, D.C.: I leave Saturday for Costa Rica for eight nights. Going to Arenal, Montverde and Tamarindo. Do you or any others out there have any advice of things that cannot be missed or any stuff I need to take that I may not think of? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: DC: Gary Lee, who was in Arenal and Tamarindo a couple of years back, says that you should be aware that the road to Monte Verde is bumpy and makes for a treacherous drive. Take a strong flashlight if you're driving at night. Also, if you do a guided tour of the cloudforest, wake up early and get the very first one. After that, they get crowded...

Washington, D.C.: We are just starting to plan our September honeymoon. Our usual travel style is independent budget (last summer we went trekking over 5000 meters in Bolivia with a couple of locally hired mulateers). For our honeymoon, we're looking for something warmer and heck of a lot easier. We'll be leaving from California. I'm thinking Fiji -- a little beach but it looks like there is other stuff to do. Any input on Fiji? Or other suggestions? I'm thinking that Bora Bora would be a little touristy for our tastes? Or is it? I've never been to any of these areas. Other thoughts were Bali (yeah, yeah, I know), Vietnam, Canary Islands, or Thailand (I've been to Thailand is Sept. before and the monsoon is still lingering). Budget is about $2500 each inclusive ($5000 total). Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Well Bail sure should be cheap now. Fiji is great I hear, but have never been.

Between Vietnam and Thailand there is no contest---Vietnam! Hanoi is fabulous, take a run up for a day or overnight to Ha Lon Bay. For the lay on the beach honeymoon style thing fly down to DaNang if you can afford the Fujiama hotel. Lots of cool stuff to see around there. And although I haven't been there, I hear there is a place where msot Vietnamese honeymooners go, a mountain refuge that rich Vietnamese adn colonialists escaped to in summer.

Re Bali, I think security is high and you'd be very safe within the resort, but do you really want to worry about what might be outside the resort while on a honeymoom? You two sound like the types that will want to wander outside the tourist area.

What do readers with Fiji and Carnary Island experience think? (Cindy)

Washington, D.C.: I am having the bridal salon ship my dress ($50 for shipping and handling, a bit more to Hawaii I imagine). This avoids sales tax, which would most often be a lot more than the shipping costs.
I am told the flight attendants will hang a wedding dress for you even if you are flying coach. However, this is not guaranteed. Further, you have to deal with security -- you don't want their grubby hands on your silk organza. If you do carry-on, be sure to use a plastic hangar and if you have a zipper bag, I'd have another see through plastic inside so you could pull out the dress covered and have it wanded through the plastic.

The Flight Crew: Oh, the sales tax angle. Great! I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.

For the traveling bride: I carried on my dress in a thick, plastic suitcarrier type bag with sturdy coathanger that my bridal store provided last year.

I simply politely explained my situation at the gate, and when I boarded the crew were nice enough to hang it up for me in one of the first class closets. My plan otherwise was to lay it on top of the other bags in the overhead, and worse case scenario - if hassled - offer to fold/roll it up and put it in a collapsible bag I had in my purse for that purpose. Not quite sure how it would have actually fit, but i would have made that happend rather than check it. I was traveling coach and it was a pretty full (international) flight and thankfully no problem.

Good luck to you!!

The Flight Crew: Glad it worked out. But shipping is sounding best to me so far. (Cindy)

Washington, D.C.: Fed Ex the dress. It gives you a tracking number and you can buy insurance.

The Flight Crew: I agree. (Cindy)

Potomac, Md.: Give Andrea the bauble. She deserves it for being stuck in the States while everyone else got to go to an exotic island. I feel your pain Andrea!!!!

The Flight Crew: Why thank you Potomac for your vote! Next trip to San Antonio is on me--Miss U.S.A.

traveling to China: China is a VERY interesting place to visit - your trip may not make you want to live there, but it will be eye-opening. (Don't eat any "fragrant meat" or "special meat" when offered...likely to be animal meat that you wouldn't normally want to eat)

I've not been to Japan, but my folks have. They had a great time touring with some local friends - much more suited to Western comforts. But still very different and interesting.

Depends on what you want out of the trip!

The Flight Crew: Another point for China. Any visitors to Japan who'd like to even up the score?

--Anne

Glen Burnie, Md.: I am planning a trip to Hawaii for Sept and would like to fly first class from BWI. Does anyone have any ideas as to how much ticket prices should be? So far I found $4000 for an unrestricted ticket and about $1600 for a restricted first class ticket. Is that the best I can do? Are there ever sales on first class tickets? How far out do people usually get their Hawaii tickets? Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: There are consolidators that specialize in business- and first-class tickets. I recently received an e-mail from a reader recommending www.bi-coastaltravel.com for these type seats.

Washington, D.C.: Wear the wedding dress on the plane! You might get upgraded to first class! You could practice walking down the aisle.

The Flight Crew: I like it!

longest standby list ever!: came back from mexico city on tuesday, and had no trouble whatsoever. darn.

flew through atlanta, and when we got on our plane to DCA, the standby list was 70 people long. (they had it displayed on one of them newfangled flatpanel tv things.)

we were glad we weren't stuck in atlanta!

The Flight Crew: Wow. 70 lost souls in stand-by purgatory! I, too, was trapped in Atlanta Wednesday, and I learned a lesson. I was number 25 on a hopeless 31-person stand by list, but I hung out anyway (I was "standing by," you might say). I didn't get on, the closed the flight and everyone left. With a few hours to wait until the next hopeless stand by departure, I sat to read my fifth newspaper of the day. A few minutes later, the fired up the P.A. and asked if anyone was still in the area trying to get to New Orleans; They'd miscounted and had one seat! I was on! Moral: Skip the Cinnabon Stand and STAND BY!

Arlington, Va.: Love the new group photo. Is this the first time you've all been pictured?

I'm heading off to Toronto for 3 days early next month and wondered if you had any suggestions for things to see and places to dine (going solo). I want to see the Hockey Hall of Fame, Art Gallery of Ontario & Royal Ontario Museum, but what about other thoughts? Thanks.

The Flight Crew: No, there's a funny trail of rogue gallery shots of us over the years. You see them pop up on various links when you're surfing around. We get more and more haggard-looking as the years go by.

Toronto -- definitely do the Hockey Hall of Fame. I just loved that place, and my hockey-playing son was in awe. The other must-do's in Toronto are theater -- Broadway-quality shows at half the cost -- and just hanging out in all the wonderful ethnic neighborhoods, restaurants, etc. It's easy getting around by foot, bus or subway. Be sure to check our amazing TRAVEL INDEX at www.washingtonpost.com for details on theater and other activities. -- KC

Northwest Washington, D.C.: I can heartily recommend Four Square in Durham as a restaurant not to miss. It's a little hard to find, but here is a website and the food is great. It's not cheap, but worth it.

The Flight Crew: Many thanks, NW.

I love Raleigh: Char-Grill
Vertigo Diner
Coopers BBQ
Greenshields pub
Lucky 32

The Flight Crew: And now Raleigh should love you, too. Thanks for the great list.

Gettaloda, Maine: Did Gary just call Harrison Ford a "goat herder"?

The Flight Crew: Gary feels a clarification is in order. Those who read the Sunday travel section would have seen that I noted that Harrison Ford recently had built a vacation home in Tobago "not far from my own home" there. His is a mansion guarded with a long driveway, swimming pool and security guards. Mine is in a rustic neighborhood with wonderful locals as neighbors, including a goat herder. Far more useful to know for would be visitors is that the island has a lush natural landscape and wonderfully approachable locals...

Washington, D.C.: My flight nightmare - 15 hours from JFK to DCA. Two trips on the shuttle to a plane without a crew. 1 1/2 hours on the tarmac without an update. One agent to deal with lots of frustrated passengers, flight finally canceled. Four hours to wait for a bus. During the whole order, we got not one pretzel or sip of water. Hallelujah, into DC at 4am, but no cabs despite our pleading to please make sure some were called. And the icing on the cake, my luggage was damaged. When I called to make the claim they told me my 24 hours was up, but they would waive the time limit if I would come to the airport with my luggage right now! And they wonder why we don't love the airlines!

The Flight Crew: We're sorry, WDC, but we are unable to post your message. We can't tell you why, but we can't. If you'd like to complain, you must do so before we send this response. Oops. We sent it. Sorry. Thank you for chatting with us today.

Annandale, Va.: I've sort of accepted the fact that I'm not going to be able to lock my checked baggage when I leave for my flight overseas (I've laid in a supply of wire ties). My question is, on the way back to the US, are other countries taking the same measures as the TSA that would prohibit me from locking my checked baggage?

The Flight Crew: Airports around the world are becoming more vigilant with security, from England to Australia. Best to check with the airline for advice and check the airport's Web sites as well.--andrea

Washington, D.C.: Hello there -- hope you can help. Can you tell me what is considered low season for the USVI and whether it's worth going at that time (too hot or chance of hurricanes?) I'd like to go and stay at the Maho Bay Camps on St. John, but I'm a little worried that my husband would be bored after a few days of a week's vacation. Would a good compromise be staying on St. Thomas for a day or two and then going to St. John? Money is a concern, hence my desire to stay at Maho Bay and go during the off season. Thanks for your help!

The Flight Crew: Wash, you've hit it, low season is hurricane season, so you need to be aware of that when you're doing your planning. August-September is the worst. There are plenty of water sports and stuff to keep you busy on St. John, and I can't see the need for going to St. Thomas unless you're into duty-free shops -- I don't think it's worth it. We did a big USVI package a couple of years ago, comparing the three islands -- link coming up. --KC

Falls Church, Va.: My travel woe has to do with Dulles' parking payment options last Tuesday, the 18th. We flew in that day from Frankfurt on Lufthansa, and surprisingly, landed on time. Our biggest pleasant surprise came when we alighted from the Blue Lot parking shuttle bus, and as we were gawking at all the cars buried up to their hoods in snow, (and wondering how on earth we were going to dig ourselves out), we were greeted by a 2-man crew in a pickup truck with a plow attached and snowshovel in back. THey followed us to our car, and in less than 10 minutes had us dug out. HOWEVER, the unpleasant part came when we lined up to pay. IT seems that only 2 attendants were open to people not using the PAY-N-Go pre-pay option. (We would have used it except the signage and explanation of this new option is woefully lacking in the lots when you arrive: it's not till you're at the terminal when you find out you should have bought your stub with you.) SO...after sitting in a line to pay for over half an hour, people started honking and yelling. Only then did an attendant start coming around to cars and telling people you could use the PAY-N-GO lanes if you were paying by credit card (which we were). IS this always an option? If so, there is NO SIGNAGE to indicate this. Or, was this a feature the attendants activated on seeing the long lines? I'd love an explanation....really we expected delays in getting our car dug out, or perhaps in landing that day, NOT in merely trying to pay!

The Flight Crew: Sounds like a split result, Falls Church. It's pretty impressive they got your car out. Not so good they couldn't tell you how to pay.

washingtonpost.com: St. John, St. Thomas, St. Croix, (Post, Feb. 27, 2000

The Flight Crew: Here's the link to the three stories in our U.S. Virgin Islands package.

North Carolina: Don't know much about Raleigh, but in Durham the main drag is 9th Street. It's very quaint, with a soda jerk in the drugstore. Good Mexican is Toreros. Elmo's diner is good American food, and Cosmic Cantina has Chipotle-esque burritos. Francesca's is a little dessert place. The James Joyce is a nice Irish pub. Walk around the Duke gardens too, they're beautiful.

The Flight Crew: Well count Durham, NC. It's all the same to us.

SUN!!!: Some friends and I want to take off for a sunny, warm beach in mid-April and are considering Key West, or a similar Carribean climate. We are in our early twenties and don't want to be surrounded by Spring Breakers, but we definitely want there to be some serious nightlife (and, okay, a swim-up bar for the daytime would be great, too). However, we don't want to break the bank. Where's the cheapest to go (considering both flights and lodging)?

The Flight Crew: There are certainly islands that are cheaper than others: Caymans for example tend to be, partly cause their dollar is stronger than ours. Jamaica tends to have some cheap stuff cause labor is so cheap.

However, when you add in the variables of air fare prices vs. lodging, vs. meals, it can get confusing. I'd suggest you go online to look at packages (expedia.com, etc) You might not want to take a package, exp since by sharing rooms you can probably enjoy some savings there over the per person package prices. But that will at least give you a better idea of what you can get in your price range at various places at this particular time. Sales are based on what happens not to be crowding up, and you can be surprised by where a sale will take you.

Sorry I can't be more specific, but the variables are endless. If you want to avoid spring breakers, for sure avoid Cancun and Daytona Beach, Fla. But unfortanately, spring breakers can pop up anywhere. There only has to be three of them to make your life miserable, ifthose three happen to be next door and rowdy.

Silver Spring, Md.: Thanks for the info on China. Did you take trains there? We thought of taking the train from Guilin to Hanoi, but I've heard horror stories about Chinese trains (especially getting tickets and getting onto the trains amongs crowds), though of course some of those stories may come from people taking second class. BTW, my favorite train ride of all time was from Beijing to Ulan Baatar, Mongolia several years ago.

The Flight Crew: Hey Silver Spring--Oh boy did I take trains there. The longest was three days from Beijing to Urumqi, in Xinjiang; the hardest was 24hrs in a hard seat from Guangzhou to Zhengzhou (followed by a 3-hr bus ride in a snow storm). Loved every minute of them, even when I was complaining my head off. Must admit that speaking Mandarin eases the buying tickets situation, which can definitely be harrowing. But I met plenty of folks who were traveling independently without a word of Chinese and as long as they weren't in a rush they seemed to be having fun with the whole thing.
The problem with the train from Guilin to Hanoi (which originates in Beijing) is that it runs only 2 times a week and there are limited cars that go all the way to Hanoi; they're also super expensive compared to the fares I was paying until then (although, to be fair, I'm cheap). What I did instead, if I remember correctly, was train it from Guilin to Nanning, bus it from Nanning to Pingxiang (on the border), cross the border on foot and then go from the Vietnamese side of the border straight to Hanoi. The problem with this, however, is that it's illegal to carry dong out of the country, so we entered only with US dollars and Chinese kuai. There's no official moneychanging agency on the border, just guys on moterbikes waiting to swill you out of your cash and charge you up the wazoo to carry you to the nearest town, from which you can catch a bus for the roughly 3 hour ride to Hanoi. If you're short on time, yeah, book ahead and get on that international train. But if you're up for an adventure, do it piecemeal. One word of advice: in December, it was freezing on the Chinese side and then 82 degrees in Hanoi. So use layers!
--Anne

Washington, D.C.: Where to eat in Durham? The legendary Bullocks BBQ, near the Duke campus, of course!

--Jerry Haines

The Flight Crew: Thanks, Jerry. But I don't thing we can say Bullocks in the chat.

Concord, N.H.: I just came back from a week in Barbados at the Bouganvillea Beach Resort. Loved it. We're now thinking of Tobago for next year. Do you know of anyhting comparable to the Bougainvillea in Tobago? How is Ocean Point Resort?

One thing Id say about bajan guys who approach tourists 75 percent BS, 25 percent charm until they get drunk then the BS goes up and the charm goes down. But guys who approach tourists are a breed apart and regular bajan people are nice normal people.

The Flight Crew: Gary says: I don't know the Ocean Point but two possible places to check out are the Arnos Vale resort (more lush and tropical) or the Coco Reef (right next to a wonderful beach that is great for snorkeling.)

KC says that she found the folks in Barbados who approach tourists to be more civilized than on other islands...

a vote for Japan: To make the trip to Japan worthwhile, I think you'd have to get out of Tokyo. Head north to Nikko or south to Kyoto and Nara. There is just so much history in these places that you just can't miss them.

The Flight Crew: China 2 (or three, I can't remember), Japan 1.

-Anne

Washington, D.C.: Help! I am trying to find an inexpesive flight to Las Vegas and cannot find one under $375! (I am searching for evening flights on Wed 3/19 returning Sat 4/22). Any recommendations since the times and dates are set?
Thank you!

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: I'm guessing you mean returning Sat. 3/22. If that's the case, the reason your airfare is so high is because you're not staying over a SAturday night. Southwest does not require a Saturday night stay, but the cheap fares are only available for morning flights ($219.50 round trip if you're willing to leave in a.m.) If your times were flexible, you could also try www.hotwire.com and www.priceline.com. It's the old rule = flexibility=best prices. One other idea is doing a package deal with accommodations? Sometimes flights are cheaper that way.

Washington, D.C.: The Yangshuo area is great. You could easily book an inexpensive overnight tour to the rice terraces, which are phenomenal (although only very, very basic accomodation is there). I personally think the Three Gorges are highly overrated but here's your chance. Food is great in Guangzhou. Luxurious southern China is not. Beijing is fairly cold by October but fantastic touring -- not that expensive for an internal flight. Or Huangshan is a gorgeous mountain. Or head to Chengdu and check out the pandas. Or Lijiang. Never mind to much to do, so little time.

The best trip I ever took was to Guizhou Province, where the Miao people reside. AMAZING. Check out Gina Corrigan's book on Guizhou (in stock at Bethesda Row B&N and usually at Borders over on L).

The Flight Crew: Another China-lover! Yay!

-Anne

Simple Question: I know this might seem silly to some, but I have no idea as to the new regulations on carry-on luggage. I have to go on a business trip and want to bring on my laptop bag and a suitcase, which I'm assuming is fine. What is the maximum luggage size for a carry-on now? I'm afraid my smallest suitcase might be a wee bit big. Thanks!

The Flight Crew: You are allowed to bring on one personal item (as in a purse, briefcase or laptop) and one carry-on bag--though some airlines, like Southwest, are more restrictive. For dimensions, check with the airline. United, for one, says bags cannot be larger than 9x14x22 (length x height x width) or 45 linear inches (length, height and width added together). To be sure, check with the carrier beforehand, as you don't want them to snatch your bag at the gate.--andrea

Re: Bahamas: Maybe this is a little late, but I was very surprised to read negative comments about the Bahamas. I've spent two winters there aboard my (old and small) sailboat and have always found the people to be wonderfully friendly. Admittedly, most of my time is spent in the Out Islands, but I've had positive experiences in Nassau and Freeport ans well.

The Flight Crew: Point well-taken. I think you just encounter more of that hostility in urban centers like Nassau, and other places that get inundated with cruise passengers and the like.

Ballston, Va.: I am planning a trip to Finland with my family from Thursday, June 19 to Sunday, July 6 to spend time with relatives, enjoy the midsummer festivities, and attend some of the savonlinna opera festival. My problem? Airfare! It seems astronomical ($1,400 or so on Finnair). Can you please give me some suggestions on when is the best time to buy airline tickets and if there are companies specializing in travel to Finland that might have cheaper airfare? Thanks in advance!

The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says that Eastern Tours Consolidated, a New York based consolidator specializing in Russia and eastern Europe, often can arrange discount travel to Finland, too.

For the Hawaii bride: I agree the idea of shipping your dress is a good idea, do you really want to trust fedex with your dress? And then trust the hotel to hold it for you until you arrive? The odds of something happening to it are slim but do you want to risk it for the most important day of your life? When I got married in LV I took my dress with me in a garmet bag and then as soon as I checked in I took it out to hang and the wrinkles for the most part fell out. You could then have the hotel valet iron it or iron out the wrinkles yourself. If you go on theknot.com there are a ton of post from brides with the same problems as yours and other ideas you may want to consider.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the website referral. Personally I'd trust Fed Ex, with the cavaet I'd want enough time to have them track it if there were a problem. By the way, much as I espouse marriage, I hope it's not the most important day of this bride's life. I hope she has such wonderful days ahead, with such surprises, that the wedding day will just be one of many important days. (Cindy)

The blizzard of 2003: Here's my entry...I was up in NYC visiting my boyfriend for the weekend. I was supposed to return on Monday at noon. I woke up on Sunday, heard the news of impending doom in NYC and managed to make a train reservation on Amtrak for later that day (Sunday), without checking what conditions were like in DC. Hop on the Acela Express, with a reserved seat. Things are going smooth, we're on time. We hit Baltimore and the snow is so deep they have to delay the train. Apparently, the engine is in the "down position," or so the announcer tells us but doesn't explain what that means. We sit for 20 minutes or so, while the announcer tells us DC and MD are in a state of emergency so good luck getting home. Train starts moving, gets into DC an hour late. The line for cabs is about 100 people long, with only 2 cabs sitting there. I brave the metro, only to find it's only running every 2 hours. I catch the red line pretty quickly, but wait 2 hours for a blue line. I make it to Crystal City at midnight, 3 hours after arriving at Union Station. There are, of course, no cabs in Crystal City. As I was about to book a hotel room for the night, I called my boyfriend, who was on the phone with a friend of ours who owns a Ford Explorer. 45 minutes later, I was home. It took me almost 4 hours to get from Union Station to my apartment and I realized that never, EVER again will I travel in the face of impending snow.

The Flight Crew: Four hours from Union Station to Crystal City. Did everone sing song together?

Los Angeles, Calif.: Quick question guys (and gals);
Is 470 reasonable for Airfaire to Aruba during Memorial week. Has anyone been to or heard about the Soul Beach Music Festival? Thanks

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Actually, $470 sounds good for that weekend. Any clicksters been to the Soul Beach Music Festival?

Arlington, Va.: Two summers ago, I stayed for three or four days at Chalet Luise, a bed and breakfast in Whistler. I don't think the daily price of a room was anywhere close to $100 American.

The Flight Crew: Thanks.

Lorton, Va. - "Blizzard of '03" travel: Hi, I won the boxer shorts a few weeks ago. I gave them to my boyfriend for Valentine's Day when we were at Massanutten skiing (you didn't say they were a ski map - very appropriate :). We were staying in Harrisonburg and actually made the 15 miles trek up to Massanutten on Sunday during the snow. Then we got stuck and could not get home on Monday. The trucker's at the truck stop next to the hotel (we travel cheap) were talking about a 10 mile backup for a jack knifed truck on 81 and state police were writting $1500 tickets for traveling on 81 north of exit 280. We decided to stay another night and enjoy the hottub! On Tuesday we saw a total of THREE tractor trailers that had slid off the highway on 81, but VDOT had done an AWSOME job of clearing the roads by Tuesday. In fact, it took us less time to get home from Harrisonburg on Tuesday than it did for me to get home from work on Thursday.

P.S. The skiing boxers were a hit, but I haven't had the guts to tell him how I won them.

The Flight Crew: It warms our heart to know our boxer shorts helped make your blizzard weekend a special one, Lorton. Sniff.

Did you say $1,500 dollar tickets? Ouch.

Mt. Lebanon, Pa.: You're educated and worldly individuals. Do you know the rules to Mornington Crescent? Thanks much. HLB

The Flight Crew: I hear that there are volumes of books for this strategy game played on the London Underground, and I hear there really aren't any rules at all that aren't obvious, or that you personally can't make up as you go along. So I guess I don't know what to belive. But have we proved our worldliness? P.S. I grew up in a fundamentalist household where worldiness was definately not a desirable thing to be, so either answer is fine. (Cindy)

Bethesda, Md.: Hello:

I am going to Madrid on Saturday for a week (taking advantage of some cheap US Airways fares). Other than the obvious (the art museums) what shouldn't I miss? Also, we were thinking about doing two day trips -– Toledo and Seville –- good choices? I was also considering Segovia. Thoughts? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Gary says: if you want to spend a few bucks on a memorable meal, try the restaurant called La Bouche or the other located in the hotel Hesperia. Also: Remember that the Prado and other musuems are free on Sundays, that there are great tapas bars near the Prado. Also, Toledo and Seville would make for excellent side trips. Take the fast train to the latter and stay overnight....

Washington, D.C.: Hi there -- A friend and I are thinking about taking advantage of the super cheap airfare to London. When we mentioned it to family/friends, they all balked and mentioned terrorism threats. I hate to say it, but since I have no control over what "might" happen either here or there (I live VERY close-in on Capitol Hill and its not like we are going to Baghdad) I think we should just go and exercise the same caution we do at home. FYI--I am a fairly seasoned traveller, and know how to blend in while travelling. Are we crazy to ponder heading overseas right now? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: No you're not crazy. A bunch of us have Europe trips coming up in the next couple of months, and we haven't curtailed our plans. Look at it this way, you live in Washington DC -- about as likely a target for trouble as you can get. Go, take the usual precautions (take the U.S. flag off your backpack, etc) and have fun. -- KC

Washington, D.C.: Notable Travel: I was "stuck" in Las Vegas for a day. So instead of donating my money to the casinos, I did the tours and other things that my friend didn't want to do (he got home to San Francisco).

Went to the Libarace museum (second gaudiest place next to Graceland); went on the Hoover Dam tour. And yes, they still use the "Any Dam questions?" and "Welcome to the Dam tour?"

The Flight Crew: That's dam lucky, WDC.

Reston, Va.: To the person going to Toronto:
I went to the shoe museum there - had some interesting stuff to see even if you're not crazy about shoes like me.

Just came back from a week trip in Rome and missed the snowstorm. We were at National with our fingers crossed last Saturday, watching the snow come down and the planes getting de-iced. (Also wanted to write in and say that the Scala Reale tour group there is GREAT and highly recommended.) And I finally learned how to roll my R's!

The Flight Crew: Yeah, the Bata Shoe Museum is definitely another must-do, thanks for the reminder. And thanks for the Rome tip.

Iceland Air Europe fares!: Just a PSA for those who have the vacation time: Iceland Air just released some Europe fares as low as $214 RT through March. Might need to book soon, though.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: It's Icelandair's Lucky Fare - go to www.icelandair.com. Taxes, which will add at least $100, are extra.

Baltimore, Md.: Hi. Love your section, and this chat, but I was really disapointed in your section this week on the Carribean. Except for the guy who wrote about the windsurfing, the stories were really boring. More Cindy! I'm still laughing about her cruise.

The Flight Crew: Mother, please, don't keep writing in; everyone in the office is on to you. I'll call you Sunday, I promise. And no, I didn't go to church last week. (Cindy)

Another for Japan: Quick comment - John Briley in Aruba now? That guy sure gets around! I met him at a friend's wedding in Hawaii, he was learning how to surf. Rough life!

Lived in Japan twice and still haven't seen it all but can say that creative, less-than-expensive travel is possible there. Try getting the book, "Japan Solo", a guide that offers more affordable options (like minshukus - guesthouses).

The Flight Crew: John's not here to respond himself, so I'll just say that travel writing is amazing and fun and quite possibly the best job on earth--but it's still work!

As for Japan, thanks for chiming in and giving us the heads up on "Japan Solo."

-Anne

Glover Park, Washington, D.C.: Hello,
Thanks for the article on Sunday on Barbados. I'm headed there for 8 days next month and the article will be very helpful. I have read that Barbados is conservative when it comes to dress. Is it okay to wear shorts around while I am sightseeing or do the locals look down on that? Is is only a requirement to dress in slacks if I am at dinner at a nicer restaurant?

The Flight Crew: Bajans do dress conservatively, but shorts are perfectly fine during the day. About the only place you wouldn't wear them is at a nicer restaurant, as you say. Have fun on your trip! -- KC

Alexandria, Va.: I'm going hiking in the Dolomites, Italy in early July, but have two free days before the eight-day hike begins to go shoe shopping. My quest is not limited to shoes, but it seemed criminal to go all the way to Italy and not visit their fine boutiques. Where would you suggest me visiting to do shopping and some minor sightseeing on my brief time window? Arrive-derci!

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Even the smaller villages, such as Ortisei, have nice shops, but the place to go is Bolzano, especially for leather goods and skis. And don't forget to visit Otzi the Ice Man at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology when you're there.

Annapolis, Md.: I really appreciate this site and the opportunity it gives me to pick the brains of so many people. So thanks in advance.
We are going to Belize next week and have read two guidebooks and checked Web sites but would greatly appreciate others opinions of places to stay within the following criteria: On Ambergris Caye. Most economical with the best beach and a pool.In Belize City, ditto cheap and in better neighborhood in town.

Has anybody snorkeled from the beach on Ambergris Caye, successfully? What's a decent, economical way to get between mainland and the Caye? I can't find my old articles from The Post on Belize -- can you tell me where to find them online? And I wish your talk archives could be searched, not by dates, but by topics. Thanks for all the help.

The Flight Crew: The technical whizes at washingtonpost.com are on the case, Annapolis. We know that chat archive searches are on their list of miracles to create. And they are about to launch a newly redecorated Travel page with lots of cool features, including an easier to search travel story archive.

Still, you've always been able to search that story list. Just go to the Travel page, scroll down to the Travel Index, and follow the links to domestic, international, etc. For Belize, you want to click Central America on the map. I see three Belize stories waiting for you there.
--Steve

Arlington, Va.: Hi everybody,

I enjoyed your article, "Beyond Cancun," a couple weeks ago -- it actually inspired me to take a trip to the Yucatan in May.

My brother and I are looking to spend a few days on the beaches at Cancun, but then we'd like to head inland for 7-10 days of backpacking. Our idea of fun = hiking around ruins, cabanas, small towns with bars on the plaza, music, and cheap hostels. Are there any sites you'd recommend that weren't mentioned in the article? Are Merida and Valladolid worth a visit?

Thanks for your advice.

The Flight Crew: Merida is a neat city with a big market that brings farmers in from the countryside. Valladolid I don't know. Can readers help?

And if you're thinking backpacking and hostels, start down in Tulum. You'll find much more of what you're looking for in that area, including campsites in cabana-style places that I passed by on the same road along the beach in Tulum.

Isles de Mujures might offer some of what you're looking for, particularly once you get away from the main town. (Cindy)

Houston, Tex.: Hi Crew,

Need help. I'm going to Fargo, N.D., at Easter and would like hotel recommendations. There isn't a lot to choose from, but I'd like opinions on which is best of what's available.

Thanks.

The Flight Crew: We have failed to do Fargo lately. Can anyone help? Quickly, though, only 15 min. left. (Cindy)

Silver Spring, Md.: Friends of mine are living in Moscow. When would be the best time to visit? How much should I expect to pay in airline tix? Would I be able to travel to St. Petersburg on my own? Should I have any political concerns (they just kicked Peace Corps out of the country and according to my friend will be asking the U.S. Embassy to be leaving soon).

thanks

The Flight Crew: Gary, who lived in Moscow for several years, says: for,the most temperate weather go in the summer, between May and late August. Though Eastern Tours, a New York consolidator, I got a ticket a year or so back for $650. Yes, you can go to St. Pete on your own, and you should. A trip by overnight train can be arranged once you're on the ground there. You should be careful of pickpockets and other petty thieves. But, trust me, the closure of the US Embassy in Moscow is not going to happen.

China or Japan: I haven't been to Japan but ever since I read the book "36 Views of Mount Fuji" I've wanted to go and have been doing a lot of research, so much that I already feel like I've been there. (I've been to China)In Japan, definitely go out of Tokyo, the country side is amazing. Culture and people are very different, so much culture (not to say there isn't in China) Amazing views, nature, etc. One of my good friends is from Japan, so I learned so much from her, too. It depends on your preferences, obvously. I haven't met one person who wasn't amazed by Japan, but heard mixed reviews about China. Definitely be careful about food, even in Hong Kong some food I saw was very suspicious (I loved Hong Kong!)

The Flight Crew: With this vote for Japan, looks like an even score right now. Anyone care to tip the balance?
-Anne

Harrisburg, Pa.: There was a major snowstorm this past weekend that I understand disrupted the airlines tremendously. What was frustrating as a consumer was the inability to get through on the telephone to purchase a special fare ticket. I was able to get to the gate at the airplane, yet they insisted the ticket could only be purchased over the telephone. For four straight days, I mostly received busy signals. Twice I got through, only to be disconnected while awaiting service. Shouldn't airlines consider, in times like that, allowing ticket sales at ticket counters?

The Flight Crew: If I had something to sell, I'd sell it whereever I could sell it. But maybe they were too inundated with rerouting passengers to make that work, I don't know.

Did you consider going online to make the purchase? Then with an eticket you could have flown through the lines--at least I did over the snow storm period. If you're not online, someone you know well enough to ask for help is most certainly. (Cindy)

Germantown, Md.: After watching the Travel Channel yesterday afternoon, I've been inspired to find a resort or hotel with a horizon pool. I've always wanted to swim in one, so where would you say are the most beautiful horizon pools with the most beautiful views in the U.S.?

The Flight Crew: Anyone have an idea?

Washington, D.C.: I'm planning on travelling to Australia in mid-June for about a month, but am in sticker shock over the airfare quotes I've been getting -- Any recommendations of how or where to find less expensive fares? How much should I be expecting to pay?

Also, do you have any suggestions for other places in the South Pacific that would make for a good en route stop-over for a few days?

Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Fares are about $1,500 round trip at that time of year. A consolidator that specializes in Australia may do better - try www.downunderdirect.com.

Alexandria, Va.: Love the chat! Question of a different sort: My sister and I (both in mid to late 20s) are DRIVING down to Florida for a week in mid-March. We're not on a tight budget -- we chose to drive to visit our brother in Savannah before continuing on to our grandfather in Sanibel Island. Can you give us any "must sees" along the way? How about taking a day and driving further down the road to the Keys to snorkel? Would that be worth a trip? My sister has never been to Florida and both of us like to drive.

The Flight Crew: Well, Alex, your Savannah stop takes care of the biggest must-see in my opion (Steve here). Other cool places include Kiawah Island and the Space Coast (a bit of detour, for you). Yes, the Keys are worth visiting, but only if you have lots of time for extra miles. You may want to start back north, but by a different route, say I-75 up through central Georgia and stop in Plains, Macon or Atlanta.

More in Raleigh & vicinity: If you can make it for Saturday breakfast, Big Ed's City Market Restaurant has great southern food and live bluegrass until noon.

If you're looking at UNC, try Carrburritos in neighboring Carrboro for a fun and funky fast Mexican.

The Flight Crew: Thanks, More.

Washington, D.C.: Of the islands discussed in Sunday's paper, for a single 30s female, which would be:
--safest
--affordable
--most likely to meet an eligible guy?

The Flight Crew: Gary says that Tobago probably best meets all your criteria. All three islands are pretty safe, Tobago (once you get there) is the most affordable. I don't know how eligible the guys in Tobago are but they're pretty approachable. You'd probably have to arm wrestle the German women tourists for the beefiest of them, though.

Laurel, Md.: I have a question about a very important travel topic we don't discuss much here: buying luggage.

Up to now, our family has vacationed exclusively by car, so we've been using my parent's old suitcases. But we expect to take a couple of airplane trips in the next year, and want to get the roller kind that airline personnel use.

First thing I notice shopping for those, is that every department store always has them at 50 percent off, which means the reference prices don't mean anything. Since durabilty and longevity are the most important qualities in luggage, what should a novice look for to make price/quality comparisons?

The Flight Crew: Laurel, I did a piece about a year ago comparing roll-aboard suitcases and the big thing that struck me was WEIGHT. I did the piece because I had stupidly bought what I thought was the best-made, well-constructed rolling suitcase I could find, only to realize later that the thing was so heavy I could barely lift it into the overhead bin. Researching, I found that there's a whole sub-genre of lightweight rollaboards. I settled on one from Travelsmith.com and have used it ever since -- their 20-inch Lightweight Roll-On for $150. -- KC

washingtonpost.com: Luggage We Like, (Feb.17, 2002

The Flight Crew: Here's the link to the lightweight rolling-luggage piece.

Washington, D.C.: Local travel this one, but I'm looking for a romantic hotel along the C&O canal. Closer to D.C. the better. Any suggestions?

The Flight Crew: There is nothing right on the canal. Cumberland and Hancock Md. have nice B&Bs in the towns near the canal.

If anyone else knows of another place, say it now; we have five minutes. (cindy)

Cabin John, Md.: Hi, there --

We are headed to San Francisco for a few days in late March. I was wondering if you could recommend a reasonably priced hotel (by S.F. standards). Do you have any thoughts on the Sir Francis Drake, The Vintage Court Hotel, or the Warwick Regis? Thanks so much!

The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says, of the 3 you mentioned, I like the Sir Francis Drake best. But I also like the Rex, a small bouique property near Union Square. San Fran hotels are so hurting for business these days you can and should negotiate for a good rate...

Arlington, Va.: My family holds family reunions in Fargo. We always use the "Kelly Inn" in Fargo. It's in Fargo proper but sort of in the outskirts so it has a suburban feel to the area. It's definately not downtown. But the rooms are large, clean, and the facilities are nice. There were meeting rooms/banquet rooms for our use, a pool, and it's near the local major shopping mall, called, I believe, South Acres. It's a real mall, like Tysons Corners, not a strip mall. You will need your car while staying there. My family background is Norwegian and we joked that only our crazy family would have a Norwegian family reunion at an Irish inn!

The Flight Crew: Thanks.

Arlington, Va.: I took the train to New Orleans to visit my daughter and got caught in the blizzard when I took the train home on 16 February. Amtrak personnel told us that Washington was getting heavy snow and that we might stay at a hotel in Greenville, SC. What happened was that we were stalled at a southern train station for about 3 hours and took the rest of way home real slow, arriving around 2:30 pm (from what I remember)at Union Station on 17 Feb instead of 9:50 am. I called home and was informed that there was no way anyone could come and get me (this was expected since I called home on Saturday and was told we were expecting lots of snow.) The end result, I was a real "home-girl". I stayed at the Hilton hotel next door to my office in Arlington where I was lucky enough to get the corporate rate. The front desk asked "How did you learn about us?" and I told them "I work next door" and gave them the address of my office (which has a completely different street address, so they knew I wasn't lying) and they said, "OK, we'll give you our corporate rate." The next morning, I ate breakfast at the pancake house near the hotel. I know the business neighborhood of my office better than my own neighborhood and as a child, my father would sometimes take us out for a meal at that pancake house. Sometimes my office eats at that restaurant also, for little office "get-togethers". I thought this little adventure was funny and I enjoyed being a "home-girl".

The Flight Crew: Well that takes the cake, Arl. Lots of people stayed in hotels near their offices by design (including a lot of Post employees). But ending up stuck in a hotel next to your office after a trip to New Orleans is just weird. Did you go into work the next day?

Need Cruise Help -- Dining?: Are there any cruise lines that can guarantee us a table for two in the dining room? My husband and I would like to try cruising this summer, however, this is the one thing that would be on our list of need to haves.

The Flight Crew: We've not seen tables for two, but maybe that's a feature of the expensive lines we've missed. You can get room service. Then again, ask any of the lines you're considering to see if that's possible; I suppose they could find a little table. (Cindy)

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.: Hi there! You have been a great help to me before so I thought I would try my luck once again. My fiance and I are going to London in two weeks -- this is his first trip, but I've been before. Of course we'll do the "must-see" things, but do you have any suggestions for off-the-beaten-path places or activities? Is there anything going on during that second week of March that I should know about (or any websites I should check out?)? I'd greatly appreciate any ideas you or your readers have for how we can make this trip fun and unusual. Thank you so much!

The Flight Crew: Cap, we always recommend that people do the south bank of the Thames, because that area's really spiffed up in the last couple of years. Don't miss the Globe Theatre there (reproduction of Shakespeare's theater -- there won't be a production while you're there, but you can tour the theater and there's a great museum). The new Tate Modern is amazing. And take a ride on the London Eye, the new wonderful observation wheel with its wonderful bird's-eye view of London. Steve also recommends the silver vaults in Chancery Lane near St. Paul's (www.silvervaults.com). Check www.timeout.com for other ideas on what's hot. -- KC

Rockville, Md.: Please answer this question. I think many people might be interested.
We took an Anmtrak Acela Regional (the old regular train) from NYC to DC yesterday. Even before the train left the station, the Amtrak people knew it was in trouble; it had engine problems. But they managed to get it going, about 25 minutes late. Finally, the train stopped 10 miles north of Philadephia and all the light went out. An announcement was made that a train was coming from Philly to tow us in, put a new engine on the train and get us on the way. Almost everyone on the train who had a cell phone called Amtrak to find out what was happening; the conductors wouldn't give out any information, although one of them said that "he knew this was going to happen." the customer service agent told me that the control panel of the main engine had caught on fire but the train left NYC anyway.
We ended up in Philly, where we had to leave the train and eventually transfer to another train that got us into D.C. four hours late. Everyone was angry and most of all frustrated due to the lack of information.
By the way, Amtrak attacked THREE engines to the train, none of which worked.

The Flight Crew: Thanks, Rockville.

Arlington, Va.: I was supposed to fly back from LA on Wednesday and called USAir Tuesday night to see whether my flight was affected. I was on hold for more than an hour, which led me to assume that everything wasn't back to normal even though the agent claimed it was. I was able to change my flight to Thursday and avoided the residual mess on Wednesday, plus got an additional warm and sunny day in LA.

Even though I wasn't at the airport begging for a standby slot, 60+ minutes of listening to USAir ads while on hold was no picnic either.

The Flight Crew: Maybe an hour hold IS back to normal for USAir, Arlington.

Timonium, Md.: Not a question but rather an observation about my one and only trip to Barbados in the late 80s. Seem to recall that the local economy was poor and as result the taxi drivers tried to "adopt" guests at our hotel, the Heywoods, to guarantee fares. Our driver had us and a 6 member British family and for $2-3, he would drive us to dinner or sightseeing locations, wait and return us to the hotel. It was worth the trip to watch as he orchestrated the 6 Brits including 2 teenage girls around his tiny subcompact taxi. As he drove us to the airport, he gave us a "can of sunshine" to remember him and the trip.
Sam

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the observation. Your taxi driver sounds delightful. I didn't see lots of overt poverty, in fact the standard of living seemed pretty high, though I did get the sense that tourism was off, and not likely to improve anytime soon if people continue to worry about leaving the U.S. -- KC

Herndon, Va.: I would like to go with my wife and 16-year-old son for around 10 days to the Caribbean. The "gotta have" ingredients include great snorkeling, abundent fishing opportunities for my son, kayaking would be a real plus, and the opportunity to enjoy wildlife and hikes, with fewer people around the better. We don't need fancy, but nor do we want totally "down and dirty. Belize and Tobago (great Sunday article on Tobago) have come up on our radar screen, but what might be your suggestions for where and when?

The Flight Crew: Your gotta haves are avaiable just about everywhere in the Carib. I've been thinking for some time I too want to try Belize; Gary likes Tobago well enough to spend skads of time there. For wildlife, Costa Rica is great. Consider St. John's as well. Snorkeling: I love the underwater national park called Buck Island just off the coast of St. Croix, and I hear that St. Croix has been really hit hard so should have some deals. (Cindy)

Olney, Md.: Hi Travel Folks!
I had a very pleasant surprise at BWI on Saturday during the heavy rains. We needed to pick up a friend who was arriving at around 10:30 in the morning and would need help with a large amount of luggage. We decided to park in the hourly garage. I was delighted to see that there was a lighted message near the sign marking each level. For example, we parked on level 2 and the sign said "244", which I assumed meant 244 empty spaces (it seemed to mean that!). As we were cruising the rows, we noticed that all the occupied spaces had a red light over them. Each empty space had a green light over it. And, at the end of each row, there was an arrow and a number, pointing the the number of empty spaces in that row. It made parking and meeting our friend's plane much less stressful than I had imagined. There was still a lot of construction, but
this is one way that BWI is really improving.

The Flight Crew: Yes, I was impressed with the new daily lots at BWI, too.

The Flight Crew: Well there you have it. Many thanks to all for your questions and insights.

After several seconds of deliberation, we're awarding the cheap bauble (a Dop kit filled with reuable spray bottles from W Hotels) to Arlington, for her train trip to New Orleans that ended suprisingly back at her own office. Send your particulars to travel@washpost.com. And we'll see you all next week.

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