Washingtonpost.com: Live Online

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.

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: Greetings, fellow travelers. Although the travel season is in full swing, we have a good team on hand to guide you through another hour of questions and answers. I am Gary Lee, a staff writer with the Travel section acting as you captain today. Others on deck include, Travel Section editor KC Summers, Assistant Editor John Deiner, Staff Writer Carol Sotilli and Copy Editor Andrea Sachs. In addition we have Elissa Leibowitz, a regular stalwart, helping field questions. Between us we've covered different parts of the world, but there is much that we don't know. Please feel free to jump in with suggestions in addition to queries.
Sometimes we focus so much on far flung destinations, I wonder whether there are not some gems across the US that we're overlooking. Do any of you have favorite spots off the beaten path in the US that you'd like to share with us. The one that grabs our fancy best wins "Streets & Trips 2002," an map guide made by microsoft. So, buckle up and off we go!

Falls Church, Va.: Do you know of any tour operators that do not charge a Single Supplement for their offerings? What about cruise lines? I hate to think that a solo traveler's only option for an overseas vacation package without a supplement is one of those all-inclusive resorts.

The Flight Crew: Cruise Critic.com has an excellent article on this topic and includes links to those cruises that don't charge a single suppliment. Find it at:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/interests/intarticle.cfm?ID=18

-Elissa

Silver Spring, Md.: Why mention travler's diarrhea as a common malady for travelers in Eastern Europe without mentioning the obvious remedy and precaution? Pack Immodium (or better, its generic form loperamide) before you leave home.

The Flight Crew: Consider it recommended. Still, our advice to drink only bottled water and not to eat raw food or uncooked vegetables should stand as the first precaution.

Back from Vegas: Got back from Vegas a week ago. Playing there can be expensive, especially at the newer resorts where blackjack and poker tables are minimum $10 bets. But we found some dirt cheap places on the north strip next to the Circus Circus hotel and resort at a place called Slots O'Fun: $1 and $3 tables! Granted, it is not as glitzy as Bellagios or Ceasar's but you can play longer and have a blast. Plus these cheaper places give you the chance to play the "Wheel of Madness": A dollar side bet that gives you the chance to multiply your winnings if you hit blackjack on your first two cards.

Next time I am going to stay in the mid-strip because it is nice, but take the bus a few blocks north to catch the cheaper games.

Just my two cents.

The Flight Crew: Yo, BFV. Thanks for the great suggestions for small-time big-time gamblers. Actually, I wish we could install a "Wheel of Madness" in the office. I stick closer to the nickel slots than the tables, so I prefer the glitzier places--and I just love the scene. But as long as the cocktails are free . . .

-jd

St. Louis, Mo.: Hi from a Midwestern newspaper reporter who once worked in "the other Europe." I thought the individual country reports were entertaining and useful. But I have a political gripe, which I know is trivial-seeming to American travel journalists, but not trivial to people who live in the countries profiled, or their American friends and relatives. I think you should have reconsidered your insistent use of Cold War terminology. Especially in the overview trip planner section, where it appears you are actively fighting more modern usage -- e.g., labeling the Czech Republic a part of Eastern Europe. Even Germans, not charitable to the cultural achievements of their Slavic neighbors, call this Mitteleuropa -- Central Europe. It's not an unfamiliar concept: if people of African descent don't like being called coloreds or negroes, don't label them as such in the newspaper. Likewise, if Czechs don't like being called Eastern Europeans ... Begging your pardon, I must continue my rant and say that to mention Poland as merely a place for concentration camp tourism is not only an insult, but demoralizing in an offhand way. Thanks for listening, and realize these criticisms only apply to a small part of a nice package overall.

The Flight Crew: Gary Lee here. First, thanks for your thoughtful reading of the articles. Your issue about how to categorize certain countries in the region, including the Czech Republic is valid. Having worked as a Moscow-based and a Germany-based news reporter for many years, it's an issue that I am keenly aware of. It's actually a questions I raised quite a bit during my trip through Slovakia. I got very mixed reponses. Most people didn't think it mattered all that much. I assume that I would get the same mixed response in the Czech Republic. Or has there been a referendum on this question that I am unaware of.

Your response about Poland is interesting. In fact we have been told by travel specialists, including many in Poland, that there is a boom in interest among Americans in travel to former World War II sites, including concentation camps. Did you miss our recommend of Kracow as a cultural destination or of the Carpathians in Poland for relaxation?

Raleigh, N.C.: Thank you for the great story this past week on travel to Eastern Europe. I went to Croatia this past October and despite fears about international travel -- and the country itself -- it was well worth the risk.

Now on to my next adventure -- I'm considering traveling to Instanbul (in part due to your recent stories about Turkey), but I don't have the money for the typical tour group package. Is the city easy (and safe) enough to navigate on your own or do you really need to be with a group? Thank you in advance for the information.

The Flight Crew: Hi, Raleigh. Glad you took a chance on Croatia...we all want to go there now.

As far as Istanbul goes, no need for a tour group. Tourist infrastructure is terrific, many of the sights are close together, everyone speaks at least a little English, and it's cheapish to boot. Plus the food is great, the people terrific and the hotels lovely. Go, go, go.

And look for our dueling features in early July on two ways to tour Turkey: by group and on your own.

-jd

Silver Spring, Md.: What a great themed issue! I particularly liked the Slovenia story, although I'm heartbroken to see that Bled has now officially been discovered in the U.S. A few notes to add to the Slovenia story:

We actually had a shockingly difficult time finding a mid-priced restaurant in downtown Ljubljana -- it seemed like everything was either beyond our student budget, was an ice cream shop (there was one on every corner) or was a bar (without any food being served). We wandered through the downtown, street by street, for over an hour, before giving up and having ice cream for dinner.

It's worth noting that Slovenia's intercity bus system is excellent -- very modern, on time, cheap, and generally better than the trains.

Bled is one of my favorite places in the world -- the entire Julian alps region is gorgeous, and Bled is really the crown jewel of the area. There is a festival in July called Bled days that's just fabulous. And in addition to the hotels that your author mentioned, there's a superb hostel called Bledec - newly renovated, better than some two star hotels I've stayed in, and for about $15 per person per night.

The Flight Crew: I must say I felt a little sad to tell people about Bled and the Kobarid area, because I don't want them to change one wee bit. Thanks for the info on the $15 hotel. Had I known, I would have checked it out. (I checked out skads,, but misssed that one.)

Rockville, Md.: I'd like to get some friends together and take the Trans-Siberian Express across Russia. Any suggestions for resources, travel agents, etc.?

The Flight Crew: Gary Lee here with a suggestion: Tour Designs, an Atlanta-based agency specializing in travel in Russia, is a good place to start. They are very good at customized trips. Mary Lou Foley is the agent you want to ask for.

Arlington, Va.: I have a great out-of-the-way US destination. Of course, when I was growing up there I was not so enamored of it, but now that I am gone......

The north shore of Massachusetts. It's got a lot of great history and places to see. Gloucester--made famous by "The Perfect Storm", there is picturesque Marblehead, there are wonderful fried clams, CHOWDAH, clam bakes, and homemade ice cream in Ipswich and Essex, there is world class polo in Hamilton. And you can pick your own fruit--blueberries, strawberries, blackberries! And of course there is Salem, of Salem Witchtrials fame. There is a museum that is a little hokey but cute nonetheless--and the gift shop is BRILLIANT! All within 45 mins. of Boston!

Oh, and did I fail to mention the lovely beaches, like Crane Beach...or secluded spots like Plum Island? The North Shore has a million little b&b's and quaint inns. It's perfect! You cannot beat it!

The Flight Crew: Gary says: Arlington, having gone to school in Andover, I fully concur with you about the charms of the region. You're in the running!

Japanese ryokan: Greetings!

My brother and sister-in-law married last July and are just now able to take their honeymoon. They leave next week for Japan, where they’ll be through August 1st. She’s originally from Yokohama, and her family is there. So that will be their home base - it should be fun to be in Yokohama during the World Cup final. They’ve also purchased unlimited rail passes and plan to visit other cities. I'm not sure whether they’re sticking only to Honshu or will be able to visit the other islands.

I still owe them a wedding present (yes, I’m a bad sister) and thought a one-night stay at a small ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) would be perfect. Any suggestions or past experiences to share? Many thanks.

The Flight Crew: That's a great idea. Fortunately, there is the Japan Ryokan Association (www.ryokan.or.jp/english), which has branch offices who might be able to help you find the right ryokan for your sister. We don't have any specific recommendations (perhaps a Clickster does), but we think anything with a view of Mt. Fuji is grand. And we have heard good things about Hiiragiya in Kyoto-a classic and much beloved. Also, the Japanese tourism office (www.jnto.go.jp/eng) has info on ryokans and links to properties.--andrea

Long Island Bound: Fairly prosaic destination I know, but I have two weekend days to sightsee on Long Island -- I will be about an hour out from the City and was wondering whether it was worth trying to drive out to the Hamptons for a day trip to see what the fuss is all about or whether it would be TOO frustrating and traffic-ky on a June weekend? My other thoughts were to go explore the mansions on the Gold Coast or to drvie down to Fire Island. Can y'all help with thougts or suggestions? Pretty please?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: I'd go to the beach. I especially like Fire Island because it's more resorty than Jones Beach, so you'll feel like you're really on vacation. You can drive there - park at Robert Moses and walk to Saltaire, or you can take the ferry, which is lots of fun. But to see the true Fire Island, take the ferry (www.fireislandferries.com). Go to Ocean Beach if you're a single heterosexual. Go to Cherry Grove or the Pines if you're gay. As for the Hamptons, too much traffic to get there on weekends.

Arlington, Va.: Just to start off -- yes, I am a terribly lucky.

Not only do I get to marry the best damn woman on the planet in late August but she just happened to win two free tickets to anywhere in the U.S. & Caribbean last week!

Due to out outlandish fortune we have decided to chuck our old honeymoon plans and are currently looking for a good destination to go. We have decided that a calming Caribbean vacation is too good to pass up but are not sure where to go. We are looking for relaxation, a lot of nature and little crowds. We like hiking, camping, and eating good food. We do not need "crazy" nightlife (no need for tons of bars and dance clubs.)

So far St. John has been highly recommended, but we wanted your valued opinions as well. Where should we go? What should we do?

Thank you muchly.

p.s. - we have to use these tickets by October, so there is no chance of waiting for another occasion. It is now or never. Not that now is so bad.

The Flight Crew: Congrats on that great coup - how lucky! Oh, and congrats on the free tickets, too. :)

In choosing your Caribbean destination, take into consideration that it's hurricane season, which will last until about when your tickets expire. Aruba is outside the hurricane belt and generally (though not always) avoids those vacation-ruining storms. If you're seeking a mellow time with good nature to observe, consider the Lesser Antilles or Grand Cayman, which is romantic, has great scuba diving and tons of perfume stores for you to buy some lovely scents for that best damn woman on the planet.

Of my colleagues, Andrea is fond of St. John's, K.C. likes Cozumel (great, cheap and world-class snorkeling) and John has had a swell time in the Bahamas.

-Elissa

Chevy Chase, Md.: Hi Gurus,
First off, my question, any recommendation for Green Bay, Wisconsin? I'm headed there over July 4 and aside from the Packer hall of fame, I'm stumped.
Also, as for my favorite off the beaten path place, Kerrville Texas. After driving I-10 all the way from Miami to Phoenix (for college) This became a favorite stopping point- cool nights, rivers for swimming, quiet town with victorian charm (in some places) and a night sky you wouldn't believe. Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Thanks for your Texas suggestion, says Gary Lee. As for Green Bay, none of us flight crew knows it. Perhaps some clicksters do.

Arlington, Va.: I'm planning a weekend trip to Assateague Island, MD. We'd like to backcountry camp on the beach. If we were to get there early afternoon on a Friday, would we have a decent chance at getting a spot? it's first come, first serve.

The Flight Crew: Hard to say, in fact impossible. I managed some years ago to get on the even more popular sites near bathhouses and such on a Friday morning, but it was a nailbiter as everyone in line we're assigned numbers without details of how many numbers would be called.
The parks service should have the best handle on the possibility. Call them, and then no matter what they say, can't you get up at the crack of dawn and get there earlier? Good luck. (Cindy)

Downtown, Washington, D.C.: Greetings! I'd like to throw an idea into the mix for today's question on undiscovered gems...St. Augustine, Florida. It's a not-quite-typical Florida destination, but I thought it was great! Went there on a whim once on one of those rambling road trips where you just decide where to drive to each morning and it was lots of fun. Beautiful little college (forgot the name) whose main campus building is an old art-deco hotel, cool little fort, quirky shopping/artsy area and history as the oldest city in America! (barring natives that is - it was founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century I believe).

Anyway it was great fun. I was road tripping with my boyfriend and had a great time, but it'd also be good for families I think.

The Flight Crew: Thanks downtown DC, says Gary. We've heard great things about St. Augustine and you've piqued our interest further!

Arlington, Va.: Re. Off the beaten path: I spent a week in Oregon two summers ago, and it was such a different experience than my usual beach or big city holiday. The coastal area along the northern half of the state - including Hugh Point, Oswald West and Nehalem Bay State Parks - is beautiful, and the hiking farther inland offers stunning views. I'd particularly recommend the area around the the "Three Sisters" mountains, where there are unexpected hot spring beside ice cold rivers, and clear views of what feels like the entire Northwest US.

The Flight Crew: Arlington, I like that idea says Gary. You're in the prize running!

Silver Spring, Md.: My friend and I want to go to New York City the first Saturday in July for a budget one-day mega-celebration. We were thinking of taking the train, shopping, lunch, and a show. With the latest news on Amtrak, should we not go on the train? Where do you suggest going to find great buys on clothes (she lost 61 pounds!), birthday lunch and a show (e.g., comedy, musical)? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Heck, no, I'd still take the train. (KC here.) The Northeast corridor's their bread and butter. Re clothes shopping (and btw, congrats to your friend), I don't know what your/her taste is, but one great NY store is H&M, a huge, fun, semi-tacky discount store with outposts in Soho, near Macy's and another uptown. The SoHo one is supposed to be more boutiquey than the others. SoHo is great for shopping -- one great store after another.

I just spent a great weekend in the Gramercy/Chelsea neighborhood and just loved the Gramercy Tavern -- not sure if they're open for lunch though. If you're in that 'hood, there are two really neat, atmosphere cafes/restaurants in ABC Carpet & Home, my favorite home furnishings store in the world.

Shows: I just saw, and loved, "Private Lives" and "Proof." If you want a musical, there's "Oklahoma!" -- I was sort of underwhelmed and didn't think it aged well, but the music's pretty.

Arlington, Va.: Off the beaten path U.S. destination:
The Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Visit Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island - stay in the Grand Hotel if you're splurging, or camp if you want to rough it, see Tahquamenon Falls, tour the locks in Sault Ste. Marie, head West to Whitefish Point (near where the Edmund Fitzgerald sank -- inspiriation for the Gordon Lightfoot song). If the mood strikes you, hit the indian casinos (although I find them dark and depressing). There are also a number of excellent golf courses up there.

It is the most beautiful, relaxing and peaceful place I have ever been in the U.S. Very low-key, no pretense, and you can feel yourself slowing down from the busy pace of the city to the sane pace of nature.

The Flight Crew: Thanks Arlington, says Gary. That's an area that I hadn't thought about.

Cheap hotels in New York?: You have probably answered this question before, so please forgive me, but IYO, what is the best method of getting the cheapest last minute hotel rooms in New York City? Priceline? Another site?

Also, loved the section on Eastern Europe yesterday. Dubrovnik is truly a jewel, and I know I must get back there before it is discovered by the masses. Thanks for the excellent articles!

The Flight Crew: 'Afternoon.

We have three faves: Priceline, as you mentioned, though there's that where-am-I-staying factor that scares some folks. Gary Lee reports he's never had a significant problem. KC blurted out hotels.com, which has really improved its act as of late. And I like Quikbook--rooms are really being marked down in the Big Apple these days, so you can actually snag a decent deal on Quikbook. Also, remember to check the hotel Web sites and last-minute travel sites like 11thhourvacations.com.

-jd

montezuma's revenge: When I went to Mexico last year, before I went out I would chew some pepto bismol. The bismouth coats your stomach and helps prevent bacteria from getting to you..Worked great for the times I forgot and got a drink with ice..
Best small city- Albany NY, of course. Scenery, history, the arts, good food. So close to many other great places, too.

The Flight Crew: KC here. Glad it worked for you, but our own John Deiner reports that he took Pepto Bismol every day, preventatively, on his recent trip to Turkey, and came to a terrible end. Literally.

Annapolis, Md.: I'm travelling to Riga, Latvia this summer.
While I want to travel through Latvia, I also
want to explore day (or muiltiple day) trips.
Any suggestions?

The Flight Crew: Gary Lee says: I went to a conference a few years back in Yermula, a wonderful town an easy drive outside Riga. I greatly recommend it. Do other clicksters have thoughts aboit Latvia?

Washington, D.C.: Re Eastern Europe, I lived in Eastern Europe and traveled around there for three years. The most eagerly awaited time is summer when the fruits came in season, particularly the wild strawberries, although the berries and plums were luscious,too. Their flavor is more intense than any I have since eaten,and I have lived and traveled broadly since then. I never became ill, except from overeating them. What has changed to cause this excess of precaution. I can't believe anyone should pass on the wild strawberries.

The Flight Crew: Yeah, I (this is KC) felt the same way in Thailand -- just couldn't pass up the street food and said what the hell. And had no problems. Don't necessarily follow my advice, though, guys -- I'd hate to have your stomach problems on my conscience.

Arlington, Va.: Thanks for the great Eastern Europe articles yesterday. I was hoping any of you could spread some insight on the hostel/private room situation. I'm a single traveller who is planning a trip to Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. I'm not going to shell out $$$ for hotels and was wondering if any of you knew the situation concerning hostels/private rooms. Thanks for any info.

The Flight Crew: I stayed in a $16 a night place in Piran, Slovenia, which I mentioned in the article yesterday. I found it by contacting the American Youth Hostels in Washington, and they provided a great book that listed hostels throughout Europe. My impression is that European hostels are better than one would expect if experience so far had been with American ones. Anway, a book listing them is available. Give it the old college try, and if you absolutely can't find the book, email me at LooseC@washpost.com and I could lend you mine. Staying on farms is another way to get a room for less than a hotel, but not that much less.

Former Washingtonian: Hope someone out there can help me: I'm headed to Barcelona next week, and am looking for some things to do. There's the beach, Las Ramblas, and all things Gaudi, but does anyone has good tips on other places to see or eat? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: Stuff to do: Tour the Olympic Village, shop at the Boqueria market (Mercat Sant Josep), take a side trip to Monserrat, visit the National Art Museum of Catalunya, marvel at the Church of Santa Maria del Mar, blush in the Erotic Museum.

The Busturistic takes tourists on a two-loop tour of the whole city on open-air doubledecker buses, and admission includes a huge coupon book for most other places in the city you'll want to visit. The bus ticket will pay for itself with the discounts you get (and last time I was there, it included a coupon for free helado!)

Places to eat: Comme Bio is an excelent vegetarian market and restaurant that is a nice relief from the piles of serrano ham you'll undoubtedly eat. Els Quatre Gats, the former Picasso hangout, is touristy, but I found the food to be surprisingly amazing. And I love the "fast food" restaurant called Pans and Co. -- great for bocadillas to eat on the go. Sample fantastic champagne at La Xampanyet -- again, touristy, but worth it.

And if you're hip to it, hunt down the hidden Bar Marbella in the Gothic Quarter to sample some forbidden absynthe -- ok, so it's not poisonous and hallucinagenic like it was when Hemingway and Poe and van Gogh all threw down bottle after bottle, but it does pack a walloping punch.

Of course, any posting about Barcelona wouldn't be complete without a warning about petty crime. For Gaudi's sake, wear a moneybelt at all times!

-Elissa

Annandale, Va.: My son, a 17 year old, will be attending a month-long program this summer sponsored by the Soros Foundation in Olomouc, Czech Republic. Does anyone out there have any comments on Olomouc and its university? There is a website for the town, but I would really appreciate some personal views.

The Flight Crew: You got us, Annandale. How about it, clicksters?

Burtonsville, Md.: I'm considering flying Jet Blue to Long Beach this summer. What's the buzz from the travel community? I read the online chat with the founder. Is the A320 Airbus the same aircraft that had the tail failure on American in New York? How's longterm (1 week) parking at IAD? I'm a die-hard supporter and enthusiast of Southwest airlines but it got to be a drag getting there early enough to get an early boarding pass to ensure getting a window seat. Is it true Southwest now flys nonstop from BWI to LAX? How can they do that in 737's? Those stopovers in PHX were a drag too. Thanks, Jeff

washingtonpost.com: Recent story on JetBlue versus Southwest.

The Flight Crew: Burtonsville...NO CONTEST. Go JetBlue if you get a good rate. The jets all have that squeaky new-plane smell, the seating is fabulous, and you get TV--a real time-passer. Don't know if they're the same jets as the one involved in that NYC crash, but I felt completely safe when I flew JetBlue to Florida recently.

Plus, because so few JetBlue flights originate out of Dulles, there are no lines. Just remember to bring some food. You'll get snacks onboard, but it ain't no meal. As for parking, I haven't had a problem recently at the long-term lots.

And, yes, Southwest is beginning service to LAX from BWI, this September.

--jd

20005: Hi Guys,

I'm going to be in the Huntington Beach, CA area for a week starting on Wednesday for some business/some vacation. Any suggestions on things to do? No Disney, No Hollywood.

The Flight Crew: If you like the outdoors, or things related to the outdoors: Check out the surfing museum; rent a bike and ride along the 10 miles of coastal trails; kayak around Huntington Harbour and Alamitos Bay; sign up for a guided horseback-riding tour at the Central Park Equestrian Center. If you want to lose yourself in culture, visit the beautiful architecture and fountains (and books) of the Central Library, or visit the Newland House Museum. You can also go birding at Shipley Nature Center; shop for veggies and art at the Pier Plaza Farmers Market and Art A-faire, or a free weekend concert at the Pier Plaza. If all else fails, hit the beach, and move till your next scheduled business meeting. --andrea

Hanover, N.H.: Over the weekend I was stuck at O'Hare overnight due to thunderstorms. The airline (United) made no provisions for overnight accomodation, short of giving us an 800 number to call for "savings of up to 50% at participating hotels". The number was consistently busy. If I write them asking for reimbursement of my hotel bill, what are the odds of anything happening?

The Flight Crew: I'd guess less than 50%. Acts of God usually aren't covered. But you can always try. But you might be able to get the sort of promised 50 percent discount for another night somewhere else. That would be my request.(Cindy)

NYC Shopping Tip: Go to Century 21, downtown by Ground Zero. Great buys, designer clothes at a bargain, all the native New Yorkers know about it, and you'll be supporting downtown, which needs your money.

Happy shopping!

The Flight Crew: Yes, several folks on our staff adore that place. Thanks for the reminder.

Arlington, Va.: For the Raleigh, NC traveler to Istanbul -
Just a word if you are a woman traveling alone...
I found it off-putting initially that every store owner would try to entice me to come in and have tea. (Although they didn't really pressure me to buy anything) But when I politely responded, thank you, but I'm only browsing and didn't have time to stop, they would say I was just some American that didn't really care about getting to know the Turkish people, etc.

I also got several proposals from young men who wanted to give me a tour of the city.

I would just say the people are a little too friendly, but Istanbul is a wonderful place to explore once you get used to that.

The Flight Crew: Yeah, every merchant in town wants you to have tea with them. I'm a little surprised about the flak you got when you said no, but perhaps that's a gender thing. Or maybe I was lucky. Thanks for the good advice.

--jd

Baltimore, Md.: Many years ago I read about a German town that is home to a large number of dachshunds. I'd like to visit this town on an upcoming trip. None of the guidebooks I've reviewed provide any clues as to where this place might be. Any ideas? Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: You have me stumped. E-mail the Deutsche Dachshundclub (German Dachshound Club) at www.dtk1888.de. I'm betting they'll know. P.S. Did you know they're called teckels in Germany? My neighbor has three and they never stop barking.

Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: I loved, loved, LOVED yesterday's Travel section ... you've got me jonesin' for a trip like nobody's business. But I have to say, the steep airfares to Eastern (or Central, of course) Europe are a bit daunting to someone who's used to flying to Paris or Amsterdam for $400. So I'm thinking about off-season travel -- but wondering whether late fall/early spring in these countries might be touchy, weather-wise. Any thoughts?

The Flight Crew: KC here. Thanks a lot -- it was a fun (if frustrating) issue to put together. Actually, spring and fall are wonderful times to go -- you can pretty much expect the kind of weather you would in western Europe in those seasons, just be prepared with a jacket and umbrella.

Washington, D.C.: If you're going to eat fresh fruits and street food, whether in Russia or Bangkok, ask your doctor about the Hep A vaccine!

The Flight Crew: Good point. Wouldn't hurt. Could help.

Washington, D.C.: If you're going to eat fresh fruits and street food, whether in Russia or Bangkok, ask your doctor about the Hep A vaccine!

The Flight Crew: Good point. Wouldn't hurt. Could help.

Chicago, Ill.: Help me flight crew!

I have a vision in my head -- it's of a cabin in the woods, perhaps by a lake, my and my husband, some friends, a long weekend, sitting on the porch, grilling, long walks, board games, a quaint town nearby, antiquing, lazy summer fun. How can I make this vision a reality? In short, where does one get information about cabin rentals? I am in Chicago, but many of the aforementioned friends are in DC, and so I am looking in both the Midwest and the West Virginia/Maryland area.

The Flight Crew: What lovely timing! We will be publishing a guide to cabin rentals in Virginia and Maryland in this Sunday's paper. Included in that edition are listings after listings of every cabin you can rent at national and state parks, plus two stories in which we dispatched reporters to stay at a rustic cabin and a luxury cabin.

If you can't wait until the weekend, take a look at some of these Web sites:

National Park Service: www.nps.gov
Maryland state parks: reservations.dnr.state.md.us
Virginia state parks: www.dcr.state.va.us

-Elissa

Rockville, Md.: Travel on the Trans-Siberian Express conjures up both romantic and daunting images in my mind--both probably for good reasons. Setting up such a trip is dicey and figuring out what to see along the way has to be well planned in advance. How can I find moderately priced tours across the continent? And how much prep time would I need to plan such a trip? Any suggestions?

The Flight Crew: Rockville: Gary Lee, who has taken the trans Siberian from Moscow across to Mongolia a couple of times, with a couple of thoughts. First, if you would like to get off at some interesting points (ie Novissibirsk, Irkutsk or other Siberian cities) I highly recommend that you go in the summer, July or August. Make sure that you get a ticket which allows you to get off and back on several times. Invest in a good travel guide to Russia to see which of the places in the area you would most like to see.

Re: flight complaint on hotel: Complain! The squeeky wheel gets the grease. You won't get anything if you don't call.

The Flight Crew: We agree completely!

Green Bay, Wis.:: Your best bet is to drive about 45 minutes away to Door County, Wis., which is magically beautiful. I'd stay at the Reynolds House B&B, www.reynoldhousebandb.com, where the able innkeepers Stan and Jan will give you lots of suggestions. Their inn is in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., which is one of the nice little towns in Door County. I've been around Green Bay and not found a lot to do there. From Sturgeon Bay, you can go boating, walk around the historic downtown or visit other similar and pretty historic towns all around the area. I love that area.

The Flight Crew: Thanks, says Gary!

Undiscovered: My grandmother retired to the small town of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. I loved it there. Not too crowded, you can drive on the beach, lots of cheap little motels right on the water, a cheap muni golf course designed by Donald Ross, a couple of redneck bars filled with friendly, non-threatening locals. Not much in the way of cuisine, as a Mexican restaurant owned by Irish people about sums it up, but close enough to Cape Canaveral, Daytona and Orlando to find stuff to do.

The Flight Crew: Thanks, says Gary. Sounds tempting and puts in the running for the prize!

Heading to Barcelona: Please tell former Washingtonian...3 different wallets were snatched in Barcelona at a conference last month using the drop and bump method on an escalator. Put your wallet in your front pants pocket.

The Flight Crew: I don't think putting your wallet in your front pants pocket is good enough. You should put everything you need (and that should only be your passport, credit cars, some cash and tickets, not every single photo and receipt currently crammed in your wallet) in a money belt that is concealed under your clothes. No question about it.

-Elissa

Off the Beaten Path, but on the Marginal Way...: My favorite hidden place in the U.S. is Ogunquit, Maine. We go up 1-3 times a year and always stay at The Beachmere, a beautiful inn with balconies and bay windows that overlook the rocky shoreline and ocean. (I'm 27--sometimes it's me and the folks, other times it's just them, occasionally it's me and the boyfriend.) If you stay at the Beachmere, you get a key to the Marginal Way, a mile-long footpath that goes along the coast, but the M-Way is accessible anywhere around town. It's a short walk to Pirate's Cove (I think that's the name, but I may be off), which is a little boardwalk village filled with antiques, fudge, toys, etc. You'd swear Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote is just around the corner. The people are so nice, and anyone will stop to talk to you. You'll become hooked and meet up with your favorite waitress, pharmacist, innkeeper, etc., every time you go back. (Yum, the lobster at Captain Nick's, where they have the only waitress with a tongue piercing in the county! The filet mignon at The Steakhouse! Deelish!)

Oh, and if you take a long weekend, you're only an hour away from Freeport, where L.L. Bean and a town full of outlets await! (Celebrate with a gourmet lobster dinner in Wells on the way back.)

That's it; I'm booking my trip now. I just talked myself into going.

The Flight Crew: Gary says: having spent a long weekend there a couple of years back I know what you mean. You're in the running for the prize, too!

Dreaming of Hawaii: My husband and I are planning a trip to Hawaii this September and are having trouble finding affordable airfare. We are borrowing a home in Kahala for a week, so we don't need and air/hotel package. We're planning to visit family in San Francisco first, so will break the trip into two legs. Fares from SFO are over $600 for the dates we're looking at.
My question is: How do airline pricing cycles operate? Can we expect airlines to lower fares for fall travel later this summer, or should just book the best thing we find now?
Thanks Travel Masters, you guys are the best!

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: There is no pattern to Hawaii sales. Last week, there was a sale that lasted for only a few hours - $504 round trip from here to Honolulu on Continental. Sign up for the programs on the various Internet booking sites that will notify you if the fare falls to under a certain amount. Travelocity calls it farewatcher and Expedia faretracker. When you find a cheap fare, book it fast.

Sweet US Place: New Hope, PA and its across-the-river sister, Lambertville, NJ. Historic towns that both have a great combo of histroy, charm, and upscale (read, money lives nearby) shops and amenities. They are lovely and near both Phila and NYC. Plus, you can tube or canoe down the river, antique, stay in an incredible B&B, eat wonderful food, etc etc. The drive along the curving river and its canal either up to NYC or down to Phila is just beautiful. Oh, also, Washington's Crossing State Park is right near there (source of the great painting of GW in the prow of his boat. . . .)

The Flight Crew: Thanks, says Gary. That's someplace I have been curious about and you have made me even more so!

???: Did you guys really just recommend Cozumel for the Luckiest Guy on Earth who wanted NO CROWDS on his honeymoon? Tsk...

Lucky, I recommend Belize--Caye Caulker. Not four-star accommodations, to be sure, but there are 200 people on the whole island when it's busy (!), the most beautiful reef you'll ever see, and hammocks galore.

The Flight Crew: I was in Cozumel and didn't find it crowded at all. Depends on the season, I guess.

Belize is an option, if your winning airline flies there.

-Elissa

Washington, D.C.: Hi,

Any thoughts on safety in Argentina right now, considering the financial and political unrest? Airfare is really low, and we're thinking of taking a week in Buenos Aires, with maybe a day trip to Las Pampas. An Argentine friend says now is not the best time to go.

The Flight Crew: Hi, D.C. None of us has been there recently, but I went to travel.state.gov to see what the U.S. government has to say about the situation, and the word is not bad:

"The security situation in Argentina continues to improve. However, the effects of the ongoing Argentine economic crisis subject residents and, occasionally, visitors alike to financial restrictions, delays and other inconveniences.
Public demonstrations are common, but usually non-violent, although demonstrators sometimes block streets. There have been no reports of injuries to U.S. citizens related to the crisis. Financial sector difficulties and trade restrictions may occasionally affect access to banking and ATM machines. ATM machines in Argentina accept most U.S. ATM cards, but will only dispense Argentine pesos.
The Department of State urges U.S. citizens considering travel to Argentina, or already present there, to monitor media reports for current information on developing situations and to avoid areas where large groups have gathered."

Anyone out there with info?

--jd

Undiscovered Gems: Boy,

We have a lot of gems right here in town that a lot of people don't seem to want to take advantage of. Gettysburg, Anteitem, Manassas battlefields are all day trips. Mount Vernon and Monticello likewise. Williamsburg and Busch Gardens are great weekend trips as is Philadelphia. I'm happy to say my family and I have done all of these in the last two summers and have had a great time.
You don't need to go to the Delaware/North Carolina beaches to have a good time. Gems (both undiscovered and well known) are all around!

The Flight Crew: Thanks, says Gary!

Columbia, Md.: Hey Gang,

Love these chats. My spouse and I are going to visit relatives in Southern California in early August. We are then planning on driving from LA north to Santa Barbara, San Simeon and onto Carmel, then returning to LA for our return flight.We are allowing about 5-6 days for the vacation part of the trip. We have read your article about Big Sur and plan to follow many of your suggestions. Our question has to do with lodgings. Do we have to make reservations or can we ad-lib the trip?

The Flight Crew: I too love ad-lib travel. But mid August is a busy time. LA of course has mucho hotels, but after that, while I can't say you definately won't get rooms, it's not something I'd risk. In fact, places like the Big Sur Lodge get booked early. If it were me, I'd map an itinerary and get on the phone right now. (Cindy)

Manassas, Va.: A friend is moving back to Northern Virginia from Fresno, CA. She will be U-Hauling across the U-S-A (beat Germany!) most likely in October. I'd like to fly out and ride back with her for a 6-7 day venture back east. We have limitations, obviously, we're in a U-Haul, it's no Winnebago for sure. How could we go about attacking this? What's the best route, a more southern or northern one? And are we completely nuts?

The Flight Crew: Every day, millions of Americans cross the country in U-Hauls. Okay, that figure might be off some, but lots of people have done it--some successfully, others with horror stories. First, remember that U-Hauls are gas guzzlers, so you don't want to zig-zag the nation. Pick a part of the country that is to your liking--but try and stay out of big cities, as driving in traffic with an U-H is tough. Also, think about safety and parking overnight (you don't want any break-ins). Once you have an idea of where you want to go, call AAA and ask them to help you with a triptych. Then, stock up on water and Slim Jims and go see America (at 45 mph)--andrea

Annandale, Va.: Do any of you know what the current status is of the Moscow Area airports? When I was there in the '94, Sheremeteva II was well below western standards but considerably better than the other regional airports, like Vnokovo and Domodedova, which could be classified at somewhere between awful and really awful. Have there been any improvements since then? I had read that a new modern international airport building was being built by an Italian company. Was that ever completed? Finally, for those of us who fly into Moscow but need to continue onto Siberia, is our only option to go to one of the regional airports or do any of the Russian airlines offer a continuation service from Sheremetova II?

The Flight Crew: Annanadale, I was in Sheremeteva II last summer, says Gary, and can report that while there have been some improvemments, it's still not up to par. And yes, unfortunately to get a domestic flight, even to St. Petersburg, you have to change airports. It's an awful system, only made bearable by the charms of the destinations..

trans-Siberian info: Not too long ago there was an article (or series of articles, i can't remember) in National Geographic about travel along the trans-Siberian RR...might be worth looking into.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the tip, says Gary Lee.

Arlington, Va.: Any suggestions for a getaway over the 4th (have Thurs. and Fri. off) that stays far, far away from the traffic diasters on 95 north or south, and beach routes?

Say within about 3 hours drive of DC would be great. Just a couple looking to relax, and have the option of being energetic if we want to, to hike, golf, etc. Or just hang out and eat and swill beer.

The Flight Crew: Hi, Arl. I'm guessing that the beach and I-95 traffic will be fairly diffuse this year, inasmuch that 97 percent of America may take off Friday or the early part of the week. That said, it'll still be awful.

I guess I'd try to head toward the Shenandoahs and time travel away from peak hours (early morning or late night is always a good idea). Or perhaps the Poconos/Hershey/Amish country.

Any other ideas?

--jd

Re: Private Rooms in Europe: I traveled through the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary a few years ago and stayed in a private room in Buda. I booked through an agency in the train station, which is the way to go if you want to be fairly sure where the room is and that the person renting the room (usually just an extra bedroom in their apartment) is above the board. That said, most guidebooks will tell you that you are generally safe in using common sense and renting a room from the (usually) older women who stand waiting for trains.

I don't remember the exact price of my room in Buda, but it was around $20. It was in a fabulous fin de siecle building, on a street that had great views of the parliment building across the river.

Also, for Vienna, I had a nice stay at Hostel Ruthensteiner, run by an American-Austrian couple. http://www.hostel-vienna.com/default.htm

The Flight Crew: Thanks for that suggestion says Gary Lee!

Ellicott City, Md.: Anyone tried calling British Airways
reservations lines recently? Waits of 15
to 45 minutes seem common. By the
time your get through, you want to kill
"Enya" (one of the featured artists that you
get to hear repeatedly while on hold)....

OK, are ALL airlines now this way, or is
BA especially bad?

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: I called BA last week and got right through. Try calling during off hours. Usually, if phones are busy here, the system automatically switches you to their reservationists in Newcastle, England. But why are you phoning at all? BA has a redesigned Web site with a very good booking interface - it gives you a pop-up calendar that tells you what days low fares are being offered. Go to www.britishairways.com.

Arlington, Va: headed for the Big H, Houston, over the 4th. Anything to do there?

The Flight Crew: Ah, Houston. The town we love to hate. Actually, I was just browsing on the Web and there are some pretty cool attractions. The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens sounds neat, a big old mansion with period pieces, surrounded by gardens. And some of the museums sound great -- esp the Menil Collection, with eclectic art ranging from tribal African sculptures to Andy Warhol's soup cans, and the Museum of Fine Arts, which sounds awesome -- Renaissance and 18th-century art, and Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works.

Then there's the Houston Space Center, if you're into that, with all kinds of hands-on stuff. Go to http://www.houston.worldweb.com for more. -- KC

20009: Flight Crew: I recently called USAir about using frequent flyer points for tickets to Rome in March 2003, and was told there were no tickets available for any of the dates I wanted. This sounds fishy to me -- that is nine months away, not a peak travel time like Thanksgiving or Xmas (Easter is peak time for Rome, but it is in mid-April next year). What's up?? They are really sold out for a week in March? or they don't free up seats for FF tickets until later? or they are expecially stingy with FF tickets because of the precarious finances?
Should I keep trying, or burn those points asap on a trip to anywhere they'll let me use them? Thanks.

The Flight Crew: Usually, booking way in advance is the best idea. But no necessarily so when booking FF tickets. Its a good idea to TRY in advance. However, all the airlines tend to put out very few frequent flyer tickets that far in advance. They wait to make sure there isn't going to be mega demand before they free up freebies. You could get flexible on the dates and see what happens, or wait a bit and see if they open. Sorry, no way to predict for sure what will happen, or when. And something else could be happening, but I can say that hoarding seats is not unusual nine months in advance. (Cindy)

Green Bay and out-of-the-way: My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I went to Green Bay about 6 years ago, on our way to the UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan. We had to fly into Wisconsin because in Michigan you had to be over 25 to rent a car (which we weren't). As far as Green Bay, the city seemed pretty bleak to me. However, north and east, the scenery around the Door Peninsula and that part of Lake Michigan was simply amazing.
Now, for my plug of the UP: go! We went in April, and Lake Superior was still partially frozen. The pictures we took on the beach at Ontanagon (our base: good Quality-Inn type hotel) look like end-of-the-earth National Geographic photos. We went hiking in the Porcupine Mountains, around Lake of the Clouds and Lake Gogebic...could actually hear the latter groaning as the ice went through its spring thaw. So few people and such amazing, silent scenery makes this one of my most favorite vacations ever. We used Ontanogon as our base, all the copper mining in the area meant that lots of Cornish people settled here last century. As a result, you can still get good Cornish pasties (meat pies) in the local restaurants.
One last thing: you can fly Midwest Express, to Milwaukee and then connect to Green Bay. This airline is hands-down my favorite, as every passenger gets food served on real china, and unlimited wine. I hear they have champagne brunches on Sunday flights.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the info and the suggestion says Gary. Good work!

K Street, Washington, D.C.: I am going to have a 10 hour layover at Heathrow in August (on my way to Slovenia, in fact!). I leave Dulles at 8:00 am, arrive at Heathrow at 9:00 p.m. and don't leave until 7:30 a.m. the next day. Any ideas on hotels/showers/etc nearby? The thought of not showering or changing my clothes or sleeping somewhere besides an uncomfortable chair over that period is truly hideous. Thank you!!!!!!!

The Flight Crew: This is a link to all hotels in the vicinity of Heathrow:

london.hotelguide.net/hl1ap.htm

The Flight Connection Centres in Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4 have showers. There's also something called the Luxury Island, in which you pay a fee of around 25 pounds for luxury shower suites, clothes valet and shoe cleaning service, a comfortable seating area, access to newspapers and satellite TV, workstations with internet access and business facilities.

But you want to sleep too ...

-Elissa

Re Hep A virus: you need to have more than one shot I believe, so don't wait for the last minute.

The Flight Crew: Thanks.

Fairfax, Va.: Regarding out of the way destinations, a beautiful place to check out is Sunset Crater north of Flagstaff, AZ. Most tourists bypass it on the way to or from the Grand Canyon, but it's worth the time to check out. Aside from the crater itself, there's some great hiking, ice caves, and some fascinating anistazi ruins.

The Flight Crew: Fairfax, that sounds wonderful, says Gary.

Arlington, Va.: Off-the-beaten track: there's a tiny town in NW PA called Conneaut Lake. It's a real throw-back: very mellow, middle America, family-oriented kind of place. There's a gorgeous lake, big enough for water skiing, etc., with one public beach, and launch. And there's a small amusement park on the lake, with one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world. There's a great diner called Mama Bear's, and the bars are so cheap that I never spend more than $10 for a night of drinking beer.

Accommodation can be a problem, as there are a slew of rather run-down motels around the lake. Probably the best option is the Hotel Conneaut, which is right in the park. There are a bunch of cottages that rent by the week.

There also is a fairly large Amish community in the area, so you get see buggies every so often, or a road-side stand where you can buy bread and pies and such.

It's about at least 5 hours from DC, and usually takes more like 6.

The Flight Crew: Thanks much says Gary. Sounds like the kind of place we'd enjoy ourselves.

St. Joseph, Mo.: I really enjoyed discovering St. Francisville, Louisiana. There's an amazing historic church there with a beautiful graveyard and lots of trees with Spanish moss. Great antiquing and fun little restaurants. I also enjoyed a store there called Grandmother's Buttons, which sells all kinds of jewlery made from buttons, including some antique buttons. It's a great little town. If you are ever driving from Natchez, Miss., to New Orleans, this would be a nice stop on your way.

The Flight Crew: That's a good recommendation, St. Jo! Thanks!

Boulder, Colo.: Great articles on Eastern Europe!
Do you know of any agents who rent apartments or houses for a week or two in Ljubljana, or other places in Slovenia? Do they exist? Searches on the Slovene tourist Web site point one to condos in ski resorts or hotel rooms with kitchens, but nothing like the offerings of Cuendet in southern Europe, or Marys in Prague, or your examples for Croatia.

The Flight Crew: I put in a call to the travel agent mentioned in Sunday's piece, but got an answering machine. Why don't you try her too today, and if you don't have an answer by noon tomorrow, email me and I'll see if I can find out another way. (loosec@washpost.com)

re: United -- I can add to this Vent!: I would wager less than 50 percent.

I had a similar incident with Delta. First my fianc and I were offered to be bumped (including hotel, dinner voucher, 300 miles and $150 each). Last minute, two other people were chosen to be bumped BUT they asked us to switch with them. We agreed and told the attendant who said that she was busy and that we "missed out". In the end, rainstorms frustrated all flight plans, we were stuck at a relatively expensive hotel booked for us by Delta sans meal ticket, clothes(!) or nearby restaurants to eat at. I think we may have gotten free drink tickets for our next flight after arguing with them for one hour.

If you win with United I want the secret!

The Flight Crew: Thanks.

Re: Jetblue: Just did the Jetblue thing from IAD to Oakland and back from Long Beach to IAD. The flight itself was fine- the DirecTV really made it go by quickly. Snacks were decent (still brought our own food) and the crew was nice. However, flying out there was a mess; the plane coming in from Oakland had mechanical problems so we had to wait an additional 2 hours (and watched everyone else arrive and leave on their Jetblue flights) for them to fly a plane down from JFK to IAD. They didn't have good communication and no one seemed to know what was going on. They kept telling us the plane would arrive in 30 minutes, then 45 minutes, etc. In return, we got a $25 credit for a future flight. I'd have rather had that in liquor! Because of the delay, we missed out on several things we were supposed to do. I was disappointed with Jetblue for this, but it was nice not to have to wait too long in line at IAD. Long Beach is a slightly different story, since they fly to New York and Vegas as well- longer lines- but the "airport" is so tiny that it just seems worse. Anyway, I'd probably fly Jetblue again if I had the chance.

The Flight Crew: Hey, thanks for the report. But ya know, a two-hour delay these days is nuthin', though the muddled communications is a pain. And as many times as I've been delayed on a flight, I've never gotten a flight coupon, so I'd say you made out OK (though KC reports that she also has received a voucher for a flight delay on another airline). Thanks again.

Backcountry in Assateague?: Good luck. First of all, if you want to backcountry why do you care about a spot on the camping grounds? Assateague allows for beach camping: it is about 20 or 25 miles so there should be lots of places to camp up and down the beach side or the bay side. If you really are into amenities like showers and stuff like that, then yeah you might be hurting for a space.

The Flight Crew: Thanks.

Washington, D.C.: Just got back from my honeymoon in Italy. I want to thank readers and staff for their recommendations. Based on a rec. from a reader, we stayed at the Imperial Tramontano in Sorrento for a week which was beyond splendid. Thanks to the staffer who recommended the Hotel Mozart in rome--the location was unbelievable!

Thanks to all who advised us!

The Flight Crew: You're welcome, says Gary. It was I who suggested the Mozart and would gladly go back again.

Arlington, Va.: So what would it cost me to fly to Korea for Friday's match?

Please tell me I don't have to explain this question.

The Flight Crew: A mere $3,200, my soccer-crazed and sleep-deprived friend ...

-Elissa

Maryland: My favorite out of the way spot:

Teddy Roosevely National Park in western North Dakota. A visit at sunset, with the rays beaming off the colored rocks is a simply stunning site. Alternatively, a gray, rainy day that gives way to sunshine and a rainbow could make you cry. Contrary to popular opinion, North Dakota is not all flat, windy, and boring. In western North Dakota, you get a more pristine beauty and fewer tourists than in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Also in Western ND is Medora, a lovely, restored/rebuilt frontier resort. If you want to see where Teddy Roosevelt roamed the prairies, or follow the Lewis and Clark trail, see dinosaur excavations, and meet some of the greatest people in the world, a trip to Western North Dakota is in order!

The Flight Crew: I like that idea responded Gary. It puts you right in the running.

Caribbean honeymoon: If you get to head to the Caribbean on your honeymoon this summer, consider Tortola, one of the British Virgin Islands. There is a resort there called the Long Bay Beach resort that sounds just like what you're seeking - quiet, classy, relaxing and plenty to do without the wild night life. I had the most relaxing nine days of my life there, sunbathing on a mile-long stretch of sand, boating and snorkling around Tortola and Vigin Gorda, wandering through Road Town - the tiny capitol city - full of brightly colored houses and British pubs (try Pusser's). There is a slightly more well-known resort on the other end of the island called Little Dix Bay, but I have heard it is a little more "commercial" and more expensive.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the suggestions!

-Elissa

LA-bound: Going to LA in a few weeks on vacation. I love arts and crafts and mission style architecture and furnishings, and wondered if you know of resources with info on visiting arts and crafts houses/museums around Pasadena?

The Flight Crew: I would contact the Los Angeles Conservancy (ww.laconservancy.org)and the Pacific Design Center (www.p-d-c.com) for ideas. Also can L.A. Architect magazine for leads. You might also try the Pasadena Heritage group (www.pasadenahertiga.org), which offers historic walking tours. If all else fails, contact the L.A. city tourism office, which can lead you to your dream homes. --andrea

Maryland: My favorite out of the way spot:

Teddy Roosevely National Park in western North Dakota. A visit at sunset, with the rays beaming off the colored rocks is a simply stunning site. Alternatively, a gray, rainy day that gives way to sunshine and a rainbow could make you cry. Contrary to popular opinion, North Dakota is not all flat, windy, and boring. In western North Dakota, you get a more pristine beauty and fewer tourists than in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Also in Western ND is Medora, a lovely, restored/rebuilt frontier resort. If you want to see where Teddy Roosevelt roamed the prairies, or follow the Lewis and Clark trail, see dinosaur excavations, and meet some of the greatest people in the world, a trip to Western North Dakota is in order!

The Flight Crew: Thanks, Md. Sounds like a winner.

for the Green Bayer: Green Bay:
I can't remember how far Oshkosh is frm Green Bay, but the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) is located near Oshkosh and has a wonderful musuem. They also have a massive air show/fly in in August, which is tremendous fun.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for that added tip, says Gary Lee.

Arlington, Va.: Isn't Mackinac Island simply pronounced "Mac-in-ac", but the town from where you catch the ferry is actually Mackinaw? Or do I have that turned around?

The Flight Crew: I believe you are right. And I'd like to add: don't plan on swimming in the lake up there, even in August, unless you're a member of the Polar Bear Club. (Cindy)

for the UHaul mover: I don't know if you were reffering to moving in a "do it yourself truck" or really a UHaul. Don't get a UHaul. Try Penske. You would be surprised that the cost is VERY comparable (and Penske will often drop it some if you price shop and come back with a lower rate). Plus the milage is unlimited, the trucks are less than 2 years old, cloth seats, the AC works, etc. Moved a friend from Blacksburg to Colorado in one, and at the end he said "I am so glad you convinced me to call Penske."

I don't work for Penske, I am just sold on their trucks after some bad UHaul expierences. Spreading the word since many people don't realize they rent to everyday people.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for the advice. And if are ever looking for a job, I think Penske has found its new marketing manager.

Undiscovered Gem: The St. John Valley of Maine.
This is an area where French Acadians settled. You can go into a diner and folks bellied up to the counter still speak French. Plus the scenery is amazing--every postcard of Maine's fall foilage could be taken in these hills and valleys. Fort Kent, Lille, Van Buren are just a few of the towns.

I also thought yesterday's section was great, and I would recommend more "theme" issues. ALthough it's nice to get a smatteering of far-flung destinations some weeks, I think focusing on an area or a single topic is actually more useful. Keep up the great work.

The Flight Crew: Thanks a lot -- theme issues are fun for us to do, though I (KC) worry that readers who aren't interested in whatever the area is will feel left out in the cold. So we usually try to have something for everyone. But tell me, real quick -- what do you guys want to see more of, in depth, for planning purposes?

Re: U-Haul: I did that trip from SF back here to DC. Take the southern route (arizona -> Tenn) because there might be snow in the mountains up north already

The Flight Crew: How north did you go?? Good idea, though. Thanks.

Re: Houston: Houston ain't a bad city, but I'd recommend driving down to Galveston if at all possible (it's about 45-60 minutes). Galveston is beautiful and the beach is nice. The Strand can't be beat for shopping and history.

The Flight Crew: Thanks for that tip.

re: Green Bay: I went to college just south of Green Bay, WI, and though there's not a lot to do right in town, you can be in Door County in about an hour if you have a car! Door County is a peninsula between the Bay and Lake Michigan, which offers scenic drives, hiking, and lots of tourist-y shopping. If that sounds good to you, check it out! There are plenty of county and state parks in the area, most along one of the bodies of water, which are quite beautiful.

The Flight Crew: Thanks!

Crystal City, Va.: My friend and I are flying stand-by to Italy next week which means that we don't want to buy an Italy rail pass ahead of time in the states. I know that there are rail passes that you can buy in Italy. My question is this: Is there someplace I can get a copy of Italy's train schedules? How will we know which trains need reservations ahead of time and which don't?

The Flight Crew: Italian train schedules are available online at www.fs-on-line.com. That site has been undergoing some updates, so if it's not available, look at bahn.hafas.de/english.html. That site contains schedules for all of Europe (and is an excellent site to bookmark for future reference).

-Elissa

Washington, D.C.: We are traveling to Scandinavia in August, and are interested in lodgings that are nice, safe, yet affordable. We have started looking into B&Bs, but are hostels a good option, esp. if we're 20-somethings who would like to stay together, not segregated into large, shared rooms? From the books, it looks like some hostels have couples rooms or family rooms; do you know if that is a rarity in Norway/Denmark?

And, my vote for out of the way US locale is Mackinac Island in Michigan. No cars; only people, horses, bikes, great food and scenery and wonderful hotels!

The Flight Crew: I'm not in the office right now so I can't say whether official hostel guide I mentioned earlier has those details. But I know it has email addresses, and you could plan by emailing the ones that are in locations you wish to visit. The hostel I stayed in in Slovenia was made up of small rooms, one bunkbed per room. Shared bath. (Cindy)

Vilnius, Lithuania: Oops...forgot to mention, For Lithuania travel -- I've had some great luck and advice with www.lithuaniaholidays.com and with Vytis Tours out of NYC..

The Flight Crew: Thanks, says Gary Lee.

Washington, D.C.: Can you recommend a good rental car company for renting an automatic car in Italy?

The Flight Crew: I'm afraid you'll have to go through the major companies and pay through the nose. Automatics are uncommon in Europe. The minute you ask for one, they seem to know you're American and assume you are loaded. Prices shoot up tremendously. Try calling EuroCar, but many of the local rentals don't even have them in their fleet. (Cindy)

Arts & Crafts in LA:: don't miss the Getty, which has a collection of furniture designed by Harvey Ellis. You'll want to see it.

The Flight Crew: Aha, of course we neglect the most obvious place. The lovely Getty!

Vilnius, Lithuania: Labas (Hello)
I'm exited to see that Eastern Europe is getting some print...and I highly recommend heading east.
As an American living in Vilnius for the past two years, I've had a chance to visit some great sites around Lithuania.
At this moment, the sun is still out, the outdoor cafes are open, and world class beer is still served by the half liter for $1.
Vilnius is an undiscovered gem, highly recommended, but within a 3.5 hour drive there are many other places to visit. Lithuania has nice beaches and sand dunes on the Baltic Sea (Nida), many forested national parks, and even a reviving quiet spa town (Druskininkai) for "dirt cheap" mud baths...and the biggest tourist attraction,Grutas Park, a quirky Soviet statue park where you can see a few two story Lenins.
Stop by and say hello before the flocks of tourists come...

The Flight Crew: Much thanks again, says Gary.

Terra Alta, W. Va.: My 14 year old daughter and I would like to avoid Christmas (bad memories, loss of a loved one) by going to Italy. We enjoy museums and Roman history and definitely want to see Pompeii. We would like a low-priced tour -- we don't need fancy meals or wine, or deluxe hotel rooms. I have looked at Trafalgar -- any other ideas? And how soon should we book?

The Flight Crew: KC here. Check out Perillo too -- they're a good, solid, mainstream tour company specializing in Italy and have been in business for a long time. www.perillotours.com. I'd start checking into it now, compare prices and options, etc., though you can certainly wait a couple of months.

Columbia, Md.: I'm flying to London, then on to France, departing Thursday night...and OF COURSE, European Air Traffic Controllers may strike on Wednesday.

What do you know about the strike's probablity? And, if it goes ahead, should I expect problems on the Friday segment of my flight from London to Toulouse?

thanks

Dave

The Flight Crew: Sottili here: By Friday, it should be sorted out. A one-day strike is set for Wednesday, and France will be the hardest hit - at least 50 percent of flights will probably be canceled there. Controllers in other countries, including Italy, Portugal, Greece, Hungary and Slovenia, will take part in a one-hour walk-out on Wednesday, so those disruptions shouldn't be bad.

Washington, D.C.:
Hi there,

Hope I can sneak this in in the last few minutes . . . I will be in Arizona (Phoenix area) for a conference in July, and will have a few free days to travel and explore. Other than the Grand Canyon and Sedona, any recommendations as to where to go and what to see? Thanks for your help!

The Flight Crew: Yo, DC. Depends on how far you wanna go. I've always wanted to explore the Tucson area and Saguaro National Park, a couple hours south of Phoenix. Farther out from Tucson, near the Mexican border, tiny Bisbee, a former mining town, is a fascinating arts colony that always comes highly recommended by travelers in them thar parts. Flagstaff also has its fans, and the hiking in the area is supposed to be great.

-jd

for the LA Arts and Craftser: Check out the American Craft Council or the magazine American Style for info, stores, shows, ads, etc. I know that Appalachian Spring carries the magazine, not sure if too much of a niche publication for the bookstores to carry.

The Flight Crew: Brilliant. You guys are on a roll. Thanks.

Somewhere, USA: Re: finding hotels in Central & Eastern Europe (specifically Poland). I've had great luck using hotelspoland.com--for example, staying in one of the Warsaw "businessmans' hotels" for approx. $35/night. There's a similar website for Prague, but I haven't used it myself. That might be worth a try as well.

The Flight Crew: Thanks, says Gary. Good tip.!

Washington, D.C.: Hi! Thanks for taking my question -
I am going to be traveling with my husband, sister and parents to Melbourne, Australia this December. Instead of staying in a htoel, we are interested in renting a house for the two or so weeks we will be there (which includes Christmas). Can you recommend any good resources for us? Thanks very much!

The Flight Crew: We don't have any personal experience with this, so I might suggest you contact the Melbourne Visitors Bureau www.melbourne.visitorsbureau.com.au or the Australian Tourist Commission at http://www.atc.net.au/

G'luck!

-Elissa

for the caribbean honeymooners: The honeymooners should really consider Grenada. It's not overrun with tourists, the people are VERY friendly, it usually doesn't get hit with hurricanes, the food is FABULOUS (especially if you like curry and other East Indian fare), and the Island is only 33 square miles so you can get around and experience the whole country pretty easily -- with its waterfalls, hikes through the rainforests, tour of spice mills, and of course, great beaches. I spent my honeymoon there and can't say enough good things about it.

The Flight Crew: Good idea!

Silver Spring, Md.: My wife and I are thinking about flying into Montreal in August, spending a few days there, a day or two in Quebec City, and then driving to Prince Edward Island. Since it would be a pretty long drive, I'm looking for a good stopping off point (overnight) between Quebec City and PEI. Based on the map, this would be somewhere in New Brunswick, either along the coast or a little bit inland. Any advice?

The Flight Crew: Gary asks: do any clicksters have thoughts on this?

Rather be in the Islands: Hi Travel Crew. My boyfriend and I are looking into going to Barbados, West Indies next year for our honeymoon. Any suggestions as the best time of the year to go and what to do? Thanks!

The Flight Crew: I LOVE Barbados. Mainly cause it has both calm Caribbean beaches and hearty Atlantic ones. Plan one day to rent an open jeep for touring the island--mountains, cane fields, out of the way hotels with restaurants. When to go? Traditional is the winter escape from the cold. Cheaper other times. I presume they have the same hurricane season as the other islands, Aug through say Oct. But check weather at any website, tour book, or tourism agency. (Cindy)

McLean, Va.: I need to get train schedules for travel between Manchester, England, and Angelsey, Wales in September. The person with whom I talked by phone at Britrail said Britrail couldn't provide them. The Web address he gave me didn't work. Do you know how I can get this information?

The Flight Crew: Did you try this site?

http://www.rail.co.uk/ukrail/planner/planner.htm

-Elissa

Washington, D.C.: Per Orbitz, leaving this Thursday, returning Tuesday, it's only $1356 to Seoul on Asiana...

$1356 airfare
$5 service fee
$1361 trip cost
Asiana Airlines 6231
operated by partner airline
Thu, Jun 20
8:15a-10:19a
plane change
Washington (IAD) Los Angeles (LAX) 1

Asiana Airlines 201
Thu, Jun 20
1:30p-6:30p
Los Angeles (LAX) Seoul (ICN)
total duration: 21h 15min

Asiana Airlines 214
Tue, Jun 25
7:30p-2:00p
plane change
Seoul (ICN) San Francisco (SFO) 1

United Airlines 220
Tue, Jun 25
4:10p-12:13a
San Francisco (SFO) Washington (IAD)
total duration: 17h 43min
.

The Flight Crew: Thanks says Gary. Neat work.

The Flight Crew: Acting flight captain Gary Lee saying thanks for all your great questions and wonderful input. Thanks also for the excellent list of off the beaten path destinations. I like the tip about Gloucester, Mass and the surrounding area. Amid stiff competition, you get the prize! Let me know how to send it to you by emailing me at leeg@washpost.com And tune in next week, all!

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