Talk about travel: Travel staffers help you plan great escapes
Browse an archive of previous live travel Q&As.
Becky Krystal: hello, chatters! Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and Andrea’s story about Travelers Aid couldn’t have come at a better season. So tell us about a time you were able to help someone during your travels. The person with the most heart-warming story on this dreary Monday wins a nifty prize.
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Washington, D.C.: I am asking that every local chatter who thinks that the airport buses (B30 to BWI and 5A to Dulles) should run more frequently please contact Metro (wmata.com) asking for the increase in service. I won’t go to Dulles any more because the 5A is often only hourly and I have had problems with no shows (making it a 2-hour wait). and 40 minutes is a painfully long for the B30 if you just missed one at the airport and all the B30s that I’ve gotten at Greenbelt lately have been full–including people standing in the aisles. I’d be fine with them increasing the fare by $1-2, but as it stands, I do not consider DC a three-airport area because BWI and Dulles are not reached reasonably by public transportation.
Zofia Smardz: A cri de coeur from a public transport-taker. What say you other chatters? Anyone had the same/better/worse experience?
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Am I stuck?: I bought two tickets ($109/each, RT) for December on JetBlue- one for me, one for a friend. I can no longer go on the trip, but my friend is still going.
I NEVER fly JetBlue and didn’t read the fine print- there’s a $100 change fee or cancellation fee per ticket!
Do I have any options or recourse? I can’t see paying $100 and getting a $9 credit and I refuse to pay $100 to cancel it- will I still be charged the $100 if I’m a no-show?
I realize this is my mistake, but is there anyway to get the face value of the ticket as a credit and not pay this ridiculous fee?
Christopher Elliott: You won’t be charged a $100 fee if you’re a no-show, but your ticket will “expire” and won’t be worth anything.
This is a common problem: The change fee often is more expensive than the ticket itself. (That makes NO sense.) your only choice is to let the ticket expire, since airline tickets are non transferable, generally speaking.
Here’s JetBlue’s ticket change policy.
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Fortaleza, Brazil: Have air fares gone up over the past year primarily due to rising costs (especially fuel) or increased patronage? Fares to go to the States for Xmas are appreciably higher this year than last, and I’m seeing more sold out seats earlier (due to fewer flights?). even Delta, whose flights from here to Atlanta were suspended for 3 months, seems full. Economy class fares were so high that we were able to snag biz class for not much more (should be fun, unless my wife decides she won’t accept economy class any longer).
Carol Sottili: The airlines say that they have to make up for record jet fuel prices, but I’m not buying it. Basically, many airlines are losing money or at least not making lots of money. So they’re all scrambling around trying to raise prices without appearing to raise prices. they have cut back on the number of flights, especially to smaller, less profitable airports, so yes, flights are going out fuller and less supply means more demand means higher prices. But they’re also doing things like designating dates that automatically cost more money. for example, several airlines are charging $50 on top of the regular airfare for every flight out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach on Feb. 8, the day after the Super Bowl. They’re also charging $20 to $50 extra for days around major holidays. Expect to see more of these surcharges when people need/want to fly.
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New Orleans for T-Day: I’m flying to New Orleans Thursday morning, looking forward to turkey gumbo for dinner rather than just a big ole hunk of the bird.
Any new restaurants in/near the French Quarter I shouldn’t miss during the rest of the weekend, since leftovers are a non-issue this year?
Joe Yonan: I was just there a couple of months ago and did a ton of eating, which I attempted to chronicle over at the Food section blog. I’m not sure HOW new you want, but my favorite new(ish) places in the city these days are Stella and Stanley (both in the Quarter — the latter a fab all-day breakfast/brunch spot right on Jackson Square), Cochon and Cochon Butcher (both in the Warehouse District, an easy walk from the Quarter), and, a quick cab ride away, the amazing Dooky Chase, an institution that has recently returned for lunch — and has the best fried chicken ever. There’s also John Besh’s new places Domenica (in the gorgeously refurbished Roosevelt Hotel), where I had some pretty good modern Italian food; and The American Sector in the expanded World War II Museum, which hadn’t opened yet when I was there.
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Alex, Va.: I am traveling on Friday – air shuttle to NYC, then halfway around the world – Brussels to New Delhi to Kathmandou. How early can I print out boarding passes?? Will it be possible to do this on Thursday??
Andrea Sachs: You can print out boarding passes within 24 hours of your first flight’s departure time. however, if you are flying different airlines on different itineraries, you will have to check in separately (same 24-hour rule applies). Also, depending on the airline, you might have to present your passport to receive your boarding pass. Call your airline to ask about their international check-in procedures.
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DC to the South: My husband and I decided that over New Years we’ve going to take a road trip down to Atlanta and visit some friends. we plan on leaving on Wed and are thinking of returning to DC Sunday. How many days in the ATL are enough? We’re also thinking of making a stop on the way back and are conflicted if that should be in Charleston or Asheville. I’d say the later as there seems like more to do, he thinks it’ll be chilly and is pushing for Charleston. I’m sure it’s pretty but we did Savannah 2 years ago and determined it a day-trip, another reason he’s pushing for it. thoughts? Suggestions? Timeline recommendation? Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving! Safe travels up 95 for everyone (see ya there).
Zofia Smardz: Wow, you’re trying to pack a lot into five days! Driving to Atlanta and back will take two of those days, which leaves you three in town. that isn’t a huge amount of time for that large and varied city, but you should certainly manage to take in the major sights in that amount of time and have leftovers for another visit. But then you want to stop on the way back, which means you’re really spreading your trip back over two days, so you’re down to two in Atlanta. Still doable — it just depends on how much touring you want to do.
As to stopping on the way back, you don’t say how long you want to spend wherever you stop, but I’m thinking it’ll be a quick visit if you want to get back to Washington on Sunday. I love both Charleston and Asheville, so I’m torn on what to recommend. it will definitely be cooler in the mountains of North Carolina than on the coast of South, but if you’ve been to Savannah, Asheville will be a more different experience than Charleston. So I’d vote for Asheville. But you can’t really go wrong either way.
Your votes and views, chatters?
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Kansas City, Mo.: hi Travel Staff – I am trying DESPERATELY to make a decision about guided tours in India. I’m looking to do a 7-day India tour in February. There are so many tour groups out there, but how do I know who is reputable? do you have any recommendations? can you throw this out to your viewers/readers? I’m sure someone out there knows a lot more than I do! Help!
Carol Sottili: Which tour groups are you considering? that may help us give you better guidance, as different tour groups offer very different price points and trip styles.
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Washington, DC: Happy Thanksgiving! this isn’t a holiday question, but more of a general question. When booking connecting flights, what’s the minimum time to allow between flights at most airports? I know it’s different at every airport and depends on a number of factors, but is there a general rule to use? thanks!
Christopher Elliott: Minimum connect times are part of the computer reservation system that your travel agent or online agency uses. But you might want to opt for a longer connect time.
For example, I travel with three young kids, and I try to avoid connections of less than two hours domestically, and a three hours internationally, particularly when we have to go through customs.
I just helped a traveler with mobility challenges, who missed a connection in Stockholm. While the connection was considered “legal” it was not realistic for her, and she missed her flight. she had to pay an extra $800 for new tickets. What a mess!
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Dulles airport help: does anyone have experience driving to Dulles the afternoon before Thanksgiving (from DC)? Should it take more than an hour? Also, what do the security lines at Dulles look like between 4-6 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving? thanks!
Andrea Sachs: that is a peak travel time, lucky you. There is no way of knowing the wait time at security, so pack efficiently, so you can get in and out fast (also print out your boarding pass in advance). The MWAA recommends arriving at least two hours before your departure time. As for the roads, again, no way of knowing but I expect the roads leading to Dulles Toll Road to be pretty clogged. I would definitely give myself more than an hour, because Thanksgiving Eve is the busiest travel day of the year.
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McLean, Va.: I think that Andrea Sachs got it backwards in Sunday’s “Coming and Going,” when she wrote, “Spare lithium batteries are not allowed in carry-on.” Actually, according to the Department of Transportation and the TSA, spare lithium batteries may be transported only in carry-on; they are prohibited in checked luggage. see Safetravel.dot.gov for full details.
Andrea Sachs: oh my. You are so correct. I misread the tips sheet.
Here is the correct account:
Lithium batteries are banned from CHECKED baggage. Spare batteries are allowed in carry-on luggage if they are in their original packaging, protective cases or are taped to isolate the terminals.
Thank you, McLean, for pointing that out.
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Washington, D.C.: We’re making the drive up I-95 for Thanksgiving on Thursday. How early should we leave to avoid (most) of the traffic?
Becky Krystal: But where are you going? give us a little more to go on. 
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Annapolis, Md.: I volunteered at the BWI welcome Center for many years before, sadly, it was closed for budgetary reasons a few months ago. As you discovered, 90+ % of the requests are routine: where are the rental cars/baggage carousels/parking shuttles/etc. But some of the remainder are doozies.
My favorite story, although I was not the volunteer on duty that day, involved the newlyweds who asked where they could find the shuttle to Niagara Falls! Yes, they had mistakenly deplaned in Baltimore, rather than in Buffalo. I still wonder if Southwest Air “did the right thing” by flying them to their proper destination free of charge.
Becky Krystal: Wow! I’m hoping that the newlywed glow made the ordeal a little less stressful.
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Columbia, Md.: on Friday I have a 7AM flight out of DCA connecting in Miami to Grand Cayman. with all the holiday travel how early should I plan to get to the airport? Will the lots at DCA be full? thanks!
Christopher Elliott: My fellow Flight Crew members will probably have something to add to my answer, but one option might be to book a night at a DCA-area hotel on a park/fly option. that way, you can avoid the potentially full lots and you will get a reasonably good night’s sleep.
Joe Yonan: on the parking question, Rob Yingling, spokesman for the airport authority, says that recent expansion projects mean that parking should be available throughout the weekend — although not, perhaps, in the particularly lot you want to park in. Economy could fill up, for example, and you’d have to go into one of the other garages. one idea: Check DCA’s live parking-status page to see how it’s looking.
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Vienna (not in VA): My dad and I traveled to his alma mater for a Saturday football game. After the game, we went back to our car parked nearby. in this same lot there was a couple whose car had broken down. There really isn’t practical public transit to get between that college town and my hometown.
My dad, who is usually not a big people person and is very leery and errs on the side of caution, recognized these “strangers” from seeing them shop over the years at the neighborhood grocery store (but had never really interacted with them other than a simple hello.)
So he offered them a ride back to our hometown with us. and since then, they exchange more than just a quick “hello” when they run into each other at the market or the local bike path or whatever.
It was also a lesson for me that although one has to be careful of one’s personal safety, not all “strangers” are dangerous. and it could have been us who needed that lift home.
Becky Krystal: How kind of your dad!
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Bethesda, Md.: does anyone have any experience with (or knowledge of) a tour company called “Intrepid”? they seem to offer tons of tours in many countries. Anybody know anything about them?
Carol Sottili: Intrepid is an Australian company with U.S. headquarters in Boulder, Colo. It’s been around for 20 years. it has a B+ rating with the better Business Bureau, and specializes in budget adventure travel.
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Thanksgiving in Connecticut: Any tips for making the turkey-day drive from Baltimore to Hartford, CT? We’re leaving at 6:30 pm on Wednesday (not optimal, I know!). Best to drive up 83/81 to Scranton, then over to Hartford on 84? It’s a 100 more miles than up 95, but I shudder at the thought of 95 this week. thanks!
Zofia Smardz: despite the added mileage, it may actually be a faster trip. My husband and I routinely drive from D.C. to just south of Portsmouth, N.H. we recently took a different, non-95 route that added 80 miles to the trip but got us there in just about 8 hours, no snags, whereas the supposedly “straight” route never seems to take less than 9, and often longer.
What do you think, chatters?
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Going to the World Cup in South Africa: thanks for your advice on travel, it’s great stuff you have here.
Last month I asked about tickets to South Africa for the World Cup in June. I didn’t purchase them when they where $1850 so now its $2200, boo.
Anyway, I was wondering about travel insurance. with airfare this high, I probably should pay a little more for medical and flight cancellation, at least that’s what I think. What are good insurance sites and what’s a good price?
Christopher Elliott: Travel insurance is a great idea for any big-ticket vacation.
I would start by visiting the US Travel Insurance Association Web site. It’s a national association of insurance carriers, third-party administrators, insurance agencies and related businesses involved in the development, administration and marketing of travel insurance.
A policy from one of these companies is a pretty safe bet.
In terms of shopping for insurance, Squaremouth has a reputation for being the Amazon.com of travel insurance. it allows you to compare policies side-by-side. another site worth checking out is Insuremytrip.
I would lean toward the brands you know, such as Access America, CSA Travel Protection and Travel Guard.
A top-of-the-line, cancel-anytime policy shouldn’t cost you more than to 6 to 8 percent of the cost of your trip.
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Washington, DC – Doha, Qatar Layover: hi Crew. thanks for the weekly chats and everything else you do for your loyal readers. Over Christmas, I’m flying to Kuala Lumpur on Qatar Airways via Doha. on my way to KL, I have 7 hour layover from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Is this enough time to get into Doha and see a site or two? The airport/airline website talk much about “high(er) end” options, but that’s about it. Also, on the way back, I have a 9 hour stop in Doha but it’s from midnight to 9:00 a.m. Any inexpensive, cozy options?
Andrea Sachs: You stumped us.
Any suggestions from our globe-trottin’ chatsters?
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Va.: we are looking for a weekend getaway with a couple that we don’t really want to go away with (family stuff – that part we can direct to Carolyn Hax). Is there something you can suggest that will keep us very busy, tire everyone out, and will allow people in their 30s and 60s to have fun? it can be driving distance or flying, as long as it keeps us busy and can be done in a weekend.
Becky Krystal: Skiing! good way for anyone to get tuckered out, and between two-person lifts and cruising down the mountain, you won’t have to talk TOO much. We’re thisclose to getting up our new list of area resorts, but here is last year’s. and, shameless plug, be on the lookout for our ski issue this coming weekend.
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Mclean, Va.: hello, I am a a huge fan of your sessions! A friend just returned from a 3 week physician volunteer trip at a Tibetan settlement in the middle of nowhere in the state of Karnataka in India and managed to squeeze brief side trips to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. she was energized and had wonderful stories and pictures about her trip. I thought she should write up about it and send it to you folks? your thoughts on who to send to or not (?) and how long etc. would be appreciated. My thought was that her experiences may be of interest to others for its volunteer, first time visitor impressions of India, culture, and other aspects? thanks, Cheers,
Joe Yonan: she sounds like a candidate for the your Vacation in Lights feature. Check out this recent entry, and see the fine print at the bottom about how to submit.
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Annapolis, Md.: hi! We’re going to the Bahamas in a couple of weeks, and have made air and hotel arrangements (Comfort Suites) separately. do you have any advice on transportation to Paradise Island from the airport? We’ve always done packages that have transfers included, so this is new territory for us. Is there a shuttle or taxi service you recommend? thanks!
Andrea Sachs: just rang the hotel and they said unless you prearranged a transfer, the only transport is taxi. Cost is about $30-$32.
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Plano, Texas: I am confused as to why airlines want us to fly but then they nickel and dime us on every little thing, from food to bags being checked to additional fees being charged based on when we fly (of course, this does not pertain to first class). Yes, they lost revenue and are trying to recoup but there has to be an easier way. I’d like to know if you think this is a permanent fixation or will some of these additional fees eventually go away?
Christopher Elliott: I’m afraid this is more or less a permanent thing.
In recent years, airlines have “discovered” fees — they’re called “ancillary revenues” in airline-speak — and, with a few exceptions, they love ‘em. (Never mind that these surcharges are fundamentally dishonest, because you’re quoting one fare but then paying 20 to 30 percent more.)
If you’re curious about how much your airline makes from ancillary revenues, just check out the Bureau of Transportation Statistics site and search baggage fees or miscellaneous operating revenues.
If anything, we’ll see more fees in the future — not less.
Thanks for nothin’, Ryanair.
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Vancouver bound: Love the chats.
I am trying to get to Vancouver for the first week of the Olympics. I have seen fares for $630 round trip; or I can use 25000 FF miles to get to Seattle rt. (I hear there are buses to Vancouver, but it will be busy.) Which option would you choose?
Carol Sottili: Quickcoach offers bus service, and you can buy tickets in advance. Cost is $100 round trip. Trip takes five hours each way. if it were me, I’d pay the money to fly into Vancouver, but I’m all about convenience when traveling. I’d rather do without other things. Also, look into Amtrak or renting a car (drive is shorter when you’re doing it that way).
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Washington, D.C.: several years ago I was traveling home for a visit and had to connect in Minneapolis. I sat next to a woman who was flying to Michigan for the funeral of one of her parents (I can’t recall for certain whether it was her mom or her dad). During the entire flight she talked about the funeral, her family, etc, etc. The flight out of DC was late so most people missed their connections. I got a hotel voucher and so did she, but she would not have made it on time for the funeral. she therefore rented a car for the 8-hour drive, and I stayed with her as she collected her luggage and found the rental car location. she was so grateful that she drove me to the hotel so I didn’t have to wait for the shuttle bus.
Becky Krystal: I’m sure she was more grateful than you know.
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Atlanta: Is it bad manners to ask to go ahead of travelers who haven’t been on a plane since before Sept. 11? I’m always stuck behind that person who has a carry-on full of toiletries and bottles of water, doesn’t know he’s supposed to take his coat and shoes off, in spite of the signage. in general, I’m an extremely patient person, but as a frequent flyer, this makes me crazy.
Joe Yonan: Yes, it is.
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Buses to airports: The buses to IAD and BWI should at least run more often on high travel days (like this Wednesday and Sunday). some people have to stand and that seems a little dangerous on the highway.
Zofia Smardz: Agreed!
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Airline cancellation fees: Ridiculous fees? in some ways, yes, but customers are also entering into an agreement, agreeing to have certain restrictions on their tickets in exchange for getting the lowest fares. It’s been that way for years, so anyone buying a low-cost ticket should know that there will be fees involved in changes. in fact, I believe that in many cases they simply say non-refundable (and then spell out exceptions). even hotels are getting into the act, with lower fees sometimes offered for “non-refundable” purchases. and, of course, Priceline and Hotwire have long had largely non-refundable hotel room purchases. Caveat emptor.
Christopher Elliott: You are correct. Airline tickets typically come with a lot of restrictions, and it’s our responsibility to be familiar with them.
I have a few problems with the system as it is currently set up. Airlines don’t always notify you sufficiently of any fees that need to be paid. they also can change their rules with little or no notification to the customer.
The net result: Many passengers show up at the airport thinking they’ll be able to check their holiday presents at no extra charge or believing they have a seat reservation, when in fact they need to pay extra for their luggage or for a confirmed reservation.
Airlines are free to restrict their tickets any way they like, but they need to tell us about it — clearly. Wouldn’t you agree?
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Wilmington, Del.: I’m planning a honeymoon to Spain next September, and want to look into renting a villa for a portion of our stay. we are going to fly into Barcelona and want to stay somewhere near the Mediterranean coast. There are a multitude of search results for “Spanish Villa”, so I wanted to see if staffers or chatters had any personal use with any service in particular. thanks for all your advice!
Becky Krystal: Chatters, any help for these honeymooners in search of their own little hacienda? we often recommend checking out what’s available on VRBO.
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Alexandria, Va.: We’re going to Buenos Aires next November for a week, and have heard that’s it’s cheaper to rent an apartment for a week rather than stay at a hotel. What are good websites for finding rentals? thanks.
Becky Krystal: see my previous answer for the honeymooners going to Spain — VRBO!
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Chevy Chase, Md.: I will be in Egypt this week (Cairo and Luxor) and have been reading about the various restrictions and rules about photography at major sites of interest such as the pyramids and Egyptian Antiquities Museum. My guidebook often says something such as “no cameras” next to entries. does this mean that if I have a camera, it is going to be checked like a coat or large backpack might be, or that I just can’t use it? I have a very nice DSLR and don’t want to run a risk of losing it, which seems to happen at some of these museums from what I can gather from the guidebook.
Nancy Trejos: hi. I was in Egypt last year. they did have areas to check in your camera but I had a friend who was able to get his camera into the museum as long as he didn’t pull it out and use it. So it’s a bit inconsistent. I understand your worries and would be hesitant to check in a nice camera as well. Enjoy the trip. regardless of the camera issue, you’ll have a great time.
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Louisville, Ky.: Where can I get help planning a trip to southern Italy this spring?
Joe Yonan: You should go to this site and fill out the form — perhaps KC and Carol will choose you for trip-planning in their new Going our Way column!
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Arlington, Va.: Is Asheville, NC a good place to visit with elementary age kids?
Zofia Smardz: You don’t say how elementary, but sure! Take them to see Biltmore — they’ll be agog at the palatial surroundings, and the grounds are vast and beautiful — they’ll be able to burn off some energy. Downtown Asheville is also a happening place, with lots of street activity, and highly walkable. they might enjoy a trolley tour or a ghost tour of town. Check out this recent article we ran that lists stuff to do in and around Asheville.
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Ann Arbor, Mich.: hi travel crew,
I am trying to come up with a fun plan for the winter holidays. we are thinking about Puerto Vallarta, but are struggling to find reasonable rates during the holidays. Is it worth waiting for special packages? Other possible travel (or roadtrip) destinations that will be cheap from Detroit?
Carol Sottili: I don’t think waiting is going to result in special packages. The holidays are the time that everyone wants to travel, so prices are higher. Start by finding out which airlines fly where from Detroit. I believe that several discount carriers, including AirTran, Southwest and Spirit, fly from there. Then see where they fly. Southwest, for example, flies from Detroit to many cities in Florida, and it also offers vacation packages, so you may get lucky.
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Annapolis, Md.: My old college roommate and I get together once a year without the rest of the family (just us girls). We’re planning to meet in Nashville TN in January 2010 for a long weekend. What sites do you recommend and can we do it without renting a car?
Becky Krystal: How fun! Have a look at Nancy Trejos’s recent road trip story that included some Nashville highlights. Nashville seems to be pretty well-served by buses, including one that will get you from the airport to downtown for $1.35. Any other chatters have experience going sans car in Music City?
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This one’s for Joe – The Jane: Joe,
A few weeks ago you mentioned how you were intrigued by The Jane in NYC. So I did some reading up on it. Apparently some of the residents are not hotel guests, but are allowed to live there until they die. Which one of them did. Which didn’t get noticed until there was a strange smell. There is a great (somewhat famous) blog posting about it here.
Joe Yonan: oh, man. thanks for this. hopefully, that’ll be the last of that kind of thing there!
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Mpls, Minn.: can you help me design a trip in March 2010 that would include Greece & Bhutan?
Sounds crazy but it will be a combination dream trip (his: Greece, and mine: Bhutan). His health is not good (Parkinson’s) so reduce stress if possible. I am thinking 10 days in Greece – 4 nights in Bhutan. Is it possible?
Standard accommodations only. I know that Bhutan will be $400/night.
We have extensive international travel experience but are facing new challenges. this may be our last international trip.
Any advice you have is greatly appreciated.
Andrea Sachs: that is quite an ambitious route, and while I admire your pluck, I am concerned about the distance between the two destinations. for example, Nepal and Bhutan, India and Bhutan, or Bangkok and Bhutan would make more sense, since they are in the same neighborhood of the world. Or, on the Greek side, swap Bhutan for Turkey or Malta or even Cyprus.
Additionally, Bhutan is such an amazing place, you should invest twice as much time than your planned four days. So, if anything, make it an even seven and seven.
Call a travel agent for advice. You will need it for Bhutan, which requires a visa and a guide, and for Greece, which can be complicated with its ferries and islands. and also, that will be quite a plane trip, so some expert advice is essential.
Best of luck on your dream trip!
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Travel Savior Story: My mom, who lives in FL, was in Chicago on 9/11 at a trade show. it was the last day of the show and everyone was suddenly trapped as the airlines and trains all shut down. The organizers of the show got online and started booking as many rental cars as they could and set up sign-up sheets on bulletin boards where people could try and put together carloads of drivers headed in similar directions, either in rental cars or in their own vehicles. My mom still tears up when she talks about how amazingly calm and gracious everyone was as over 200 strangers from across the country worked together to figure out how get everyone home safe and sound.
Becky Krystal: Yup, I think your mom’s not alone in having borne witness to those kinds of efforts on Sept. 11.
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Washington, DC: Hi-Looking for suggestions for a B&B relaxing weekend destination for “babymoon”. no more than 3 hrs drive and can be very low key since I am not moving that fast these days. West Virginia? Shenandoah? Probably not interested in the beach even though would be pretty. looking to go either early Dec or right after the holidays in early January at the latest. We’re both from north of the Mason Dixon line so staying south of it would be most appealing. thanks!
Becky Krystal: I spent a lovely anniversary weekend this summer at the High Meadows Vineyard Inn in Scottsville, a cute little town near the James River not far from Charlottesville.
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Connection time: just too dangerous to give a rule of thumb. Depends on the airport to a HUGE degree. for instance, connecting at Atlanta or, even more so, JFK, especially if different terminals are used, is a vastly different situation than connecting in a smaller and/or more compact airport, such as DCA, or even Miami. LAX, my hometown airport, can be a real zoo, but the time to connect can depend on whether you need the quickest way to your next terminal is to go counter-clockwise (the way the shuttle runs) or clockwise, in which case you may be better off walking.
Christopher Elliott: You make a good point. I transited through Houston a few weeks ago — what a madhouse! Bear in mind that most stopovers are going to happen at a large hub like Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas or New York.
Unfortunately, the best advice I can offer — the best anyone can offer — is a rule of thumb. if you are worried about connection times, you should find a competent travel agent who can tell you if the legal connection times are realistic.
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Arlington, Va.: has Washington, DC poster complaining about Metrobus route 5A to Dulles thought about using the Washington Flyer bus from West Falls Church Metro? I’ve taken the ride on the latter a few times when I’ve flown out of IAD, and I have few complaints about their service. one complaint: they could make the purchase of tickets easier by installing machines at the bus stop a la the NJ Transit train to AC, rather than making people go to a box office to pay for the service.
Zofia Smardz: It’s a thought, thanks!
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Early post since I will not be here live: on a recent travel through LAX I discovered something that doesn’t obviously appear on its web site but would assist many who have to transfer in LAX.
At LAX if you change airlines you will likely need to change terminals which would mean having to leave and reenter security. LAX is the shape of a U with the curved part the international terminal and about 4-5 spokes coming off the sides that are terminals. most of them are only connected through outside or outside security. some of the neighboring spokes are connected though walking tunnels underground.
I was traveling through LAX on Northwest with my first flight operating on Alaska Airlines and the connection on Northwest. I had to change terminals that were on the opposite sides of the “U” and only 75 minutes to do it.
What I discovered at the airport is that Alaska has a bus that will shuttle you to American Airlines terminal on the opposite side. Alaska and American have code shared flights. Alaska also has code shares will Delta/Northwest. The shuttle took me over to the American terminal where there was a second bus I could transfer to that would take me from the American terminal to the Delta/Northwest terminal. that means I didn’t have to go through security again.
I am surprised LAX does not have some sort of subway/tram that connects all the terminals…especially with the international terminal.
Carol Sottili: your info is accurate. I was just there last week in Terminal 3, which serves Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, and I saw the waiting area for the bus to American. thanks for the tip. P.S. I had a very nice flight on Virgin America, although they made it almost too easy for me to part with my money. The personal entertainment screen allows you to order movies, food, drinks and even ibuprofen and all you do is swipe your credit card.
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Takoma: looking for a winter getaway for me and a friend. last year we found a cheap flight to Rio and went for a week – that was a great mix of seeing sites (Corcovado, sugarloaf) and relaxing on the beach and eating great food in Ipanema. Where would you recommend for two women in their twenties for a week or so in January-ish (we’re pretty flexible on dates)? The options that have been suggested so far are the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. are there any other countries to be considered? Any recommendations for what to do/where to go in those countries? thanks!
Nancy Trejos: those are all good options for January. I take it you’re looking for a warm fun place right? You might also want to consider some of the beaches of Mexico. The U.S. dollar goes very far there. Guatemala is also wonderful. I would skip the capital and head to Antigua. It’s a really cute town. You can also take a bus to Lago Atitlan for shopping and seafood and fly to the ruins of Tikal. It’s not that expensive. My friend just went to Belize and loved it. if you are into scuba diving, that’s a great place. if you are willing to take a long flight, there are many spots in the Middle East that are great that time of year. You can see Petra in Jordan, for instance. Egypt is also quite nice that time of year.
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Mathews, Va.: we are going to Thailand at the first of the year without the benefit of a tour or agency. The language is a bit intimidating along with the number of people, etc. even the required vaccinations seem questionable. Any help would be appreciated.
Joe Yonan: We’ll try to help — but what are you looking for, exactly? Where are you going, and what’s flummoxing you so far? if it’s mainly the vaccinations, see this info from the CDC, which says that your doctor/health care provider is the best judge about what you need, “depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities.”
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Fort Washington, Pa.: hi. A couple of times in last week’s chat, people who were looking for non-95 routes to New England were told to take “back roads” between Harrisburg and Allentown. no need to do that: I-81 and I-78 connect directly between the two cities. So your chatters should take I-83 north to Harrisburg, then pick up I-81 north to I-78 west. in New Jersey, they can either pick up I-287 (a beautiful road) north to the Tappan Zee Bridge or stay on I-78 to make a closer pass to New York City.
Becky Krystal: I’m sure there are plenty of people still poring over maps who will still appreciate this advice.
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Washington, DC: “No, Travelers Aid volunteers can’t summon a limo…”
Of course we can, I’ve done it at Reagan.
Andrea Sachs: Well, was it presidential?
Actually, it would not surprise me if they could do that, too!
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From last week’s chat: Someone asked about short cruises in California……another option besides short cruises to Mexico, in the spring they have reposition cruises from LA up to Seattle and Vancouver that are also 3-4day trips.
Trip to the Southwest…if you were going to do your first trip, go to Southern Utah/Northern Arizona. given she from Eastern Europe, in Moab she will find some people who speak her native tongue.
Durham…Eugene traveler. You are not likely to find larger planes that fly in Eugene. better option is fly to Portland and then rent a car for the 2 hr drive south.
Alaskan cruise passenger…You have a good shot to see whales in early August. There is a year-round local population of Orcas in the straights between Victoria, Vancouver, and the San Juan Islands of Washington. Humpbacks go up to Alaska. it depends on where your cruise takes you if you have a reasonable shot at finding them.
Kauai traveler….You can fly into Honolulu and then book a separate trip on the local commuter planes that fly between the island where a round trip can be gotten for $150. another option is look at fares direct from the west coast cities. There could be a big difference. Book separately your trip to the west coast.
Zofia Smardz: Wow, something for everyone. Hope you all know who you are!
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Washington, DC: hi there. I’m flying out of Dulles on Thanksgiving morning. I was planning on driving to the airport, but then I started worrying that there won’t be any parking. please tell me I don’t have to worry…. or share some secrets if you think the lots will be full. thanks!
Carol Sottili: Dulles usually doesn’t have the same problem as Reagan National re: parking lots filling up as it has more than 24,000 spaces, while National has about 8,300. But you can go to the airports’ Web pages for up-to-date reports on their parking availability.
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Bethesda, Md.: What if you have a purchased ticket for an upcoming, December flight, and your name is missing the middle initial from your drivers license? What do you do now? Is it a big deal? Will it be at Dulles?
Christopher Elliott: Not a big deal. TSA is phasing its Secure Flight program, which requires that the name on your ID match the one on your ticket, over time. some airline systems are not ready to handle it yet, so the TSA officers are unlikely to stop you at the screening area because of a missing initial.
Here’s more information about Secure Flight.
I’ll have more on the TSA and its confusing ways in an upcoming Navigator column.
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Odenton, Md.: I’m looking to do a short weekend away (probably within 2 hours) the weekend before Christmas. do you have any suggestions for interesting nearby towns that may have some holiday events going on that weekend?
Becky Krystal: Take a look at Frederick or Gettysburg. I’m seeing some possibilities based on press releases that have come across my e-mail.
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Nashville: You don’t need a car in Nashville. Stay as close as possible to Broadway, which is very walkable. see if the Frist has any good exhibitions – if not, it’s worth the admission fee just to see the permanent exhibition on creating art.
You can take a cheap bus to Graceland if you get Opry tickets (the stop is right next to the tourism center) – though the Ryman usually has better shows. Take a cab to and from the Bluebird Cafe, where songwriters sing the songs they wrote for the bigger stars. and spend some time in Centennial Park, right past the state Capitol.
Becky Krystal: Great advice, thanks.
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Washington, DC: I’d like to spend $600-800 on a trip for 2 in January anywhere outside the continental US. needs to include airfare and hotel. Aside from Travelzoo, where’s a good place to find a deal? I don’t really care where… just anywhere but here! that search criteria isn’t too easy on Expedia and Orbitz.
Joe Yonan: Well, that’s pretty cheap, but not unheard of. I’m not a tour person, but you should be checking out the Packages section of our “What’s the Deal” column every week, you should be following us on Twitter, where Carol Sottili is Tweeting deals, and you should scour the deals-from-DC section of the Web site of our sister publication, Budget Travel. Found on the BT site: four nights in Dublin, $459 per person; five nights in the Bahamas, $349; and three nights in Puerto Rico, $438. those all include airfare and hotel — but there are extra taxes and fees that will push the price up a bit, in some cases over your price limit.
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Native New Jerseyan: Savannah a day trip from Atlanta? Yikes, that would be one LONG day. either Charleston or Asheville would be great at the holidays, but Asheville especially, with the Vanderbilt mansion done up for the holidays. and it’s more on the way back to DCA. Charleston is about 5 hours east of Atl, and then another 8 1/2 – 9 back up here.
Zofia Smardz: good points all.
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Cancellation fees: this is something that needs to be included in a passenger bill of rights. they should give you some time to cancel your flight without charge and then the cost goes up closer to the flight date, save unusual circumstances.
Whenever I am not sure on travel plans I will book my flight on Southwest because they don’t have penalties and I don’t lose the fare, I just get credit.
Christopher Elliott: Amen to that!
I have a long list of other issues that should be included in any Passenger Bill of Rights. But that’s a topic for another column.
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Bologna, Italy: Someone mentioned cooking classes in Italy last week – I would highly recommend skipping Tuscany and its “cucina povera” and take a cooking class at Bologna. It’s hard to say which area of Italy has the best cuisine…but if you could, it would be Bologna, no question! tortellini, tortelloni, tagliatelle….aaah… Anyway, I took an afternoon course with my mother at La Vecchia Scuola Bolognese. we just did the one afternoon learning “la sfoglina” (rolling pasta) and it was great fun. The young woman who teaches the lessons in English spoke quite decent English and was very patient, and her outgoing and boisterous uncle, who spoke nearly no English, would come over periodically to correct our technique and every once in a while to throw bits of dough at us in case we were getting too serious. and the lunch we had afterwards was one of the best I’ve had in Bologna. they also seem to have five-day courses, consisting of four hours each.
Otherwise, I would also recommend finding a nice agriturismo which also often offer lessons.
Becky Krystal: thanks for the tip! I’m already hungry.
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Boston: My husband and I are thinking of going to Lake Placid and Montreal for a few days (probably two nights in each place) between Christmas and New Year’s. Any hotel or bed and breakfast recommendations (we’re hoping to keep it around $150/night)? Any restaurant recommendations?
Joe Yonan: I can handle the Montreal part, anyway: Check out Anne Ma Soeur Anne for clean, safe, well-located but not fancy lodging in the Plateau; or place d’Armes or Hotel Nelligan in the old Port. for restaurants, hit the fab bistro L’Express; the famous Toque!; and, if you’re pork fans, Au Pied de Cochon. I haven’t been there in a few years, so I’m sure more fab new things have opened — but I’m planning to get back this winter to brush up…
Now, chatters, can you handle the Lake Placid part?
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Woodbridge, Va.: for the person going to Vancouver – you should really look into Amtrak from Seattle. I took that trip by train a few years ago. it is a lovely ride – the tracks skirt the shoreline up the coast. Customs was also much less of a hassle than the airports.
Carol Sottili: Yes, that’s why I mentioned it, although it may not be as easy as taking the bus or renting a car (or even better, flying right into Vancouver).
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Sterling, Va.: good afternoon! I’m trying to plan a trip with a group of girlfriends. our only limitations are geography (we live in Minneapolis, San Antonio, Boston and DC) and where we’ve already been (Las Vegas, Chicago and Austin). We’d ideally like to make it a weekend trip (3 days) plus an evening or so to travel if necessary. Any ideas off the top of your head that might fit our needs?
Becky Krystal: Have a look at our past few installments of the Impulsive Traveler, a feature designed for weekend trips. Among the possibilities: Miami, Dallas and Amelia Island.
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Silver Spring, Md.: hi all,
We have a 6-hour layover in Amsterdam the morning of January 13. We’ve never been to Amsterdam. Is it doable to go into town in that time frame? if so, any recommendations for a short time period?
Andrea Sachs: The train leaves from the airport, so you can easily race into the city and get back in time for your flight. (Just remember to leave yourself enough time to go through customs and security.) in town, you will be near Dam Square, Kalverstraat (a big shopping street) and the Red Light District (no description necessary). You can also opt for a canal or city tour; inquire at the airport. if you are speedy, you can also squeeze in the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum or Anne Frank House. get a map before you go.
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SW, DC: Airport buses – I concur with the poster. I’ve heard stories of people getting shut out at Rosslyn because there’s no more room onboard (that’s why I tell everyone to take the 5A from L’Enfant), and the some of the B30s I’ve seen lately around BWI have looked absolutely jam-packed.
On the change fee – Chris, probably worth pointing out that there are some choice there (a real rarity in the lock-step airline world) – not all airlines charge the same, and some even have no change fee at all.
Becky Krystal: I hear ya. I almost got shut out of a bus in Arlington this morning. Can’t imagine how that would feel with a flight to catch.
Christopher Elliott: very good point. Southwest Airlines comes to mind. and the standard change fee is actually $150, not $100. So JetBlue is actually being (gasp!) generous. Sorta.
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Tokyo, Japan: hello crew! I am originally from DC and got hooked on your chats and still continue to read this every week even now that I’ve moved to Japan! I have a question that I hope you or your readers can answer – my family is coming to visit us in Japan in June 2010 and we’re planning on visiting Singapore, Kuala Lampur, Bangkok and Siem Riep. From what I’ve read from previous chats, it seems that people have had a good experience with Jet Star airways and tickets seem pretty cheap so is that my best bet? we have about 10 days to do all 4 countries/cities….are we being too ambitious? can you point on some must sees in any of those 4 countries? thanks so much for all your help!
Joe Yonan: Four countries in 10 days? I suppose it depends on your personalities/stamina, but I think that’s too much. I haven’t been to any of them, but I can imagine a week’s worth of things to do in Singapore or Bangkok alone…
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Walk (and tour) like an Egyptian: Camera restrictions at the Pyramids? and Luxor? I don’t remember seeing any such thing at any outdoor sites, just indoors (e.g., museums, tombs). in some cases, using flash is the big no-no.
Zofia Smardz: right.
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Washington, DC: hi Crew, thanks for hosting this chat.
I am hoping to get your guidance on this, as I really am not sure what to do. it involves customer service and Amtrak, so it may be a moot point. I encountered some of the rudest service from Amtrak staff, and there doesn’t seem to be much I can do about it. getting my head bitten off for asking basic c/s questions is pretty off-putting, and I’m not happy with the professionalism and service of some of the ticket staff (the conductors on the train were fine, though, and were really nice). if it was an airline, I think I’d have a better chance of getting a serious issue addressed. But what to do about Amtrak?
Carol Sottili: I don’t think you’d have a better chance with the airlines. if you got names, and can write a cogent, detailed letter about the incident, that is the first step. Mail it to:
Amtrak Customer Relations
60 Massachusetts Ave NE
You can also try emailing Amtrak Customer Advisory Committee at acac@amtrak.com.
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Washington, DC: hi Travel Staff! quick ideas please? I am taking my BF away for a night the weekend before Christmas to celebrate a very important anniversary/milestone for him. we were originally both off from work that day, but now we both have to work until at least 6pm that night. Any unique ideas as to where I could whisk him away to for a nice, romantic night? Two wrenches? he doesn’t want to go to Annapolis since he’s from there and he doesn’t want to go to Baltimore because he lives there. I live in DC so…any idea? thanks!!
Nancy Trejos: I’m trying to figure this out as well! I once did a nice inn in Williamsburg for a night. it wasn’t a long drive. we went to Colonial Williamsburg, had a great meal then a drink and enjoyed our charming inn. it will probably be quite nice around the holidays. if you want more of a big city feel, why not do a night in Philadelphia? It’s not that far away, and there are great museums and restaurants. You can also try Berkley Springs in West Virginia. if you’re into skiing, there are also many resorts in West Virginia. Richmond is also supposed to be a lot of fun. and don’t underestimate Southern Maryland. I used to work out there. Solomon’s Island is nice. St. Mary’s County also has lots of charming spots.
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Washington, DC: My story of compassion, has to do with the poor girl working the Customer assistance Desk for USAir in Philadelphia.
Had to return to BWI from Phoenix via Philly during GW’s Convention in Philly in 2000. Thunderstorms east delayed our departure from Phoenix, which made me miss my connector to BWI.
Reschedule 1 was a plane with mechanical difficulties. Reschedule 2 was delayed because the plane couldn’t get in due to more storms, Reschedule 3’s flight crew was going to be over the FAA’s work time.
Finally went back to get in line one last time and noticed the same young lady was still stuck at the Customer Service desk being berated by a number of a–es, so I took it upon myself to buy two sodas, one diet one regular. When it was my turn in line I jokingly said hi again, offered her a drink and said, heading to DC, whatever you can do will be fine and I’m sorry for my fellow travelers’ lack of manners.
She took the Diet, made a couple of clicks and handed me a first class seat on the next flight out.
Remember folks, the Customer Service workers often receive the brunt of travel pain that is in no way their fault.
Becky Krystal: Lucky you. Politeness pays off in more ways than one!
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Airline tickets: I really don’t understand the complaint about JetBlue. I fly with them on a regular basis, and they are very upfront about the $100 change fee. How are they to blame for customers who don’t pay attention to the rules governing tickets before purchasing them, and then whine about it afterward? and isn’t a $100 change fee pretty much standard across airlines?
Christopher Elliott: Actually, some airlines charge $150 to change airline tickets.
My point was just that airlines can and should be more up-front about the terms of their tickets. When passengers are surprised by change fees, as your fellow reader was, it means airlines could be doing better with its disclosure.
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Lancaster, Pa.: re: Atlanta for New Year’s
Asheville is a trip in itself — the galleries in town, the craft trails in the mountains and at that time of the year, Biltmore, will require more than a day of your time. Charleston is prettier in the spring. either way you go, you have some serious driving time. why not just stop in Richmond? The downtown area is really festive at holiday time.
Zofia Smardz: Perfect suggestion, thanks!
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Travel Story: When I was in college, I got rides with friends back or forth as much as possible because the Greyhound trip took almost 24 hours. on trip, most likely for Thanksgiving, five of us were in a six-passenger car heading west to take the Pennsy Turnpike, when we saw a nice-looking, well-dressed college-age-looking boy looking at a rest stop on the NJ Tpke for a ride. After discussing it amongst ourselves, we decided to offer him the “suicide seat” in our car.
He accepted and we got on our way in the rain. later, while driving the “caution curves” (this was a while ago), we got a flat tire and pulled over. As the only female in the car and seeing the hub cap go, I went back to retrieve it while the boys changed the tire. When I got back to the car, three boys were holding the tire while one was trying to loosen the lugs. they had gotten the car jacked up without doing that first!
I suggested that they lower the car until the tire touched the surface and try again. I also told them that my pauncho was in the trunk and they could use it on the wet road while changing the tire. with that news, the boy that we had picked up, the only one in a suit, said that he would change the tire.
I was so glad that we picked him up as he was the only one, other than myself, that had every changed a tire before. we were on our way soon after that.
That boy definitely earned his way in my opinion!
Becky Krystal: I’ll say! in a horror movie, hitchhikers are rarely so friendly.
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Laurel, Md.: What’s the best way to travel between distant cities within Florida? We’re planning on a week in Orlando followed by a cruise from Miami. if we want to fly to/from Florida, what would be the most likely way to travel the 250 miles within the state?
Christopher Elliott: The best way to get to Miami is to drive. I would rent a car.
Take the Turnpike. I’ll cost a little extra, but you’ll avoid the traffic.
Here’s the Turnpike site.
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For Vancouver-bound: $630 round-trip is a great price for Vancouver. Fly.
Becky Krystal: Carpe diem!
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What?: “I’ve done it at Reagan.” Not sure I would take advice from someone who calls National Airport “Reagan.”
Zofia Smardz: Now, be nice. that is now it’s official name.
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Your votes and views, chatters for Atlanta bound: I vote that they plan on returning to DC on Monday instead of Sunday. The drive up 95 the Sunday after Thanksgiving approaching DC can be very long with heavy traffic, worse the closer to DC!
Andrea Sachs: good advice. Sunday is the worst, and Monday is just so-so bad.
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Virgin American: Carol,
I was on Virgin American once on a flight from Seattle to San Fran for work. I avoided the temptation. My flight time worked nice. I turned on ESPN and watched a ballgame…I can watch without the commentators.
Carol Sottili: You have more self control than I do. But at least I enjoyed the $8 movie and the food was very good (can’t remember what I paid).
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Lancaster, Pa.: Babymoon suggestion
The Hotel Hershey just underwent a major renovation — it now has cottages and a new restaurant that features locally sourced menu items. The spa could be just what you need. Keep in mind that a lot of B&Bs (at least in this area) close during January for upkeep/renovations.
Becky Krystal: plus, there’s chocolate. Chocolate!
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Seattle: There are only TWO trains to Vancouver from Seattle. one is early in the morning and the other leaves around 4-5pm. I am sure the fares will be gouged. Amtrak offers the buses in their booking.
There are also, that you could book separately a few local airlines or private aircraft that will fly between Seattle and Vancouver..not sure what the fares would be.
Carol Sottili: I’m guessing flying between Seattle and Vancouver would defeat the purpose of saving money. re: Amtrak, I didn’t see price gouging when I went online – $37.50 each way.
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Rockville, Md.: kudos to SW airlines…bought tickets for BF and I but I got his birthday wrong. When I realized it, I called and they happily corrected my mistake. Whew!
Andrea Sachs: no change fee. Something to be thankful for.
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for Lake Placid, NY: Definitely check out the restaurant at Mirror Lake Inn, even if you don’t stay there. one of the best kitchens in town.
Hotels: there is a Marriott property that is perfectly serviceable, excellent location, some rooms have nice views. Mostly I just ate there, too – Sunday brunch is a very big deal.
Andrea Sachs: thanks for the advice!
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For Odenton Md: Check out New Hope Pa for a holiday flavored weekend.
Andrea Sachs: Great idea.
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Asia travel: Skip Kuala Lumpur. Use Singapore for two days as a base to recover your family from jet lag and “introduce them” to Asia (and hit one of the many food courts). go to Bangkok for five days and Siem Reap (or Chiang Mai, or Phuket, or Vietnam) for three. Fly back to Singapore.
JetStar is one of many low-cost carriers in Asia – you won’t get a lot, but they’ll get you where you’re going.
Andrea Sachs: thanks for the insights.
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For Villa Renters: go to slowtrav.com for reviews.
Andrea Sachs: good to know. thanks!
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Nashville without a car: just stay in the downtown section. 2nd and Broadway are where all the music bars are located. either by looking at bus routes, cab rides, or longer walks you could get to the area around the Capitol, Centential Park, and the Vanderbilt campus where you have some interesting places.
Pay attention to the weather before you go…You could have 70 degree days or 20 degree days in Nashville in January.
Becky Krystal: for the ladies heading to Tennessee.
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Parking, Woes: A cautionary tale: I flew out of BWI last year on Dec 26th and found ALL of the parking lots including the overflow lots and the non airport owned park n fly lots full!!! My only option was to park in the short term garage. they actually have a policy of charging you the long term rate if you have to park in the short term garage if the overflow lot is full, but as you can imagine it was quite a hassle to get them to honor that rate!
Andrea Sachs: Scary. thanks for sharing your parking tale.
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Helping fellow travelers: Years ago, my boyfriend (now husband) and I were traveling in Europe. we were going from Brussels to Paris by train. There was a large group of American boy scouts on the train with two chaperons. we started chatting, and it turned out that the third and fourth chaperons had missed the train at the station and they had all the tickets and passports for the group. The two chaperons on the train were frantic, not knowing if the whole group was going to get tossed off the train. I spoke French and offered to translate for them. (This was all pre-cell phones.)
Once the conductors came to collect the tickets, the scoutmasters asked me to explain the situation to the conductors. The Belgian conductors thought this was all very funny and decided that it was going to be the problem of the French train crew (the crew changed at the border).
So when the French crew came on, they were definitely not amused. with me translating, we worked out that the group would remain at the station and wait for the next train, carrying the remaining chaperons, passports, and tickets.
The boy scouts thought this was all hysterically funny. I thought the adults looked like they could use a stiff drink. But it made for a good story.
Becky Krystal: and we appreciate you sharing.
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Paris, France: I just started a position that is going to require me to spend about one week every month in Paris. During my current visit (my first) I took the RER train in from CDG to my office near Notre Dame. about 2 stations out, I got accosted by a group of kids asking me to sign petitions for the disabled. they were obviously pickpockets and I made it through okay but it was pretty unnerving (there were 7 kids about 15 years old – and I’m a female in my late 30’s). Is this something that I’ll encounter every trip in from CDG? if so, is there an alternate mode of transport to the Latin Quarter area that you would recommend?
Nancy Trejos: I’ve been to Paris a few times and always take the RER from the airport. I haven’t had any problems. The RER or metro is probably the cheapest, easier way to get to the Latin Quarter. I don’t think you should expect that to happen every time you go to Paris. Bu if you feel uncomfortable, you might want to consider a shuttle or a taxi. both, however, are much costlier alternatives. if you’re doing it for work though, can’t you expense it? good luck! and enjoy Paris. Great city.
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DC to North Jersey Thursday: We’re traveling from NOVA To North Jersey on Thursday morning. Any idea what I95 and the turnpike will look like?
Nancy Trejos: I think you’re better off going up Thursday morning than Wednesday night, but I think you should still expect to hit some traffic. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Tysons Corner, Va.: on my way to South Asia next month via Turkish Airlines I have a 9 hour layover in Istanbul. I’d like to leave the airport and check out the city since this will be first time in the country. Any recommendations/advice given my limited time? thanks!
Nancy Trejos: I’ve spent a lot of time in Istanbul. You’ll love it. You must go to the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. Enjoy the local cuisine. Try some mantis, kebabs, and a bit of Raki as a beverage. and hit the Grand Bazaar if you can.
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Becky Krystal: thanks for joining us this week. may your Turkey Day travels be uneventful. and if the chatter whose dad gave the stranded couple a ride home could send an e-mail with your contact info to travel(at)washpost(dot)com, we’ll send you your prize! maybe share it with pops.
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Talk about travel: Travel staffers help you plan great escapes
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