Travel Log

A Message from the Flight Deck

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:26:55 -0500

We're not waiting till Friday anymore to roll out our weekly helping of Travel features and advice. Starting today, stories will be posted on our Travel homepage on a daily basis. On Tuesdays, you'll likely see The Long Weekend, a trip focused on the region surrounding Washington, D.C., including some destinations that are a couple of hours away by air. Wednesdays will bring the Escapes column, ideas for nearby wanderings that will make for a special weekend, whether exciting or soothing -- in time for you to make your own plans. Thursdays will be our wild-card day: Once a month it will be the popular Postcard From Tom, with Post critic Tom Sietsema's take on restaurants around the country and the world; also once a month will be Road Trip, a feature-laden local itinerary making up a traditional "Sunday drive"; or it could be a feature story about some far-off

Insta Q&A: Cruising Alaska

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:17:01 -0500

Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations on the planet, and no wonder: The scenery's incomparable (glaciers, fiords, snow-capped peaks), the wildlife is sublime (black bears, eagles, whales, sea lions) and the outdoor adventures are challenging and fun (river-rafting, sea kayaking, flightseeing, glacier treks). But cruising Alaska is also an expensive proposition, and that's where this week's Insta-Q comes in. Yvonne de Bats Miller of Vienna would love to make this trip, but she's looking for suggestions on how to do it economically. She writes: At the end of June, my husband and I would like to take an Alaskan cruise for one week. We would like to meet up with my daughter, her husband and their two children, ages 9 and 6. They live in Colorado. We are all truly nature lovers and we could easily skip all the dressing up and captain's dinners related to usual

St. Patrick's Day Rugby, Almost Interrupted

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:06:10 -0500

The Washington Rugby Football Club's trip to Dublin to play in a St. Patrick's Day tournament came close to being ruined by travel plans gone awry. The 13 players and seven friends headed out on Continental Flight 3346 from Reagan National to Newark on Thursday evening, thinking that 90 minutes would be plenty of time to make the connecting Flight 126 on to Dublin. But their first flight was delayed, landing 107 minutes late. The guys were anxious, but the pilot and Continental reps on the ground were aware of their plight, indicating they'd hold the plane for such a large group. Sure enough, their connecting flight had still not taken off, so they sprinted across the terminal, thinking they'd made it, only to find the gate closed. The two Continental gate reps refused to reopen the gate, saying they couldn't board because their luggage wouldn't make it. The players

Heading to Ireland? Get With the Gaelic

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:21:45 -0500

If St. Patrick's Day inspires you to do more than drink green beer and march in a parade, take a look at an offer from Rosetta Stone. The language-learning company is making its Gaelic language software available free through March 19. The Irish Levels I, 2 & 3 software, which you download via the Web site, normally sells for $549. The program uses games, images and native speakers. And if your computer is equipped with voice recognition software, it will even critique your brogue. You'll need to register at the Web site, and you'll then be emailed a user name and password that will give you access to the language program download.

Chat Plus: Budget Bike Tours

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:53:53 -0500

During Monday's online discussion, a chatster asked about budget bike tours. Not long after the chat ended, I received a press release from Great Explorations about discounts on its bike tours. Spooky! The Vancouver-based adventure company offers a slew of trips around the world, and while its tours aren't technically budget, this deal does help chip away at the total expense. Here's the 411: Great Explorations is offering special discounts on their premier cycling trips for bookings made before March 31st. The outfitter is offering $500 off per couple on select trips: May 11-25, Camino de Santiago, Spain; May 17-23, Umbria, Italy; June 5-11, French Provence South; Aug. 1-7, Gulf Islands, British Columbia; Sep. 22-28, Croatia; Sep. 29-Oct. 9, Turkey cycle and sail. Info: 800-242-1825, www.great-explorations.com.

Fare Play: Airfare Pricing Tip

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:31:49 -0500

As author of the "What's the Deal?" column, I spend countless hours online researching airfares. But I encountered a new-for-me pricing quirk this weekend. Perhaps sharing the experience will help someone save a buck or two. I needed four round-trip tickets from New York to St. Louis so the relatives could get to my daughter's commencement in mid May. I'd been tracking the fares for weeks, and decided to buy after it became clear prices were creeping up. American Airlines out of LaGuardia afforded the best nonstop option, so I went to its Web site and plugged in a request for four tickets. The price came up at $309.70 each -- not a great fare, but good enough. About 45 minutes later, after getting in touch with various family members, I decided to pull the trigger. But now the price had gone up to $359.70 a ticket. I've warned readers

Insta Q&A: Costa Rican Celebration

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:22:53 -0500

Any Costa Rica fans out there? Embarrassingly, I've never been to that oh-so-popular destination, although it's been on my wish list for ages. Now comes reader Rita Cooperman, who wants to visit with her extended family, but isn't quite sure how to plan the trip. I've got lots of ideas in my ever-expanding CR file, but if you've been there and done that, please feel free to jump in on this week's Insta-Q: We are contemplating celebrating our 50th anniversary and my husband's 75th birthday in Costa Rica. We want to go with our grandchildren (a 13-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy) as well as their parents in their mid-40s and our single son in his mid-40s. We are not sure the best way to share this country with our family members. They like the outdoors, nature, and long walks/hiking. We have one member that is not into snorkeling or

Act Now: JetBlue Sale, Today Only

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:25:53 -0500

JetBlue is holding a one-day sale, featuring deeply discounted fares from Washington Dulles to six destinations. Travelers need to be flexible, as the sale applies only to Tuesday or Wednesday flights March 10-April 1. One-way fares are $29 to New York; $49 to Orlando, Fort Myers, Fla., and West Palm Beach, Fla.; and $69 to Long Beach, Calif., and Oakland, Calif. Round-trip fares, including taxes, are $79 to New York; $119 to the Florida destinations; and $170 to Oakland and $159 to Long Beach. Buy by 11:59 p.m. today (Wednesday, March 4) MST, which is 1:59 a.m. March 5 in Washington, at www.jetblue.com. Or pay $15 more by calling 800-538-2583. Some flights are sold out.

Delta Gives Flight to Movie Shorts

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:43:42 -0500

Film fans who want to weigh in on their favorite shorts, take a look at Delta Air Lines. As the official airline sponsor of the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, Delta has posted five short films, which can be viewed through April 12: The airline is also showing them on flights equipped with Delta on Demand. Viewers are being asked to review the films, and the one rated highest will be featured in the festival's short film program. The movies are incredibly entertaining, ranging from the wry "The Green Film" by Andrew Williamson, about making the greenest movie of all time to the touching "Gerald's Last Day" by Justin Rasch and Shel Rasch, an animated short about a pup in the pound who is scheduled for "termination" at 5 p.m. The Tribeca Film Fesival will take place in New York City April 22 through May 3.

Insta Q&A: Cross-Country Drive

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:52:09 -0500

Blankets. Nicotine patches. Crystal Lite "energy" powder pouches. Ingredients for an all-nighter? No, these are all things you should pack for a cross-country drive, at least according to some of the many Web sites on the subject. (I don't really get the nicotine patch one -- seems like a 3,000-mile drive wouldn't be the best time to stop smoking. On the other hand, maybe it distracts you during the tedious stretches. But I digress.) This week's Insta Q comes from Meg Smolinski of the District, who's planning a California-to-D.C. trip this summer and is looking for tips. Meg writes: My partner and I are planning a cross-country trip next August. We'll take the train to California via the California Zephyr, then rent a car to drive back to D.C., via Route 66 and other smaller highways. We've already been told not to miss out on Highway 1 from San Francisco

Free Sodas, Sales: US Airways Responds to Complaints

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:31:24 -0500

"We're bringing back free drinks," US Airways' Web site trumpeted last week. And so they are, as of today -- at least the nonalcoholic ones. Even though other major carriers piled on charges for checked baggage, telephone reservations and inflight snacks, US Airways was out there alone in charging passengers for their Coke and coffee. Apparently customer reaction was not good and did not die down, hence the airline's reversal. Cocktails, wine and beer are still $7. US Airways's decision reinforces the lesson that, at least sometimes, it pays to complain. Remember last summer when United was threatening to nix overseas meals? Well, that plan was shelved after enough passengers voiced their objection. While fliers have gotten used to paying for what was once free - checked bags, blankets and pillows, phone reservations - apparently there are still a few things that passengers refuse to get charged for. Meanwhile, US

Honeymoons With a Twist

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:06:41 -0500

Think honeymoon, and certain destinations come immediately to mind: Hawaii, Italy, Tahiti, St. Lucia, Mexico, France, Bermuda, to name a few. For some, being at a Sandals in Jamaica with lots of other honeymooners is ideal. But others may want all the perks of a traditional honeymoon, but without the crowds. Here are some alternatives to consider: * Instead of Tuscany, try Sicily. The island boasts good restaurants, some nice hotels, incredible history and pleasant beaches. Land in either Palermo or Catania, rent a car and hit the hot spots, which include Agrigento, Syracusa, Taormina and Cefalu. Many of the island's luxury hotels are located in Taormina: take a look at San Domenico Palace and Grand Hotel Timeo. If you're more outdoorsy, yet love good food and nice accommodations, take a look at the Italian Dolomites. The Val Gardena region, including the towns of Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena,

Insta Q&A: Turquoise Coast Is a Turkish Delight

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:26:06 -0500

My only regret after spending 10 fantastic days in Turkey last fall is that I didn't experience it by sea. Between the mosques and mystery of Istanbul and the country's spectacularly beautiful interior, I just ran out of time. Reader Carol Stern, on the other hand, is planning a visit with a friend for next fall and has wisely allotted a couple of days for a cruise. Smart move, Carol. She writes: We would like to take a short two- or three-day cruise along one of the coasts. Can you make a recommendation? Also, we do not want to travel with a tour. Any suggestions for how to get around and where to go? So far we have Istanbul, Izmir and Cappadocia on our itinerary. Carol, you've picked the perfect bases for a two-week visit. Istanbul, of course, is a must-see, and your timing is great, since the city's spiffing

Bird Strikes, Cell Phones on Planes, Refunds and More

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:04:32 -0500

Here are some of the latest flying-related stories, big and small: It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's... Avian Radar! The Seattle-Tacoma Airport is the first airport in the world to install avian radar. The goal is to detect bird movements to avoid avian collisions like the kind that caused a U.S. Airways plane to crash-land in the Hudson River on Jan. 15. The three radar systems at the airport are part of a research collaboration between the University of Illinois and the FAA in the hopes that the new technology can prevent bird-plane collisions in the future. Cell Phones on Planes: While passengers have long been instructed to turn off cell phones on planes, apparently pilots needed a similar warning [PDF]. While it's not clear whether cell phone signals are actually dangerous during takeoff and landing, I'd want my plane's pilots and crew being as cautious as possible. Buffalo

Too Bad Waterford Didn't Make Crystal Balls

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:05:17 -0500

For years, visitors to Dublin have been taking side trips (and getting lost on the way, it must be admitted) to the town of Waterford, 100 miles south. Its presence on the Irish dance card was attributable in large part to the world-famous crystal company located there and especially the Waterford factory tour, which drew more than 300,000 patrons a year -- one of the biggest tourist attractions in Ireland. But, as a reader informed us during a recent online chat (thanks, "London"!), Waterford has apparently become another casualty of the economic crisis. The factory itself closed on Jan. 30. The workers staged a sit-in almost immediately, and as of now Waterford remains closed. The crystal company, part of Waterford Wedgwood PLC, says it's looking for a buyer, but the future of the factory and its tours is very much in doubt. Gone, at least for now, are the glass-blowers