ThePost's Travel Section Flight Crew - pictured at right - will take your comments, questions, suspicions, warnings, gripes, sad tales and happy endings springing from the world of... the world. Of course, the Flight Crew will be happy to answer your travel questions - but the best thing about this forum, we insist, is that it lets travelers exchange information with other travelers who've been there, done that or otherwise have insights, ideas and information to share. Different members of the Crew will rotate through the captain's chair every week, but the one constant is you, our valued passengers. We know you have a choice in online travel forums, and speaking for the entire Flight Crew, we want to thank you for flying with us. You may also browse an archive of previous live travel discussions and a list of frequently asked questions. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
The Flight Crew: Hey, gang,and welcome to this week's forum with the Travel Section Flight Crew. This is John Deiner, your captain. We have a full crew this week, so let us have it.
Here's the deal this week: Borrowing a page from Groucho, the first person to use the Secret Word in their question or comment (preferably praise) gets the prize this week--a really cool electro-frisbee that makes neat sounds when it flies around. We guarantee that it'll drive you crazy.
So let's go, shall we?
Annandale, Va.: I know it's early, and I don't have any qestions, but I just read your special section on the Outer Banks and I wanted to let you know it's AWESOME. Definitely a keeper. Thanks.
Arlington, Va.: What is the weather like in Cairns/Queensland in April/May? I was thinking of going on my honeymoon to do some diving in Australia during this time next year. I know it is the southern hemisphere's fall/winter season but I have been told me it is still nice and we should go.
The Flight Crew: I happen to have gone there this year over Easter, and it was lovely. In fact, it was warm enough that I was glad I hadn't waited until their summer, cause it would have been too hot. Check with the australia tourism office about the typhoon/monsoon odds,
www.australia.com.
I would say two more things---Carnes is nice, with lots of action, but the high-rise atmosphere wasn't for me personally. If you like the low key, low-rise feel too, consider staying in Port Douglas, an hour to the north. Also, the area is great for diving, snorkeling and boating and wildlife watching, rainforest trekking and all manner of tours. But the beaches, while decent, aren't fantastic, and during that time of year their are stinging jellyfish, and they have nets up to protect you from bites, which we found effective but then again not romantic. We'll be publishing a story with more specifics next Sunday. Cindy
Arlington, Va.: Hello,
Going to Bermuda this summer. How should I pay for the taxi from the airport to the hotel? Should I pay with a travelers check, credit card or should I hope to change some money in the airport there? Also, what are your favorite activities in Bermuda? Staying at the Reefs hotel. Thanks much!
The Flight Crew: Hey, Arl. Pay with cash with either money you changed ahead of time, or change it once you get there. And make sure you change enough--cabs are very pricey there, and if memory serves me, the reefs are good distance from the airport.
As for activities, love the snorkeling--just about the best you'll find, plus there are dozens of places to do it. Also, be sure to check out Hamilton, which is a fun place to chill.
-john
Germany bound: Hello Crew and happy SUNNY Monday. I am in need of your brilliant help. I'm going to the Rhine valley in Germany soon, and we'd like to find a place to stay in Rudesheim, but none of my guidebooks have recommendations. Do you or any of your readers? Thank you for your help!
The Flight Crew: I prefer Midway. O'Hare is so huge it's maddening. Midway is smaller, easy, closer to town, plus you should be able to get a better fare since Southwest competes in that market. Cindy
Washington, D.C.: I am thinking about taking a bus from Chinatown up to New York for one weekend this month. Do you all still recommend this as a good cheap transportation mode? Where can I find out about prices and departure times?
Thanks.
The Flight Crew: Hey DC--I still take the Chinatown buses all the time. Go to
www.ivymedia.com and click on the NY/DC icon. The schedules will pop right up. It's $20 one way, $35 roundtrip, with a $ service charge for ordering online (Or you can go and buy the ticket directly at 610 I St. NW, two blocks from the Chinatown Metro stop). Show you confirmation printout when you arrive at the "station," at least 20 minutes before departure, and they'll assign you a seat number. For the same price (at last check) you can take Washington Deluxe,
www.washingtondeluxe.com.
-Anne
The Flight Crew: Sottili here: Celebrity (
www.celebrity.com) is the cruise line that offers the most cruises out of Baltimore. Holland America offers a couple a year to the Caribbean. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a couple to Canada/New England in the fall. Carnival is going to offer cruises to the Bahamas on the new Carnival Miracle beginning next April.
Arlington, Va.:
My fiance and I are changing our honeymoon plans, and were thinking of going to Miami. I am afraid it will be terribly hot in July and too Spring Break-ish. We had planned on going to San Francisco but no longer think we can afford it. Is Miami a decent option? We're looking for beach and other things to do!
The Flight Crew: Miami wouldn't be my first choice in July, given that the whole east coast is good beach weather then. I guess though it depends what the "other things" are that you want to do. Have you considered South Carolina beaches, for example? How about touring around Charleston or Savanah and then going to beaches near there? Or really cheap transportation, drive up to New York City, do your city stuff, then go to Long Island. There are tons of options, and I'd take one of them over Miami in July unless there is something specific you want to see there. Cindy
The Flight Crew: Hey, SS. Sedona is beautiful...you could easily spend a day just hiking and/or driving around the red rock canyons. Check out
www.visitsedona.com for more ideas.
How about it clicksters...any suggestions?
Washington, D.C.: I was hoping to plan a trip to climb Mt. Kilamanjaro, and I would like to do it with a group. Via the interent, I have found some companies that organize group climbs. How do I go about which is best, the reputation, etc.? Or do you know of a good company? Thanks.
The Flight Crew:
I went up in '91 with a group(s) that provided excellent service from bottom to top (and down again). It was the internet broker, Iexplore.com (
www.iexplore.com), which in turn contracted me to a company called Journeys (
www.journeys-intl.com), which in turn hired the Tanzania-based outfitter Shades of Africa for the actual climb--such is the nature of internet-based travel planning. The trip was excellent, but a little on the pricey side. You might also look at Gorp.com and see what iteneraries they have. Then check a general review site, like
epinions.com, to see if your operator gets any feedback.
--Steve
The Flight Crew: Hey Alex--a link to the article, by Elissa Leibowitz, is coming right up. Also, check out this week's Escapes column (in Style on Wednesday) for a look at local nature photography workshops.
-Anne
The Flight Crew: Okay, I'm an idiot, I was going to send you to Berkeley Springs 'cause it's close and cheap, but Steve thinks you're a guy on the prowl, and I have to admit Berkeley Springs isn't prime singles territory. So how about Richmond? My college-age kid just came back from a weekend there and was raving about the nightlife and the cool neighborhoods. Shockoe Slip is a great area of trendy bars and restaurants, Monument Avenue is gorgeous and the Fan District has beautiful brownstones as well as lots of pubs and eateries. And with the money you save on airfare, you can get a room at the gorgeous, five-star Hotel Jefferson, with its "Gone with the Wind" staircase. Best of all, it's nowhere near a beach. .com, can you give us a link to our recent Escapes piece on Richmond? --KC
The Flight Crew: Seems to me a confirmed reservation, assuming you have it in writing, is a confirmed reservation. That's not to say they won't refuse you entrance, then you'll have to enter a battle that could last long after your intended stay. If it were me, I'd call them before I go to say what you've got on paper, and see what they say. That way, if you want to argue the point with a manager or with Orbitz, you'll be doing if from home, not from the street. Cindy
Arlington, Va.: I am going to Japan in July, and while excited, am nervous about the fact that I don't know any Japanese. Although I love to travel, my trips have all been to places with our alphabet system! Can you all tell me how difficult it may be to figure out the train schedules, menus, etc.? I will be in Tokyo for five days, and Kyoto, Beppu, and Nagoya for five days. Any hints or ideas to make my trip less intimidating? Also, do you have to make reservations for train travel if you are using the Japan Rail pass? Thanks for your help!
The Flight Crew: Arlington: I went to Japan not long ago, also with only a few words of Japanese to my vocabulary, says Gary. I was mostly in Tokyo. I found that while most people understood a couple of words of English, it was not really widely spoken. Based on my experience, it would help if you planned your days carefully, using let's say the front desk person in your hotel (who should speak English) to help chart you through. Also, I stumbled across a godsend: a service where an English speaking local will come to your hotel and act as your guide for the day free of charge. The catch is that the guides usually don't speak perfect English so what's in it for them is a chance to practice with a native speaker. (And to show their city off.) You can find the number for the service at the Tokyo tourist office. Also, in most public transportation centers (Metro stations, train stations, etc) there is one person who understands English well. Make use of them. Finally, take good maps wherever you go. Even if the locals can't speak much of your language, I found they were very willing to do their best to steer you on course, using a good map and gestures.
This sounds hard but it isn't really. I had fun trying to communicate with locals and I bet you will, too.
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