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From: Lindsay Wilson, Brisbane:

Having just done another trip to Hong Kong (arriving back this morning), thought I would give a review for those interested.

As usual, the Airport Express train service was faultless. Probably the best run system I have ever used - certainly not cheap (HKD $100 which translated to almost exactly AUD $25). Probably equal to the Stockholm Arlanda Express. But if you want to get to Central in 30 minutes, then hop aboard. You can take your luggage in the trolleys right up to the doors and sometimes (particularly ladies), there are people who will help you load your luggage, smiling while they do it and not looking for tips.

The airport - pristine (thankfully the street spitters have faded, just not their throat clearing cousins). For those lucky enough, the Qantas Club lounge and Cathay's The Wing and The Pier are just beautiful. Watch the walk to the higher numbered gates (33 to 80) as you catch a train to take you out there. If they print on your ticket 25 minutes, believe it. I was the last to board my Cathay flight to Manila at gate 68, having left the Qantas Club at the time designated on my boarding pass. First time in a long time I have come so close to missing a flight...

A great benefit is checking in at Airport Express at Central (so long as you are there with more than 90 minutes before flight). Hop on board the train after check-in with your boarding pass and walk direct to Customs. Your bags go separately but mine have never missed being there at the other end.

Hope this tip helps some

From: Kevin, USA:

Have you travelled Asia?...seen the sites!...a photographic memory perhaps?.

You are invited to my web site "Asia! Travel Photographs From Where?" and maybe you can help identify a selection of photographs taken on my travels through Asia. See you there.

URL: http://www.asiatravelpics.de>

From: Captain Bulent , FETHIYE, TURKEY:

I am the owner and the captain of a traditional Turkish Gulet.

If you will travel through, TURKISH MEDITERRANEAN coastline. If you want to have a highlight life on the sea during your travel. If you want to " Relax, suntan, watersports in the day party at night ".

Please visit my following web site. Or send me email. URL: http://homepages.go.com/~captainbulent/backpackers.html

From: Sophia Schakowsky & Anne Simak, Stockholm, Sweden:

Hello! We are two girls, happy to receive ideas about what to see & do during our stay in Barcelona, everything from art to clubhopping f.ex house-funk-R&B and salsaclubs. Where can you eat good & cheap, genuine Catalán, Spanish food? Is there anyone in Barcelona who would like to show us around for a day or evening? See you soon!

From: Eddie , Earth!:

Hey guys, in the middle of a journey in Europe. found a great hostel in Berlin that I just had to share with anyone that will be coming to Berlin.

The name is Globetrotter Hostel Odyssee.Great location! Great surroundings. Email available, pool table, good beer, good atmosphere, good times.

To get there just take the S-Bahn to Warschauer Str. turn right and take the 4th street on the left. From Ostbahnhof take bus 240 or 147, ride for 5 minutes, get off at Grünberger.

Well guys let me know if you need any help. i have done Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Berlin so far and am heading to Prague. also i just came from Mexico and have great budget travel info for anyone interested.

If you want more info Oddyssee Hostel call 29-0000-81 or email to berlin_odyssee@yahoo.com URL: http://www.media-mania.com/odyssee

From: David Fisher , Seattle, Washington, USA:

I have created a website devoted to showing how to earn free airline miles online. This is done by answering surveys, clicking on advertisement links, joining free memberships, online airline promotions, etc. I am not selling anything and wanted to share my extensive research with anyone interested. If you are a budget-minded traveller or simply need a few extra miles to reach an award level, I think you'll like my website.

Visit The Airline Mileage Workshop at: http://members.theglobe.com/mileage

From: Hans Anderssen<>, Denmark:

Euro/scaninavia/Denmark-traveller... Denmark during the summer may most of the time be a great thing. I know the weather sometimes are unreliable, but during the end of June to the middle of August it usually is pretty nice.

BEACHES: We do have some very great beaches. Bellevue: Just north of Copenhagen, crowed but with a lot of beautiful young people.

West Zealand (vest-sjælland):11km from the town Slagelse , there are Stillinge Strand and Bildsø stand, very nice and friendly beaches which is not too crowded even on a sunny Sunday. From here you can see the big new bridge connecting Fyn and Sjællan d.

Further south near the town Skælskør there are also good beaches called Kobæk strand (strand = beach). Further south near Næstved there are good beaches at Karrebæksminde and the small island Orø. A bit crowded.

In Jutland (Jylland): The west coast is the best. The island Rømø have magnificent wide sandy beaches. The Island is crowded with Germans during summer, but there are also a lot of space. Near the town Varde, there are great beaches. Vejers strand, Blåvan dshuk strand and Henne Strand. Henne strand also have a nude beach.

North Jutland (called vendsyssel) have great beaches, especially the top. Skagen town are place where a lot of different things are going on. The island Læsø is great, and very peaceful.(in Kattegat sea)

East of Denmark there are another island Bornholm. It is famous for their fresh smoked herrings, but also for their white beach called Dueodde. It is easy to go there from Copenhagen by ferry or by plane or from Sweden.

From: Stephan Darbell , Stockholm, Sweden:

Café Opera in Stockholm is meeting place for people coming to the capital of Sweden, Stockholm. Nice atmosphere with international people. Dance, bar, restaurant, disco starts at 12.00 pm, rather expensive ( one beer about 50 sek ( 10 AUD) but worth a visit.

Lot of nice girls and boys. Age from 22-45.

Web address: http://www.whattodo.se/restauranger/CAFEOPER/index.html

From: Alexander , Bury St. Edmunds, England:

I have recently gone to Tanzania in Africa and all the little children there like to get pens, if you are planning to take a trip to Tanzania then I would recommend buying a big box of cheap BIC style pens to hand out to people. And also, please visit my website at http://start.at/help.me URL: http://start.at/help.me>

From: Pierre Nalbandian, Canterbury:

"It's very easy to get a taxi at Charles de Gaulle Airport. There are lines outside each terminal at the arrival level. If you don't speak French you should have the exact address of your destination written on a paper to show the driver. Depending on the time and day (week or week end), the fare can be anywhere from 170 FRF to 400 FRF (from $30 to $65). You will be charged about $1 for each piece of luggage. You do not have to tip, except if you got an outstanding service, in this case, 10% of the total as shown on the meter is perfectly all right. The driver HAS to have a meter that is visible for customers."

From: Anthony Abi-Saab , Wauchope, NSW.:

During 1996 I spent three months travelling by overland truck and local transport through Central East and Southern Africa.

The photographs available are located on the below web address. View them and enjoy them is my primary motive (if you wish to purchase then talk to me).

I have named my page "The Photographic Realms"

The Photographic Realms contains a selection of photographs taken during a world expedition in 1996. This selection contains photographs from Mexico, Costa Rica, Egypt, Lebanon, Kenya, Zaire, Rwanda, Zimbabwe. The subjects are the people, animals, natural beauty and man made wonders. I hope these photographs can be enjoyed by many who may not have had the opportunity to visit these exotic locations, and due to the present world turmoil may not be able to for quite a while.

The web address is: http://www.felglow.com.au/webpgs/Photographic_Realms

From: Matilda, Stockholm, Sweden:

I've been to Bosnia twice during the past year! It's the most amazing and beautiful country I've ever seen! The culture, food, Sarajevo, Tuzla, the nature, history, The kindful PEOPLE, everything is so wonderful!!!

By the way, there is no war in Bosnia any longer so there shouldn’t be any difficulties or horrors there!!!

From: Bud, Salt Lake City:

If you're tired of being "scrunched up" and having the seat in front of you suddenly recline dumping your gourmet lunch in your lap, try this. Bring up UAL & find the aircraft they fly (they use most types) and then bring up the seating arrangements. When you make your reservation, take the seats by the emergency exits. There's a little more leg room as the emergency aisle is wider, plus the seat in front of the exit does not recline so as not to block the exit!! If you're on the small side and they ask you if you can handle the exit door in an emergency, just tell them that if that door needs opening, [you'll] just stand back because the parts are going to start flying!!! I fly a lot, so I printed most of the aircraft seating and keep them in a file for reference for the next flight.

From: Jean-Claude, Paris:

Spent two weeks on the French Riviera this spring, making Cannes our main headquarters. Airport shuttle bus, 45- minute ride to the center of town - $20 - took us to the public bus station. Walked one block to the Sofitel Hotel. Got good rate on the Internet. Great morning breakfast included. Best fun - taking different public buses all over the area. Anytime you go to a new city, just spend the first day taking public buses - get to see the locals going to work each day, etc. Also modest student hotel one block from bus station $50 per night.

From: Coral, Canberra:

I recently travelled to Vietnam for the 5th time in 10 years. This time I found the best hotel for the money I have ever experienced. You will be greeted in English (fluent), find the hotel clean, hot and cold running water, sit-down toilet with paper supplied, bath with shower, air conditioning, excellent security, fine dining across the street, 10 minutes from the international airport, free local telephone, excellent staff assistance, and best of all the price is $20 US per night for two. Hotel Arc De Trionphe,135A Phan Dang Luu-Phu Nhuan, TP. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Tel. 011-84-8-844-7941

From: Francis, Balmoral:

Paris public transportation passes: Best day to arrive in Paris is Monday re: public trans. passes. Don't buy the Paris Visite for tourists. It's twice the price of getting a monthly pass, the carte orange, or even better price, buy the carte hebdomadaire (mon-mon) for half the price of a Paris Visite subway/bus pass.

From: Oscar Lim , Hong Kong:

The best time to visit the Louvre is early morning when the museum opens at 9 A.M. Once you are done with the Louvre, you will notice the hundreds of people queuing up outside just to get in let alone the people already inside!

The best time to visit Versailles is in the afternoon. I went there in the morning (9:30AM) and had to queue up for half an hour to get into the apartments. While inside, there were tonnes of people and you feel like cattle being shuffled from room to room. Mornings are usually the time when hoards of tour buses arrive. In the afternoon (around 2pm), there is virtually no line-up to get in and you get more time to view the rooms.

From: Rosemary Dupont, Toronto, Canada:

If you will be using any airports other than those in major cities you may be well advised NOT to use eTickets but to be sure you have a "real" ticket. On a recent trip from NYC through Heathrow to Newcastle and return I had an eTicket. On the return, checking in a Newcastle, I noticed that my bags were not being checked to New York. When I ask to have them checked through (something I done in the past) I was told that I didn't have a London - NYC ticket. The agent said that I did have a record of having had a ticket, but apparently it had been mistakenly lifted. So I had to reclaim my bags at Heathrow, take them to another terminal and check in again. When I did so, the agent said that I had a valid eTicket. The agent in Newcastle just didn't know what he was looking at and insisted that I had no ticket. In the future I'll get an old-fashioned ticket when I'm traveling other that to major airports.

From: Larry Cooper, Singapore:

"Save those plastic bags the morning newspaper is delivered in. They are a perfect size to hold either a pair of women's shoes nested heel to toe, toe to heel, or a man's single shoe - LARGE size. Takes no room in the suitcase, and provides complete protection, even from damp shoes."

From: LOMAYANI LEONARD , Arusha, Tanzania:

We have an internet cafe in Arusha,at the Arusha International Conference Centre, serengeti wing,2nd floor,room 210/211.

It's the only place you can check your e-mail account,send internet photos,Fax,Telephone,and a private use of a computer!

Please contact:Black Mamba Travels Ltd. "Karibuni sana" Leonard.

From: Cpt. Terry Hanson:

"They’re shoving us in like cattle back there", the man said as he lunged into the open cockpit door of our 727. I was the S/O. (I liked to think that the abbreviation stood for "Science Officer" because the S/O is responsible to know everything there is about the aircraft systems.) I looked at the guy’s face carefully. His flushed skin and unkempt hair told the story of a man at the end of his string. I sympathized; but I really don’t like people crossing the line from the public domain of the aircraft into our private, pilot sanctuary.

I moved to be ready to intercept him if he got agitated with the nose gunners. They were already strapped in. I released my lap belt and stood. I can fill a cockpit when I want to. This guy wasn’t going any further. The Captain blew the wind out of the passenger’s sails with a few quiet words, "It is pretty tight back there; isn’t it? Where are you sitting?" The angry passenger looked momentarily confused as he digested the fact that the Captain appeared to agree with him.

The Captain smiled and said, "Look, we all know that the aircraft is full. The seats are too close together for my taste too. I’ve got an idea, why don’t you write our CEO and tell him what you think. I am certain that he needs to understand your frustration."

The passenger said, "Well, I don’t think I need to write a letter." The Captain persisted, "How else will the boss know that the bean counters have blown passenger service to hell if you do not tell him."

The now subdued passenger said, "You’re right; but you don’t really think that it will do any good; do you? The Captain turned and looked the guy full in the face, "It can’t hurt. It might help."

The passenger thanked us and left to claim his seat before the "wannabe" passengers took possession in the great seat duplication derby. That was twenty years ago. The 727 of that day held 136 passengers-total: First Class and Tourist. Now we shove an extra 13 seats in the same space. Trapped together in rows of short stacked torture racks, some passengers see themselves as victims of the airline, victims who paid extortion level fees for the privilege of being crammed into body abusing contortions. They are ticked.

For the latest news on what people are doing to combat sky rage visit the SKYRAGE foundation.

From: Ward Hodges , Surry Hills:

Madrid: We just recently returned from Madrid and experienced a fabulous walking tour with Stephen Drake-Jones. He was fantastic and will give you the feel of old Madrid away from the "touristy" stuff. Great drink and tapas at Madrid's genuine taverns. His email is sdrake-jones@hotmail.com..

From: , Cpt. Terry Hanson:

These situations arose whilst I was flying in a supervisory role with another Captain. We were preparing the aircraft for a flight to GUA. I was on board to do a special airports qualification for the Captain. At pushback the In-Flight Coordinator stuck her head in the cockpit and said a passenger in the back was quite nervous and had told her he believed he had been hexed and should not be on the light. I asked the Captain what he wanted to do. He said, "Would you go back and take a look at the situation for me?"

Naturally, I agreed. I found a Central American male in the mid cabin who was terrified. I asked him what was going on and he told me that he was hearing Voices that told him he must not fly on our aircraft. "That’s good enough for me," I told him. "It is a very serious thing to have Voices talking to you. We will not require that you stay on the aircraft with us. We do need for you to remove all of your carry-on bags and your checked luggage."

I reported back to the Captain on the situation. He co-ordinated with the Ramp and then said, "I think I’ll go back and have a look myself." I went back to 2L with him. It was then that another passenger angrily stated that he hated flying, hated Delta, and that this delay was going to make him miss his meeting in GUA." The Captain explained calmly, "The delay will only take a little while. We can make up a lot of it airborne." The angry passenger would not be mollified. He loudly said that the crew lied about delays and that he really did not want to fly with us at all. So, the Captain said simply, "You are not obliged to fly with us. Get your stuff and get off the aircraft."

Of course, all of this occurred in front of me, the flight attendants, and two redcoats who were working the Voice Impacted terrified passenger. One redcoat left the possessed guy and "assisted" the aggressively angry guy off the aircraft. Suitable PA’s were made. A little later, as they buttoned us up and we prepared to push when the In-Flight Co-ordinator stuck her head back in the cockpit and stated, "We did an on-board carry on bag match. We’ve got a bag back here that no one is claiming and it’s buzzing." I used my superior problem processing skills to immediately decide that this one required the adroit eye-hand co-ordination of a much younger man-say, a co-pilot like person. Before I could make the suggestion another flight attendant came forward and said, "We found the owner of the buzzing bag. There is nothing in it." The captain and I looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Then what caused it to buzz?" The sly First Officer replied, "I bet it was the guys searching the bin underneath them."

Sometimes, heck, lots of times, youth must be served. He was right. After all of this, the flight into GUA was uneventful. All we had to contend with was a volcano glowing vaguely red seven miles beyond our turn in for Final. No sweat.

For the latest news on what people are doing to combat sky rage visit the SKYRAGE foundation.

From: Barbara, West Hollywood:

"Beware - it's a very long distance from the gates to the exit for those international arrivals in Vancouver, BC,Canada. We arrived late at night and did not know the walk was about 3/4 mile to the exit, going down many long hallways, several escalators,through customs, then to baggage claim. Suggest requesting wheelchair if anyone has difficulty walking."

From: George Rogerson, Atlanta:

Good food in Niagara FallsDawn: "We just returned from Niagara Falls, New York. We were treated to breakfast at a place called The Market, it is located in the little Italy/market section of Niagara. We would have never found it if it wasn't for family there. They had a breakfast there with home fries mixed with scrambled egg and you could add three different cheeses,onion, roasted pepper, mushrooms and more it was great with Italian toast. Check it out if you get up there. The people were very friendly and the prices were very reasonable."

From: Pete, Chelsea:

"Just returned from a two week trip to Tuscany with 20 family members. We had five cars, two with the GPS tracking device. Once programmed they took us right to our destination, a great timesaver. We also had five Motorola Talkabout radios and were able to stay in touch at all times. We were able to stay in touch and arrange to meet for lunch or in the parking area so we could all leave at the end of the day."

From: Alex Bush, Paddington:

"When in Wasington D.C.:For great creole food with a twist try Georgia Browns, which is located near the Treasury building. The atmosphere is very relaxing. You can go casual or dressed up. Crab Cakes to die for! Excellent service, great food, and reasonable prices."

From: Cpt.Terry Hanson:

We were at the gate at Atlanta. The 757 was over booked by 40 people. It was an equipment substitution for a 767-300. The flight attendants scurried right and left trying to help the people sort out their seat dupe’s and store their luggage. We were ten minutes to pushback when the escalated A-Line stepped into the cockpit. "It is a mad house out there," she half cried. "And topping off all of my problems is a man that just told me to go ***k myself when I asked him to put one of his bags in the overhead bin."

I looked at her in surprise. She didn’t look like she was the kind of person that would even say that word, much less have someone use it against her. I turned to the co-pilot and said, "We’ve got the checklist done. I think I will go back and see what kind of man speaks like that to young women." She led me to the culprit. I was surprised. I guess I expected someone in his thirties, a hot shot "consultant" with a know it all attitude bred by the contemptuous approach Biz Schools have towards people who actually work for a living. What I faced was an older man, late fifties or early sixties. He had the meek demeanor of someone who gets crushed regularly by everyone around him. I sized him up as the type of guy that will only go after people he thinks can’t go after him.

I asked him, "Are you having some trouble with your bag?" He answered, "No sir, everything is all right." I spoke slowly, "That bag will need to go in the overhead. Is it too heavy for you to lift? Would you like me to help you?" He answered, "No, I can get it. I am sorry if I caused you any trouble." I smiled and said, "You did not cause me any trouble; but, I hear that you said some pretty harsh things to this young lady." He nodded and murmured, "I am sorry." I shook my head and said, "Please apologize to her; she is the one that will decide if you can stay on the aircraft."

He saw that I meant it and immediately did the "tail between the legs" bit. She let him stay on. The buzzword for all of this is "sky rage". I believe that it is the dim, almost below the level of conscious, awareness of just how powerless each of us is truly that blows some people over the top. The airline sells the illusion of personal service to our customers. Then we deliver cramped seats and overworked flight attendants. People are angry when the reality of the situation conflicts with the illusion.

Marketing means more than selling the seat the first time. A successful marketing strategy means convincing the customer that we will deliver the performance he expects the next time he needs to travel as well. Being able to compete on a Brand Loyalty/ personal service level liberates the seat price/availability equation from entrapment in a commodity mode. (Translated from academia or Biz School patter, this means you can charge more for the seat if people believe that they are getting more for their money. This is one of those things the guys who steer the jets seem to intuitively understand and the guys that steer airlines can’t ever seem to figure out. Like I told Harry What’s-His-Name years ago, "We really need a pilot to be at the highest of levels in the company because only a pilot gets to see the whole product production system from a process position. Only a pilot can tell where things are going wrong early enough to make a difference." He looked at me like I was from Mars. Of course, this was the same guy who had the "Captain" painted out on his parking spot and "Mr." painted in. He never had a chance of getting his seniority number back after that. He just wasn’t one of us. )

Back to the problem, sky rage is unacceptable. It is behaviour that we really should try to protect ourselves from by setting up procedural firebreaks.

Here are my techniques. I talk to the agents when I pick up the paperwork. I ask them how their day is going and listen as they tell me particulars that I am probably only interested in from the perspective that it fosters team building. I then help them build the sky rage first filter. I tell the agent that I can not accept people that appear to be intoxicated. I ask them to please not send those passengers out to the jet. Then I mention that if a passenger gets unruly or overtly aggressive in the gatehouse, I want them to seriously analyze the likelihood of the behaviour continuing on the jet. If they feel that the passenger might cross over the line, I ask that they deny him boarding. My logic is simple, if he will act up where police intervention is a phone call away, how will he act when we are all locked together in an aluminum tube at FL350?

I build another firebreak at the jet in my flight attendant briefing. I tell them that we are going to operate the jet safely-first and foremost. I ask them to be aware that the regulations prohibit us from accepting a passenger who is inebriated. "I do not carry drunks," I say. "If the agent tells you that the person has been drinking but he appears to be calm now, he has just identified that person as a non flier on our jet. He can standby for the next one." I then tell them "I want to know if anyone comes on too aggressively. The last thing we need is to be trapped in a jet with a nose-biting maniac. The time to handle people like this is while we are on the ground."

The agents like to be included in the team. The flight attendants thrive on knowing the pilots understand their problems and will help them. The other passengers appreciate the privilege of flying in a contention free environment. Instead of being mutually exclusive enemy camps at work, we operate the airline as a team. All it takes is concerted effort, discipline, and a commitment to excellence. That is what they pay us for anyway.

For the latest news on what people are doing to combat sky rage visit the SKYRAGE foundation.

From: Marc Doe , Montreal, CANADA:

Working abroad is an excellent way of gaining experience and learning about a different culture. London is probably the easiest place in the world to get a job. The economy is booming over there and there is a huge demand for computer literate people, especially in the summer.

However, the hard part is finding a place to stay. If you don't have relatives living in London,be prepared to pay $30-35 US/night in a hostel. You can find pretty decent accommodation too, but WATCH OUT FOR THOSE DISHONEST, MONEY-HUNGRY LANDLORDS.

Be sure to have a contract signed by both you and the landlord and if possible, bring a friend along as a witness. Mark down items in the apartment that are already broken, stained(bed sheets, carpets, etc.),scratched or that has any sort of defect. Have the landlord check the list and then sign it.

Believe me, these people can come up with the most absurd excuses just so they can keep your deposit. My landlord claimed I left burnt spots on his carpet caused by my cigarette butts which is quite funny since I don't even smoke. I lost a $350 deposit because I did not have a contract (stupid me) and therefore could not prove anything.

I thought the landlord was really nice at first, but deep down, he was just counting the days till my departure so he can keep my money and then accommodate someone else and make more money. If the landlord asks for a huge deposit or refuses to sign your contract, find another place and you won't be sorry.

I learned my lesson the hard way. If any of you take my advice, it would have been worth the $350 that I lost.

From: Steve Milham, St Kilda:

"Whenever I travel, I make a list of items to bring, to ease the chore of packing just the right gear for the trip. Just before I leave I make a copy of this list, leave one copy at home and take the other with me. If (heaven forbid) my luggage loses its way, the list saves time in filling out the baggage claim form with the airline (this DOES happen), and reminds me of what I'll need to replace."

From: feix stepan , Utrecht, Netherlands:

The best and cheapest hostel of Holland is alternative to youthhostel B&B UTRECHT egelantierstraat 25 utrecht the netherlands phone 31 650434884 fax 31 302448764

dormitory fl.25,00 pro night about 12 dollars breakfast free sandwiches for the afternoon free internet facilities free computer using free cook possibilities free all dorms with own shower toilet rent a bike fl.8,00 4 dollars 24 hours a day breakfast checkout 16.00 hours

good atmosphere friendly people URL: http://www.youthhostel.net

From: Robert, Avatar:

If you are planning a trip using Qantas points to London with a stop over in Asia and a side trip to Europe, get a combined Qantas/BA ticket as this is 10,000 points cheaper than using Qantas all the way.

I was quoted 120,000 points for a Qantas ticket: Syd/Singapore/London/Rome. I was then gived another quote of 110,000 points for an intineary using Qantas to Singapore and then BA for the remainder of the journey.

Strange, but true!

From: Pauline, Strathfield:

"Take along an empty zippered travel/tote bag, backpack or duffel bag with an identification tag and with or without a lock. This bag can be used as a luggage check-in bag to hold dirty laundry or used as a carry-on bag to hold trip souvenirs. It also can be used to carry items while on vacation instead of carrying items in a purse or a shopping bag."

From: Robyn, Philadelphia:

"For the best dessert buffet perhaps ever, go to the Painted Parrot. In the historic district (2nd and Chestnut), the Painted Parrot has real food--but go for the all you can eat dessert and coffee buffet for a number of slices of heaven. Be prepared to wait on weekends."

From: Gareth Powell, travel.com.au:

Request a seat in the exit row on your flight. These have more leg room, which you'll really appreciate on a long flight. (This works very well provided you are quite specific as to your requirements. For example, 69K is a seat in the exit row on a flight. It is also the last seat at the back of the aircraft and it is near the toilets and the seat does not recline properly and worse things I could mention. You want a seat in the exit row either halfway down or to the front of the aircraft. And do not say you want it because you have a bad leg. Those seats are only ever allocated to people who are totally able-bodied. It is the emergency exit they will be sitting by.)

From: Gareth Powell, travel.com.au:

In more than 40 years of travelling, I can count all the problems I have encountered on the fingers of two hands. And I am not a person over-endowed with common sense.

Here are some basic tips.

Take care of your health. Admittedly, in my time, I must have built up a fairly spectacular collection of antibodies but I find that an intelligent approach to health serves me far better than a dozen shots. I am against most injections simply because the risk involved in having them is very frequently higher than the risk of contracting the disease.

This is my personal decision. You must decide for yourself. Never drink the water anywhere. I have followed this rule for years, drinking instead either bottled mineral water, Coca-Cola or beer. Never take ice in your drinks unless you are in a three-star or better hotel. Freezing does not kill little buglets.

Carry your medicines with you. You may not be able to get your prescription filled precisely when you are abroad.

From: Gareth, travel.com.au:

In more than 40 years of travelling, I can count all the problems I have encountered on the fingers of two hands. And I am not a person over-endowed with common sense.

Here are some basic tips.

From: Janis, Gloucester:

"Normally, photography is prohibited inside Westminster Abbey. However, they have a late opening on Wednesday evenings (only) from 6 to 7:30 p.m., during which you are allowed to take photos, videos, use a flash and even a tripod. The normal 5GBP entrance fee is reduced to 2.50 GPB. This is a great opportunity to get pix of the chapels, ceilings, tombs, etc. But be sure to phone ahead because occasionally the Abbey is closed for special services."

From: Scott, Capetown,SA:

Hi I actually lived in the National Park as my father was a game ranger in the early 80's. The place is wonderful! Having been back last year and stayed at Main Camp in the National Parks Lodges in the Park I could not recomend a cheaper or better place to stay. You're right in the park & the lodges are basic but clean & you can get a meal from the restaurant for 2 for about $5 AUD. Game drives are also available daily although we had our own vehicle. You need to book your National Parks Accom through Head Office although I'm not sure how you can contact them from here. Perhaps you could look them up from Harare or Bulawayo when you're over there. Any other accom other than National Parks are fairly expense as Lynda mentioned with Hwange Safari Lodge being 220.00 ( Usually advertise in USD too)

From: O.T.:

Complain Smart

Getting your point across can be a matter of style.

From what the Tourist is reading on venting Web sites (other than this one), he concludes that taking an airplane these days must be akin to going to a WWF match: "Passengers fume as pilot feasts . . . . Airlines, FAA debate soaring flight delays . . . . Debonair passengers stranded . . . Britons mutiny as flight is rerouted . . . ."

But, fear not, the Tourist does not intend to pile on with a typical, two-part column in which he essentially spews and curses the travel industry. This week and next, he'll provide the skinny to help readers not only complain, but complain well.

The difference? Only the opportunity to get $50 back for a rotten hotel stay. Or a free upgrade to first class. Whiners and shouters tend to get dismissed. Those who pose a businesslike, legitimate complaint -- backed up with concrete documentation and/or summary -- will get something decent for their troubles.

The travel industry is taking complaints from consumers very seriously, tracking comments through databases that help them identify trouble areas. Northwest Airlines gets 1,750 weekly e-mail responses at its "Talk to us" Web site link, for example, and has recently trained its managers to provide more thoughtful and personalized e-mail responses within 48 hours.

Here's how to get a good response:

Complain smart: It may sound like your parents' advice, but it still rings true: Gettin' mad doesn't translate to gettin' even. Be businesslike and factual when stating a complaint. On the phone, be polite and even pleasant. When letter writing or e-mailing companies, drop those exclamation points, ALL CAP letters and anything else that looks like you're going postal in print. "People on the front line don't deserve abuse and will respond to politeness rather than threats," says Robert Christie Mill, professor of tourism at the University of Denver.

Often times, it's best to negotiate for compensation with a company representative who was not directly involved with the mishap. "If a flight attendant spills juice on your suit and you need to get it dry cleaned, don't demand dry cleaning money on the spot," says Todd Curtis, aviation expert and founder of Airsafe.com, a guide to smart air travel. "Wait until you land and contact one of the gate agents or customer service agents."

As a frequent traveler, the Tourist has had his own success by keeping cool: He earned a free ticket upgrade when treated in rude fashion by a customer service representative. (One hint: If you're getting nothing but attitude when dealing with the airline 800 line, hang up the phone, redial and then politely insist upon speaking with a manager on duty.) On that upgraded, business-class flight, I was given a free bottle of fine merlot when my first dinner choice wasn't available. Not that I stomped and screamed when I had to settle for chicken. I simply said with a smile, "Oh, that's too bad . . . . I was really looking forward to the steak . . . ." The bottle was presented without asking.

From: Bruce, New York:

"Nicely tucked away on Hylan Blvd in Staten Island is Nino's Restaurant. The food was excellent, with large portions and great prices and superb service. But the best part was the personal touch provided by owner Joseph Pernice. He personally greeted each customer, checked on all the tables and ensured that everything was to our satisfaction. Try the grilled portabello mushroom in balsamic vinegar and the fried calamari as an appetizer and the veal chop fordinner. It is surely worth the trip."

From: Candice Sutton, Burbank,CA:

"I've found packing a collapsible nylon cooler invaluable when traveling. It is wonderful if you want to picnic, carry some cold drinks on a side trek etc. I've also used it like a tote bag or carry-on luggage. My husband and I have also used it when taking our own meal on a flight; we had dinner while everyone else had peanuts and also have managed to avoid the exorbitant prices that the food sellers in airports charge."

From: Tim March, W.Pennant Hills,NSW:

NEW ZEALAND

I have just returned from a week in Beautiful New Zealand. If you go, you must visit Marlborough in the South Island. It is home to Cloudy Bay and all the wonderful NZ vineyard. Like Napa Valley but greener. I stayed at Hotel d'Urville in Blenheim (64 3 577 9945 & on the net) a nine-room boutique hotel. Every room is unique and fabulous as is the restaurant. The best lamb in NZ! The area is stunningly beautiful with masses to do. They can organize wine tours, fly-fishing, golf, sailing etc.

From: Michael Steinberg , Delaware:

NY airport shortcut: If you take the Delta Shuttle to NYC, think about the Delta Water Shuttle from the Airport to the city. I took the shuttle recently and was amazed. For $25 round trip, I went from the airport to 34th in Midtown, then took a bus run by the Water Shuttle across town to the Jacob Javitz Ctr in the AM, then in the afternoon took a Water Shuttle bus from behind the Javitz back to 34th St, and took the Water Shuttle back to the airport. An incredible deal.

From: Nathan, Washington DC:

"On weekends, free parking is available in the Pentagon building's southern parking lot, accessible from I-395. The lanes marked for 2, 3, and 4 carpoolers are only reserved from Monday to Friday. On the north face, you can then take on the Metro(subway) to virtually anywhere in D.C."

From: Britney Beasley, California:

Remember that not all discounts are given freely - sometimes you must ask specifically if there are any disability discounts. I recently learned that some amusement parks will let wheelchair-bound individuals go in free of charge! No big deal if you travel by yourself, but to a family with a child in a wheelchair, it saves!

From: Susan Parker :

The Opposite Of Air Rage

I FLEW EAST for my grandmother's funeral. I'd been in Townsend's Inlet for less than 48 hours when I got a call from Harka, my disabled husband's attendant.

``Ralph is very sick, Suzy. He is dying. You must come home. He is in hospital and is almost dead.''

I tried to calm Harka so that I could find out what was wrong. I gathered that he and Ralph were in the emergency room at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland. But that was all the information I could get. I called our home. Jerry, Ralph's other attendant, answered the telephone.

``What's happened to Ralph?'' I asked, trying to stay composed. It took Jerry a moment to reply. It was obvious that I had awakened him from a deep sleep. ``He's all right,'' he mumbled. ``It's just his leg.''

``What about his leg?'' I asked.

``It's broken,'' he said. ``He's down at ER getting it fixed, but he'll be OK. Me and Harka can handle it.''

I wasn't so sure. I knew that the truth fell somewhere in between. Ralph was probably not dying, but he was also probably not doing very well. I knew that I couldn't expect either of them to handle this situation alone. And Jerry wasn't helping much from his headquarters in bed.

``I'll come home,'' I said. ``I'll call you with my flight information when I get it.''

I HUNG UP and looked at the clock. It was 11 p.m. in the East. My parents and brother were asleep. If I left at that very moment, it would take 90 minutes to get to the Philadelphia International Airport.

I got out my ticket. In big letters on the front of the envelope it said, ``THIS TICKET CANNOT BE CHANGED FOR ANY REASON. NO EXCEPTIONS.'' I looked inside. There was an entire sheet of fine print titled Rules and Regulations that I had not bothered to read when the ticket had come in the mail. I searched the ticket jacket for a number to call. It was an America West Airlines ticket, but I had bought it from an online company five days before leaving. At that time I'd called every airline in the phone book, and I had not found a round-trip ticket back East for less than $1,200 -- $1,000 if I could prove I was entitled to bereavement rates. Cheaptickets.com had sold me a round trip, Oakland to Newark and back, for $300.

After 45 minutes on hold, the agent at America West told me to call Cheaptickets.com because I had bought the ticket from them. When Cheaptickets finally answered the telephone they said that they could not make a change. Maybe America West could. I knew this telephone approach was not going to work. I had to get to an airport. I waited until 5 a.m., woke up my brother and together we drove to Philadelphia. I rushed to the America West boarding gate, where a flight was about to leave for San Francisco.

``I've got an emergency,'' I said. ``I need to catch a flight.''

``Not this one,'' the agent answered, ``but hold on, maybe there's another one I can get you on.''

THIRTY MINUTES LATER I was booked on a flight to Phoenix with a connection to San Francisco. The agent never asked me what my emergency was. She did not charge me more money, insist that I go to Newark because that's where my original flight was leaving from, scold me for asking her to break the rules or complain that it was the start of a holiday weekend (July Fourth) and that I should know better. She took me at my word and treated me with empathy, kindness and respect. In a time when air travel has become anonymous, unsympathetic, greedy and generally quite miserable, one person took the time to help another who needed assistance. I just thought I'd tell you this. Her name is Jeanette Fontanez and she was working at Gate D6 in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. (P.S.: Ralph was discharged on July 7. He's doing well.)

From: Arturo, Norfolk, VA:

ECUADOR

It will take to you about eight hours to drive to Manta (get a 4x4), on the west coast, from Quito (taking the Sto. Domingo way). Then is when the real travel starts. Ask somebody for the route to Puerto Cayo, which is the starting point of the "Costanera route," a highway that runs along the coast, and in about three and a half hours you reach Salinas, the best resort of the west coast. The landscapes are beautiful. Ask for the archaeological reserves in Machalilla, surfing in Montanita and especially a special beach called "Los Frailes," which is considered among the best in the world. Then, from Salinas, ask for the road to Machala (going to Guayaquil first, and then south), and when there, ask for directions for Jambeli and Pto. Bolivar. If you want to try the best seafood of the country, visit Puerto Jeli.

From: Ted Anthony, Associated Press:

Disease and danger are the twin obstacles to happy foreign travel, and the Internet can arm you with the facts you need to prevent the former and avoid the latter.

For dangerous areas, nowhere offers more information than the U.S. State Department’s page on travel warnings and consular information sheets (http://travel.state.gov/travel-warnings.html). It documents the world’s trouble spots and gives accessible information on how to avoid dangers — or when to avoid regions entirely.

When it comes to health, one of the most valuable online resources is the federal Centers for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/travel), which offers a comprehensive guide to everything that the natural world can do to your body. Choose a region and find out the health risks, or look for recent outbreaks to search by disease or virus. News bulletins and a traveler’s checklist are also available here.

Try the World Health Organization, too (http://www.who.int/emc/outbreak-news/ or http://www.who.int/emc/diseases/index.html) for valuable data on diseases and where they’re appearing. And Yahoo!’s tropical diseases section (http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases-and-Conditions/Tropical-Diseases/) serves up some valuable information, too.

Lonely Planet, publisher of the popular travel guides, takes a more direct approach. “Who can appreciate the joys of exploring exotic locations when you’d sell your grandmother for directions to the nearest toilet?” they wonder rhetorically in the health section of their site (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/health/). Then they usher you into a multi-layered area chock full of information about keeping healthy and, if you don’t, how to cope with it.

Making “competent medical care available to the traveler around the world” is the aim of the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (http://www.sentex.net/~iamat/), where if you join — which is free, though a donation is encouraged — you’re entitled to myriad publications and information, including the latest tracking of diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis.

Travel Health Information (http://healthlink.mcw.edu/travel-medicine/) is a handy little online reference that deals with everything from giardiasis, a waterborne parasitic infection, to tips on driving safely abroad. An added benefit: The articles are written and signed by doctors.

If you’re a business, or looking to spend some money for peace of mind, Travel Medicine Consultants (http://www.thetraveldoctor.com/) might be a place to look. They work with companies — especially in North Texas — to deal with health contingencies that might arise during employee travel. Travelers Medical and Immunization Service (http://www.tmis.com/) offers similar services in the Chicago metropolitan area.

In case you’re expecting an emergency, Armchair World outlines guidelines for blood transfusions abroad (http://www.armchair.com/info/bloodtrf.html).

Finding the Most Dangerous Places More scholarly information comes from the International Society of Travel Medicine (http://www.istm.org/), which favors an academic approach over nuts-and-bolts traveler data. You can join mailing lists about travel medicine research or browse the society’s journal. The International Society for Infectious Diseases (http://www.isid.org/) offers a similar approach.

And if finding dangerous places rather than avoiding them is your goal, head toward Fielding’s Dangerfinder (http://www.fieldingtravel.com/df/index.htm), where you’ll find all sorts of data on the world’s riskier spots. Also visit The World’s Most Dangerous Places online (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/dp/dp_intro.html), which will tell you more of what you need to know. So use the Internet to arm yourself with the information and the knowledge that will help achieve the most important of your travel goals: coming back safe, healthy and alive.

From: Susan Dunstable, Vaucluse:

GRENOBLE AND AUSTRIA

In Austria, don't miss the Wachau region on the Rhine -- beautiful wine country where you can visit a spectacular Benedictine monastery and the ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once imprisoned. You may take wine tasting tours of several local wineries. There may be tours (even river cruises) to take you to the best spots, but I would recommend doing it the way I traveled the Chianti region in Tuscany: rent a motorcycle and enjoy the countryside.

From: Louise Rush, Gladesville, NSW.:

CRETE

Don't miss the Samaria gorge, the Venetian town/port of Hania at the west side of the island. While there, have some great seafood and retsina at the Extra on a small side street; Mount Ida and the mills, Moni Toplou near Sitia, a fishermen town at east side.

Forget about Hiraklio except for the fortress and the museum, and way too many tourists at Knossos. Very fine laces at Fodele, a nice little village. If you have a few spare days, consider taking the ferry (4 hours) to the island of Santorini and stay in the beautiful village of Oia, not Fira.

From: Louise Rush, Gladesville, NSW.:

CRETE

From: Lisa Gilead, Guam:

BERLIN

Berlin is a treat - there's heaps to do there. If you like museums, I recommend the Pergamon Museum. The displays are of ancient civilizations and cultures, larger than life kind of stuff, like a city gate to Ishtar, covered in bas relief ceramic tiles; horse bathing tubs; sculpture; the works.

There's also the Bauhaus museum, if you're into looking at the influence of a single period on art, textiles, architecture, furniture. There's plenty of varied night life. If you're considering trying to get to the Berlin Philharmonic, I would look into tickets now.

There's also more contemporary entertainment; there's the Charlottenburger Palace, Potsdam is very close, there's high fashion shopping. In some ways it's like New York with a different accent, and a little less gritty. Have an awesome trip!

From: Lina Toriliana, Westleigh, NSW:

COSTA RICA:

For those who are looking for an exquisite place that captures a laid-back atmosphere, Costa Rica is the perfect place. I have visited this beautiful country many times and am always enchanted by its magnificent tropical gardens. I have stayed in private jungle lodges near the Atlantic, where I can enjoy an international or local menu And a full range of services. The people are very friendly, temperatures range between 74 and 80 degrees almost all year round and the beaches are breathtaking. Wherever I go in Costa Rica, I always find a lot of wonderful things to do such as: Watching a volcano in eruption, feeding the large iguanas in Manuel Antonio Beach, bird-watching, horseback-riding or enjoying tropical fruit. Once you're there, the cost of living is low and food and transportation very cheap, especially if you ride the bus.

From: Erica de Jonge, Engadine, NSW:

ANTWERP

Antwerp's Zoological Garden, not just a zoo, but a lovely garden as well, is right next to the train station. The train station itself has just been restored to its former splendor. A long, wide pedestrian mall leads from the train station to the harbor, through the old, historic part of town, past cobblestone streets and squares. Two kinds of Belgian waffles are available; in restaurants, you can order a Brussels waffle. You can order a caramelized or chocolate-covered Liege waffle for $1 from stands along the mall. A popular ice cream, waffle, and pancake house is near one of the cathedrals by the harbor in the house where Flemish artist Anton van Dijk was born. It is not open for breakfast, as Belgians do not have waffles for breakfast as Americans do. In Belgium, waffles are eaten as a snack in the afternoon or evening.

From: Abraham Solsteiser, New Orleans, LA:

NEW ORLEANS

After living in New Orleans for 18 months, Gamble's Red Bike restaurant was a great surprise. We enjoyed an awesome meal from the appetizer of fresh bread with fresh tomatoes and herbs dressing, down to the chocolate bread pudding for dessert, everything was perfect. Try the Chicken Tchoupitoulas -- my favorite. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was very pleasant. We found it by accident: Notre Dame and Tchoupitoulas Street.

From: Malcolm De Witt, Saint Maurice en Trieve, FRANCE:

LUCERNE

You've got to see Mt. Pilatus. You take a boat on the lakefront for a beautiful, scenic ride for about an hour. You then take the cog rail car up the mountain. Swiss scenery is indescribable, it is tops. There is a lodge at the top of the mountain for refreshments. You then go down on the other side of the mountain passing herds of cows, Swiss chalets out of Heidi and modern condos out of House & Garden. At the base of the mountain you take a bus or tram back to Lucerne. If you are lucky and have a clear day this trip may well be the highlight of your stay.

From: Ted Anthony, Associated Press:

June 5 — When planning an overseas trip, one expects to return safely. That’s the way it’s supposed to work. But the reality can be far different, so it’s wise to take precautions in advance — and know what you’re getting into before you get there. Disease and danger are the twin obstacles to happy foreign travel, and the Internet can arm you with the facts you need to prevent the former and avoid the latter. For dangerous areas, nowhere offers more information than the U.S. State Department’s page on travel warnings and consular information sheets (http://travel.state.gov/travel-warnings.html). It documents the world’s trouble spots and gives accessible information on how to avoid dangers — or when to avoid regions entirely.

Try the World Health Organization, too (http://www.who.int/emc/outbreak-news/ or http://www.who.int/emc/diseases/index.html) for valuable data on diseases and where they’re appearing. And Yahoo!’s tropical diseases section (http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases-and- Conditions/Tropical-Diseases/) serves up some valuable information, too.

In case you’re expecting an emergency, Armchair World outlines guidelines for blood transfusions abroad (http://www.armchair.com/info/bloodtrf.html).

More scholarly information comes from the International Society of Travel Medicine (http://www.istm.org/), which favors an academic approach over nuts-and-bolts traveler data. You can join mailing lists about travel medicine research or browse the society’s journal. The International Society for Infectious Diseases (http://www.isid.org/) offers a similar approach.

From: D FitzGerald, Singapore:

E-MAIL SECURITY:

When travelling and you use a 'cyber-cafe', a hotel or any other supplied PC for your e-mail (receiving and sending), make sure you know how to COMPLETELY remove all traces of your communications before you sign-off. Don't know how to do that, get detailed instructions from your office's network manager or your ISP before you go.

Remember that there are people out there who are not as honest as you!

From: Sarah Murdoch, Darling Point:

"For the absolute best breakfast in the city of Chicago, you must go to Ann Sathers...a Swedish restaurant. Some of their specialties include Swedish pancakes, a variety of specialty omelettes and HUGE cinnamon rolls! This restaurant is located on Belmont between Sheffield and Clark. Be prepared to stand in line for a table on a Sunday morning, but the wait is well worth it."

From: Wanda Planetwide, Nowheresville:

"To keep clothes smelling fresh when packed just place several flat fabric softener sheets between layers." From Janis: "But be careful with the softener sheets. Some brands will leave a light stain on some fabrics (such as brushed silk). I sometimes use the sheets inside shoes, and in my lingerie organizer - but I never lay them directly on fine fabrics."

From: Barbara Simpson , Charleson,SC:

"The Little Venice Restaurant is a wonderful Italian restaurant and is always our stop the first night we arrive and the last night before we leave Bermuda. Each and every entree is fantastic, but our favorite is their fabulous Ceasar salad. I have never tasted one better in all of the Italian restaurants I have eaten in. It is definitely worth the stop! An added plus, the owners also entertain you by singing while serving you. Little Venice is located on Bermudiana Avenue, Hamilton, Bermuda."

From: Harvey Segal, London:

I just returned from Paris, and ate at a restaurant that is quickly becoming my favorite in Paris. The restaurant’s name is GRANNIE, and it is located on 27 rue Pierre Leroux just off rue de Sevres in the 7th arrondisment between the Vaneau and Duroc Metro stations. Their phone number is 47 34 94 14. GRANNIE is situated in an interesting residential area away from the typical tourist hangouts. It offers outstanding quality at a very affordable price. For between 125 and 150 Francs, you can enjoy an outstanding three-course meal. My recent birthday dinner included smoked salmon carpaccio, duck filet in honey and spices, a chocolate cake to die for, and lots of champagne. The owner, Mr. Mugnier, speaks excellent English and provides an English menu as well.

From: Heather Shaw, Sydney:

(and others who can afford it) who suggest paying for extra economy seats for more space, and double the luggage allowance: "I buy two coach seats for less than the price of a business class seat for LA to Sydney trips, take my own water and some food—more for emergencies, but I always seem to consume it—plus my own pillow. It certainly makes the trip bearable—along with a sleeping tablet!"

From: Kevin:

"Park in New Jersey in Hoboken in a lot there and take the train over to Manhattan. It goes to the major rail connections and subways. I do that when I go on business. Price is about 1/2 of keeping car in New York.

From: Hugo Jestime, Phoenix, AZ:

ST. KITTS I just returned from St. Kitts in the West Indies-Eastern Caribbean. Climate is perfect -- dry and comfortable with no or little harmful insects or animals. If you take the full day volcano/rainforest trip it is really is strenuous -- make no mistake! We stayed at the Bird Rock Beach Resort and found it very comfortable and clean but it is more of a budget-type place. The man made beach was wiped out by the hurricane as was the hotel's boat. Food was good but expensive at the hotel and throughout the island. Breakfast and lunch would run $20 USD each for two people and dinner would be $40-50.

From: Bob Averack, Hartford:

"I won't suggest that The Nutmeg State is where pizza was invented. I will say, however, that Connecticut is where it was perfected. Specifically, in the Wooster St./Italian section of New Haven, and in the South End of Hartford are some of America's greatest establishments for the greatest of all circular delights. All of them offer brick-oven baked, fresh ingredients and great ambience.

In New Haven, the most famous of all are Pepe's (or its sibling restaurant, "The Spot," right next door) and Sally's. These two are always in the religious wars between New Haven pizza fanatics. (Personally, I think Pepe's white clam and garlic pizza is the greatest pie ever invented.) A very close second goes to Tony & Lucille's, and their infamous "Tony," an incredible pie with mozzarella, olive oil, garlic, lemon and 'scungili' (conch for those of you who don't speak Italian) that they cook to perfection.

In Hartford, there is but one FIRST AND LAST pizza restaurant, located on Maple Ave. in the South End. Their pizza dough and their breads are to die for. Their sausage is home made. For an incredible appetizer, try the sausage sauteed with either broccoli rabe or spinach - UNBELIEVABLE!

This is not to denigrate New York or Chicago; in fact, I grew up in Brooklyn and grew up on pizza...great pizza. But...IMHO, New Haven and Hartford win, hands down!"

From: Lena Carlssn, Stockholm:

"Just east of Växjö in the southern part of Sweden we have 15 different glass factories. Swedish glass and crystal is world famous. Every summer you can visit the factories and enjoy a lovely evening with old traditional food, made in the glasscooler(!)in 300 degrees celsius.

You usually get herring and baked potato, a certain kind of Swedish sausage, fried pork and lingon jam. After dinner and blowing glass you get coffee and Swedish cheesecake, typical for the southern part of Sweden. There´s always entertainment and a lot of singing together. It sure is an exotic kind of experience"

From: MC, Houston, Texas:

PUNTA CANA:

If you want to enjoy a great and unforgettable vacation, then Allegro Resort Babaro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is for you.

This resort has 5 hotels located in one area. You have access to each one of them. You can have lunch or dinner in either one. That's one of things that I liked a lot.

The food was delicious, the best I have ever tasted. The staff was amazing and the atmosphere was splendid. The entertainment was unbelievable!

From: Jo Cabitrian, San Diego:

NEW ZEALAND If you like water activities, then head north to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Otherwise, after seeing Auckland, head south to Rotorua, with lots of Maori culture. Plan a couple of days here. Attend a hangi, see the cultural center and the activities in the area (sulfur area, like Yellowstone in the US). Like to fish, then just south to Lake Taupo. Drive to Wellington, the capitol, and be sure to see the new museum, Te Papa. Lovely city. We stayed in the central business district and walked or took a bus.

From: Rudy Maxa, MSNBC:

Are you feeling crabby or comfy?

Three experts provide 12 ergonomic tips for travellers

Travelling is difficult on your body. Sitting for long periods of time in uncomfortable airplane seats, toting heavy luggage and sleeping on bad mattresses all conspire to turn you into the cranky traveller. Don’t let it happen. A physical therapist, chiropractor and personal trainer provide ergonomic tips that will have you shifting in your chair from crabby to comfy.

ERGONOMICS IS THE SCIENCE that studies human abilities and limitations to improve people’s interaction with products, systems and environments. In other words, if you’re going to build a chair, why not make it fit the human body?

Ergonomics emerged as a science after World War II when it became clear that all kinds of new inventions and systems were being developed with little regard to how easy it would be for people to use them. For example, at some point researchers compared the relative positions of the controls on a lathe with the size of the average male worker. They found an operator had to stoop and move from side to side to operate the lathe. In fact, the design of the equipment was best suited to someone four-and-a-half-feet tall with a shoulder span of two feet and an arm span of eight feet. Pretty much describes the ideal airline coach passenger, doesn’t it? If fliers were all shorter than five feet, they would have plenty of legroom, and those gorilla-like arms would be great for stowing luggage in the overhead bin.

Maybe, as columnist Nicholas von Hoffman once facetiously suggested, airlines should install people-sizers next to those new, Plexiglas luggage sizers at airports. If you’re too tall or too wide, you can’t board the plane. Von Hoffman figured that would cut down on the growing number of passenger complaints.

But seriously, folks. You can make life on the road less taxing on your body, whether you’re talking planes, hotel beds or rental cars. I talked with a physical therapist, chiropractor and personal trainer. “How,” I asked each of them, “do travellers abuse their bodies when travelling, and what can they do to make the dreadful experience more comfortable?”

GET UP OFF YOUR DUFF

The most astounding fact I learned came from Dr. Marc Feldman, a Washington, D.C., chiropractor, who told me, “There’s about 25 times more pressure on your spine when you’re sitting than when you’re lying down.” Ugh. As I type this column, I’m trapped in a window seat on a nearly four-hour flight from Dallas to Portland, Oregon. Suddenly, even though I managed to get an upgrade to first class, my poor spine aches. If the businessman in the aisle seat next to me wasn’t such a cranky guy — he seems to resent every move I make, and my greeting to him when I slipped into my seat was pointedly ignored — I’d get out right now and take a stroll down the aisle of the plane. Sitting in an airline seat for more than an hour, however, is a bad idea, says Feldman. Get up, stretch, do some deep breathing. If you can manoeuvre through the aisle without blocking a meal service, take a walk. Coach seats, in particular, are not all that body-friendly. Some first-class seats (though not my current one) have adjustable lumbar support. What you want to avoid is having the small of your back “cave in” to the seat. I always put a pillow between the small of my back and the seat to at least help me not slump so badly.

SLEEP WITH CAUTION

Fall asleep sitting up, and your head usually rolls downward or flops side to side. Very bad.

Christine Di Lorenzo, a physical therapist and director of West Side Physical Therapy in Manhattan, recommends never falling asleep on a plane (or as a passenger in a car) without one of those u-shaped, neck-support pillows. Fall asleep sitting up, and your head usually rolls downward or flops side to side. Very bad. Jess Kletz, a personal trainer in New York, suggests that you, “Be aware of where your body is in relation to the space around you.” If you’re not tall enough for your feet to reach the floor while seated in an airplane, build yourself a foot rest with a piece of carry-on luggage or a stack of blankets and pillows. Some pieces of advice from the experts were the same. I’ve distilled their recommendations to the following points.

TIPS FOR AIRLINE PASSENGERS

When you pick up your luggage — especially from a moving carousel — do not grab and twist as most people do. Try to get in front of the bag at a slight angle, pick it up, and immediately set it down. Focus on your lower back and neck because that’s where tension and strain tend to develop. Adjust positions regularly, shifting weight to different parts of your body. Take deep breaths occasionally, tighten stomach muscles, then relax. Flex your hamstring and hip flexor muscles. Drink plenty of water. If you’re dehydrated, you’ll pull muscles more easily.

Distribute weight between as many bags as you can. Always use a luggage cart or luggage with wheels. Even carrying 10 pounds of luggage between a ticket counter and a departure gate, says Feldman, can put major stress on your spine. Keep your reading material and your laptop screen as close to eye level as possible.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A HOTEL

“Don’t settle for a bad bed,” advises Di Lorenzo. “Don’t settle for anything that’s not comfortable.” If you find yourself in a room with a soft or lumpy mattress, ask to change rooms. Feldman says if that doesn’t work, put the mattress on the floor.

Pay attention to how you’re sitting in a hotel room if you’re spending a long time working at a desk. Hotels and motels aren’t known for outfitting rooms with the kind of ergonomic chairs some offices have. Sit up straight, make sure you have adequate lighting and stretch often. Use the health club; most guests intend to, but most guests do not. Even if you don’t have workout clothes or tennis shoes, use the facility to stretch or take a walk on an exercise machine.

TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR

Be realistic. If you’re a large person, don’t try to cram into a sub-compact. If you’re taking a long road trip, change the position of your seat every once in a while. Use a pillow for lumbar support. Stop every couple of hours and take a stretch. If you can, try out several cars to see which has a more comfortable, firm, shaped seat. When I rent cars, for example, I often use the Emerald Club aisle offered by National Car Rental. I can choose from any of dozens of cars in a row, so I can actually slide into a seat and check out my comfort level.

Rudy Maxa’s column appears weekly in MSNBC.com’s Living & Travel Section. Maxa is host of “The Savvy Traveller,” a one-hour travel show heard coast-to-coast on nearly 200 public radio stations. He is also a contributing writer to Worth magazine.

From: Priscilla, Chatswood:

"Start out your trip with all the sorts of (old) underwear, socks, t-shirts and other things your mother told you never to wear in case you have an accident.

At the end of each day, leave it in the rubbish. Who knows, the maid might even like that t-shirt. But what you will like is that you will have fewer dirty clothes to pack up and deal with when you get home, and more room in your suitcase for souvenirs and the new clothes you pick up along the way."

From: Jeff Courson , Hawaii:

My name is Jeff Courson and I've lived on Kauai for 24 years. I provide day hiking on Island of Kauai, Hawaii. Sacred sights on Kauai I take people to are not often seen by tourists. Hiking boots are recommend. Bottled water especially is a must. The Nali Pali Coast is a favourite of many tourists. More information at courson@webtv.net aloha

From: Malcolm, Mosman:

"I recently returned from a trip to Italy where I had to frequently use the train to reach several destinations. I overpacked and had to lug two very heavy bags off and on trains that do not stop very long to let you off. I ended up leaving my bags in Rome storage at the train station which cost a lot of money. I learned a valuable lesson!! When moving from city to city in Europe by train TRAVEL LIGHT!!!! I hope this advice will help a fellow traveller. Ciao."

From: Robin Williams, San Francisco:

ZIPLOCS: One thing I always put in my suitcase is a pile of Ziploc bags. No matter wher I'm travelling or who's looking after the tab ... They're great for food (you open a bag of cookies, chips, etc. and put the rest in the Ziploc for later).

The coins and change that you accumulate on a trip go into a Ziploc. Wet dirty clothes, toiletries that might leak, even important papers that might fly around in the suitcase go into a Ziploc! -- Robin ... luv the site Trevor! thanx for an excellent interview... you did your homework well dear boy. lol.

From: Lindsay Wilson, Brisbane:

I recently had the pleasure of taking a RTW First Class (mix of business and pleasure), encompassing Qantas, Cathay, BA and American Airlines. I realise this will sound excessive to some, but at age 35 and after having a serious cancer scare two years ago (and still not out of the woods but having regular check-ups), I turned to enjoying some of what I have accumulated as I don't want to be the richest person in the graveyard. I'd rather die happy after achieving some of my life goals - this F Class RTW was one of them along with flying Concorde (which I was also able to do).

There were some excellent experiences during a 22-sector, 24 day trip. I wouldn't recommend it to many people, you really have to love flying long haul.

Some of the Qantas planes were the elder statesmen of the 747-400 series, but the crew were excellent. The full recline beds are hard to beat as are the Qantas full length PJ's (two colours, blue and white - perfect to take with you and use - after all you've paid for them!!).

Cathay still takes the cake for friendly, efficient and unobtrusive service (no matter where you sit). Their 747-400's were younger and seats were better (but if you loose something down into the seat, say goodbye to it - can't open them up like the Qantas ones).

Now the best First Class seat I had was surprisingly American Airlines - on their long haul flight JFK/LAX (Flight AA3), underneath the seat ahead you actually have a compartment which has more storage than the overhead bins.

Now Concorde. Don't believe what everybody says about narrow seats. Yes, for a large person it's narrow. Full leather, very comfortable, bigger than World Traveller Plus (BA's new fourth class of travel) but not as wide as Business. Still for a 3 hour 20 minutes flight Heathrow- JFK, who has time to sleep?? Without doubt, the best crew service I have ever received on a flight.

Speed - the only time you notice it is takeoff. You accelerate so much more than any other jet, loking out the window everything is whizzing by, rather than the lumbering feeling of a 747 or 767. Going through the sound barrier is a bit of a non-event on board, other than watching the display at the front of the cabin (readout in kmph/mph and feet/metres) - you don't hear anything so better to watch/hear it from the ground. Hitting Mach 2 (1,460 mph) at 58,000 feet (versus standard 39,000 feet for 747) mean you can see the curvature of the earth and a darker blue sky than normal.

Tips - if you are on an overnight sector with any carrier, try for 1A or 1H. Much less noise in the nose of the plane and the crew don't walk past you with the trolley, so a bit of noise abatement helps you sleep.

From: Malcom De Witt, Saint Marice en Trieve, FRANCE:

LUCERNE

From: Sean Reid, Dallas:

No First Class Seats Even at Full Fare? Charter Your Own Jet! It’s harder than ever to find a first class seat these days, even if you are willing to pay full fare. An association of luxury travel agencies says full-fare first class seat requests are up 20% in the last year. With more and more people flying first class on commercial airlines, the best place to find the privacy, comfort, and service that first class passengers are looking for is with air charter. And by chartering your own jet, you have total control of where you want to go and when you want to get there. You may also save time by flying in to closer-in airports. So, don’t wait for your first class seat to become available. Visit SkyJet and have the whole cabin to yourself.

From: Daniel Carvin, San Francisco:

Travel Holiday magazine reports that when you steal those little bottles of shampoo and body lotion from your hotel room, it may be grand larceny. The array of Nina Ricci products at Singapore's Shangri-La Hotel costs $75, and the Bulgari soaps and gels in rooms at the Berlin Four Seasons are valued at $150. But you pay for it: rooms at the Four Seasons start at $250 a night, and $325 at the Shangri-La. ( Ask for a shampoo-free room, and maybe you can stay at the Four Seasons for $100 a night. Use enough shampoo, and you can show a profit on the deal. But if you take the shampoo in Singapore, they track you down and cane you. )

From: Jane Macciella, Brisbane:

I travel all over the country, and get a rental car in most cities. But trying to locate it in a parking lot, especially after a long day, was tough. My tip - I carry a bright pink scarf, and hang that over the rearview mirror inside the windshield. It isn't flying in the breeze from an antenna (a little too silly looking for me), but I can spot it from a distance easily. And I don't have to wander from car to car trying to find the correct numberplate! Works for me.

From: William Brown, New Orleans:

I have lived in New Orleans for over twenty years and my favorite restaurant isn't in the Quarter but out and it is fantastic... Tony Angelo's. The secret is not to order from the menu but to tell them when you make reservations that you want the "Feed Me." This means you get served whatever is cooking in the kitchen... in quantities so that the whole table gets a good taste... for about 14-16 courses. It's a dining experience that cannot be duplicated anywhere. The food is Italian/Cajun.

From: Cpt. Terry Hanson:

I heard the yelling as I walked up the jetway at Sacramento. I was the Captain on the MD-88. Somebody was chewing the dickens out of somebody else…very loudly. As I opened the door I could see the gate counter. A man stood belly up to the edge, screaming, "You worthless (w)itch, I’ll have your job."

I recognized the guy. He is a big time patent attorney from my hometown. We had ridden together several times in First Class up to Atlanta. He had always seemed reasonable to me. Now, he was way over the line between rational and rabid. I stepped up to the counter and spoke gently behind him, "Why would a world class lawyer want to be a ticket agent?" He turned like a caged tiger, "What in the hell do you mean? I felt his eyes search my face for recognition clues. He did not know who I am; only that I knew something about him. "You said that you would have her job; what will you do with it?"

He is shrewd. I waited as he contemplated the possibility that I might know a hell of a lot more about him than was good for his near term future. (Here is an interesting aside about lawyers- especially criminal lawyers, one of the first things they check about a client or an opponent is if he has a concealed weapon permit. They tend to be a tad more respectful of people who pack iron. It is a small courtesy. As the NRA might say, "an armed society is a polite society.")

I said, "I am flying this aircraft back to Dallas. Why are you raising hell with my agent?" He stood back from the podium, "The travel agent said I have a First Class seat and now this woman won’t let me have it." I smiled at him. Smiling sometimes makes people less aggressive. It also lets them know that you have teeth. In a polite society that also lets an aggressive opponent know that you might be armed. Not all weapons are iron. Some of the more devastating ones are words. "What is the rest of the story?" I asked the agent. She spoke softly, "Mr. So and So does have a First Class seat; but it is for a later flight. I explained that he can be on Standby for First on this flight. That is when he started to yell."

I looked directly in the guy’s eyes and spoke, "Let me get this straight. You know that your confirmed seat is for a later flight and you are raising Cain with the only person who might be able to help you. First, that isn’t very smart. Secondly, this behavior might be acceptable in some venues; but, it is not acceptable here."

The guy began to understand that he might not sleep in Tampa that night if he didn’t do a rapid about face. He splurted, "You are right, you are absolutely right. I have had a terrible day and I took it out on this poor woman. I apologize. I just really want a seat in First if it is available. I’ll take any seat in the back if I have to. I an really sorry."

I told him, "Tell her. She is the one that you have offended and she is the only one that can help you." He made his apology again. She accepted it and was able to accommodate him at the last moment in First Class. I non rev’ed on the leg from Dallas to Tampa-sat in First Class next to guy. We talked more. He told me that he uses the "I have had a bad day" speech to extricate himself from dicey situations that his aggressive stance sometimes puts him in. He said that people are forgiving and easily stepped on because of it.

I asked him, "How often have you mistaken kindness for weakness?" He replied, "Not often; though I nearly did today." The guy was shrewd and a predator. That is a bad combination. I still see him on Delta flights. He is invariably polite to the agents now; even when he does not know I am behind him. Maybe some people only need to see your teeth once. Maybe he is one of them. For the latest news on what people are doing to combat sky rage visit the SKYRAGE foundation.

From: Stacie, Jackson TN :

"If you are ever within 30 minutes of Oak Ridge, TN, you have to make the extra trip. In Oak Ridge is the best pizza I have ever eaten. It is family owned and has been in the same spot for 30 years. They make their own dough and sauce. They cut their own vegetables and grind their own hamburger and sausage. I've never had a better pizza than the worst pizza I've ever gotten at Big Ed's. Be warned, don't expect salad or bread or dessert. Big Ed's has the best pizza and the beer cooler is set at 35 degrees. You can also get soft drinks, but that's it. Come and try out this wonderful, casual place."

From: Amanda Styler, Northbridge.:

"One caveat if you go to Paris in May: There are many holiday weekends in May, and it is nearly impossible to get a room on a weekend. Book your weekend rooms in advance. Not having done that almost forced us to spend 1800F on a hotel suite (we'd been spending 350F per night, til then!).

From: Molly Brewer, London:

"Going Underground is a great site for tourists, local Londoners and anyone with an interest in public transport. But most of all, it's good fun. It tells you all you need to know about travelling on the London Underground with excellent links to other useful sites. There's comment, chat, funny characters, books to readand lots and lots of other info too." Going Underground

From: Andrew Powell, Strathfield:

GREEK ISLANDS:

The best time to travel to the Greek Islands are the months of May and October.

The weather is great, the crowds are less, and the prices are lower.

Don't venture past October 30, because a lot of tavernas, and hotels, pensions and other accommodations close for the year.

The transportation between islands, i.e., hydrofoil, ferry and flights between islands also slows down.

From: Oscar Estantos, Miami FL:

"I heartily recommend the restaurant La Tertulia located in the La Candelaria neighborhood. It has the most delicious Spanish food, and at far better prices than in Spain. Perfect place to go with friends,chat, drink and eat delicious local and Spanish food."

From: MC:

PUNTA CANA:

If you want to enjoy a great and unforgettable vacation, then Allegro Resort Babaro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is for you.

This resort has 5 hotels located in one area. You have access to each one of them. You can have lunch or dinner in either one. That's one of things that I liked a lot.

The food was delicious, the best I have ever tasted. The staff was amazing and the atmosphere was splendid. The entertainment was unbelievable!

From: Alexander Maslowski, Texas:

TIPS FOR WINDSURFERS:

I'm a native of Venezuela and live in College Station, TX.

I just wanted to tell any windsurf fans that Margarita (Island) is rated as the second best place to windsurf after Aruba (but a lot less expensive).

If somebody is planning to go, there are many hotels, many of them are even run by French and Americans. The prices are great and the best nightlife can be found in April during spring break.

From: Marion Dill, Cremorne:

CAMEL TREKKING IN ISRAEL:

Anyone interested in camel riding or camel trekking in Israel? I used the fantastic Camel Riders of Shakharut in October/November and Green Tours Information in Jerusalem.

Not cheap (I booked a private tour), but you get the best in the country and if there's a bunch of you, you split the costs. Telephone numbers, e-mail, fax on request.

From: Laurie, Stanmore:

NOVEMBER NOT THE TIME FOR CRETE:

Unless you like being hungry, don't go to Crete in November. We learned the hard way that all but the largest cities on the island are practically boarded up once season ends the first week in November.

We couldn't find a place open for breakfast, difficult to find lunch, and almost everything we wanted to do was closed, (caves, boats, etc.)

The ONE good thing about November is that the archaeological sites are not overrun with people so they are enjoyable.

From: Damian, West Hollywood:

URUGUAY:

If travelling to Punta Del Este, Uruguay, in Jan. or Feb., look for cheaper accommodation near the old Lighthouse or in Maldonado. The cheapest places to eat is the "Avenida" or a place at the end of the main street called "Metejon."

All other places are double the price. Try the Asado at the Avenida. Try the Milanesa Neapolitana. In Maldonado, eat at a place called Jorge's (pronounced "horhays"). Try the Milanesa there. A great feed on a budget.

From: Aaron Davenport :

THAI FOOD IN FLORIDA.

Fantastic Thai food. If you're in Jacksonville, Florida, stop at the Pattaya Thai Restaurant, 10916 Atlantic Blvd.

Lek and Rudy Clayton run one of the finest Thai restaurants in the U.S. Great food and prepared after you order. Everything is fresh. The ambience is great also.

From: "Snackbar", World Traveller :):

Advice to International Hitchhikers and Backpackers

YOUR FIRST DAY IN A COUNTRY

If you are planning a trip to some exotic land, then maybe I can help. After hobo-ing around Mexico, Central America, and South America for 3 years I learned a few things. In preparation for my hobo adventure around Europe I had to re-live some old fears. What do I need? What to take? Where to go?

The first day is the most expensive. So you need to choose a city that is easy for you. To be a budget traveller (a.k.a. hobo) you need to control how much money you spend, and be safe.

ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS 1. Where am I staying? How much will it cost? Hotel, Hostel, Friends. etc.

2. How much for transportation to your accommodations? Bus, Train, Taxi etc.

3. What time of day am I arriving?

DO NOT PLAN EVERYTHING I do not plan every minute of every day, and every dollar to spend. Exactly opposite. I start each day with an amount of money in my head that I want to spend that day. I had the number 25 dollars (USA) in my head for the first day in Europe for everything. Transportation, room, and food. I spent 7 dollars.

WHERE WILL YOU LIVE I always know approximately where I will live. I want to live free, but if not I read a guidebook and make 2 choices of hotels, or hostels for my destination city.

MY AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES 1st. Have someone pick me up. 2nd. Bus 3rd. Train 4th. Taxi 5th. Walk

I can discover quickly if a city is planned well, or they have no clue. Nothing makes me more angry than to enter a world class city and I have no choice of what type of transportation I have to use, and how much it costs. I believe a city should have a range of prices always. Cheap to expensive.

ARRIVE EARLY IN THE MORNING I recommend you arrive early in the morning so you have the whole day to travel to your hotel. This allows you to relax and enjoy the experience of the trip to hotel. Patience is necessary to be a hobo. The less patience you have the more you will spend.

FAST IS DANGEROUS If in doubt go slower, not faster. Faster is also dangerous. One bad decision and you could be alone in a taxi being robbed.

WALK AROUND I walk around in the airport, and look at the signs, Trying to decide my options. I do NOT always know my options, I must learn them. So I walk around, and sightsee in the airport. Talk to the information desk, talk to taxi drivers, hotel owners, people I met on the plane. Finding all the choices available. One good tip is to walk outside the airport. Look for buses, or taxis, that for some reason are not allowed to enter the airport.

KNOW ALL YOUR CHOICES Do not make a choice until you know all your options. The best way to get into trouble is to just trust someone. Learn all the options before leaving the airport. Find out personally what's the cost of a taxi, bus or train. Most people have only one choice in their head.

There are people that must be picked up at airport. Some have to rent a car. Some only will take a taxi. Lots of budget travellers assume they have to walk. If you know all the options, one will be the best.

BE SAFE Hobo's do not only want cheap, but more important is safety. What is safe does change. I feel safer on a bus than I do in a taxi. I feel safer in a taxi than walking. I feel safer with people than alone. I feel safer when people do not pressure me, than when people pressure me to choose. Do not do anything that does not FEEL safe. Trust your intuition.

KEEP AN OPEN MIND Listen and talk with everyone, and learn your choices.

GO SLOW I am always the last one out of the airport. I have not had my backpack, or computer robbed in 3 years, so I must be doing something correct.

GO TO A CHEAP COUNTRY Are you landing in a city with cheap or expensive hotels?

Example: Starting South America is good in Quito, Ecuador. Central America is good with Guatemala, City. That does not mean you cannot fly into an expensive city where there are lots of flights, and go instantly to a cheap country.

USE THE HELP OF A GUIDEBOOK Enjoy the country, go outside the box, or cocoon that all the travel agents offer. The guidebooks, Footprints, Lonely Planet, and Roughguide are my favourites, and will have great recommendations for budget hotels. But I do not limit my choices, I often find better hobo deals than the guidebooks.

CHOOSE A HOTEL OR HOSTEL etc. I live good. I like friendly people. I like clean rooms, I like convenience. I often enter a hotel, or hostel that is cheap, and leave because the staff are not friendly. They decide whether the hotel is fun. It is hard to enjoy your vacation when living in a place that is boring, and not friendly.

I have a rule for my choice of accommodation. I find a hostel, or hotel in the centre of the city, close to all the older historical buildings, and attractions. I want to be where there is action. I want the privacy of my room, but be able to leave and stroll around quickly. I see more of a city, and culture when I can walk around a city, and not have to drive, or take a taxi.

I know I am home, when I walk into a hotel or hostel and there are lots of people sitting around talking about what to do in that city.

STAY 2 DAYS IN FIRST LOCATION If you are on a 3-12 month trip. I recommend you stay for a minimum of 2 nights at the first location. This will save you hundreds of dollars. Two day will give you sufficient time to learn the cheapest way for transportation. Plus you need time to adjust. Remember...this is for fun, not work.

THE COST FOR ME TO LIVE THE FIRST DAY 5 Dollars for train from Airport in Brussels, Belgium to Ghent. (50 miles) 1 Dollar for telephone to call my friend. 1 Dollar for a Belgium waffle. 0 Dollars for accommodation because I stayed with my friend. 0 Dollars for food because I ate with them. TOTAL 7 DOLLARS (USA)

COST IF I STAYED IN HOSTEL Here in Ghent is 12 dollars. Very clean, and in the centre. 6 dollars for meals, and I will eat twice per day. Hopefully cook in the hostel, or a typical meal of this culture. TOTAL 25 DOLLARS (USA)

Have fun! Life is Good!

As always, these are suggestions. Please realize I am giving guidance, and there are always other opinions. "One mans paradise, is another mans hell" This way we do not all go to the same place.

From: NURDOGAN SENGULER , Istanbul, Turkey:

THOUGHTS ON ISTANBUL FROM A NATIVE So here are some secrets you won't find in guide books The best Turkish Food Restaurants; What is the best hostel and Hotel ? A great places to drink Real Turkish Tea and some others oriental drinks Is it safe for women ? Listen the traditional Turkish music, If you have any more question , feel free to e-mail me. I am waiting for your news.

If you need any info about Turkey and Turkish culture,I might be able to help you. Best wishes from Istanbul and Turkish painters Http://www.istanbulguide.net URL: http://www.lesartsturcs.com>

From: Steve W Martin, San Francisco:

Watch those provisions that you take for granted!

I recently rented an Alamo car on a business trip. As a VERY frequent Alamo renter I only scanned over the "daily rate" information on the rental agreement. I saw that it said the rate was $36 a day, as my travel agent quoted. What I didn't notice (as I initialled the rate) was that it said that if I returned the car before 3 days I would be charged $44± a day. That was my surprise when I returned the car after 2 days. Not that big a deal - but really a matter of disclosure and principal at that point. The return agent would not budge, and I asked for the manager. She, too, would not budge. Even when they looked me up on their computer and saw my rental record and the fact that I was a Silver something (their most frequent renter) she would not budge. Apparently she missed the course on customer service. So I left. I immediately called my travel agent (from the bus to the terminal), who was surprised and said she would call Alamo. Here's the punch line. Not only did their rep say that the manager was wrong and they apologised and reversed the over charge, but they also send some freebie coupons for rental days. A first class response, and good customer service.

Two lessons here - read that fine print, no matter how often you see a "standard" agreement, and as quickly as possible go above the head of the person who is supposedly in authority and does not give good customer service.

From: Sandra, Sweden:

I just must tell you about Sunny Beach, Bulgaria........ Its a lovely country with wonderful people, beaches and its very cheep to live there (I have been there 3 times) So go there at once!

From: Trevor Sinclair, Travel Voice:

After several e-mails over the past few months from non-US residents, I just had to put in a few lines here...

A few tips on how to avoid tipping anxiety in America

It's customary to reward good treatment with a little cash. Here's a guide for how much - and when - to give:

How much to tip is an anxiety-provoking question that follows a traveller from airport to hotel to restaurant, nationally and internationally.

The general manager of the Inn at Union Square in San Francisco, which has banned tipping, says the ban ranks high on guests' lists of favourite features. But few have followed this lead. Generally, tipping is the custom throughout America.

Customs overseas are usually noted in guide books, though the size of tips may not be specified.

At the edge of some aspects of American travel, the service charge added to the tab can be seen working its way in.

For example, it's not uncommon now to see on a menu, "For parties of eight or more, a service charge of XX percent will be added to the total bill." The percentage is often 15 or 20 percent.

Resorts add service charges to bills because otherwise the guest may envision a battalion of hands held out: bellmen, housekeepers, waiters, golf pros, bartenders, lifeguards and many others.

In addition, it is difficult to figure out where to keep cash while lifting weights. On the other hand, when it is clear that a service is performed by someone who is not a resort employee, there should be a tip: for a massage, I usually give 10 percent, rounded up, but the manager of a New York health club said that 15 to 20 percent was the usual amount there.

There aren't a lot of general guides about tipping.

Original Tipping Page may be found on the Web, but its rates strike me as eccentric.

Here are a few rules of thumb, no tip should be provided when service is discourteous. It is demoralising to those providing good service and undermines the idea that tipping is optional.

Step 1: Plan

The primary way to avoid tipping anxiety is to be prepared. A supply of new one-dollar bills should be held at the ready. Really fussy travellers on long trips carry along smaller envelopes or note cards and envelopes to meet situations where naked currency seems awkward, for concierges, for example.

At hotels and motels, tips typically do not rise and fall with the price of the room. No tip is ever required, but this nostrum does little to soothe a traveller who wants to avoid seeming stingy or a fool. I have watched people suffer for hours (myself included, when the bell hop offered to run me a bath and scrub my back) after grossly overtipping through error. The solution is to forget the error; recipients focus on their good luck, not on scorning the donor.

I am told, the person who cleans the hotel room should get $1 or $2 a guest for each night, and more if you are messy. Leaving the tip on the bathroom counter helps assure it gets to the person who does the work. If you have asked for many extra deliveries. A prompt delivery of an iron and board is worth $2.

Travellers who go to conventions and meetings in hotels might want to be sure to tip well because they are identified as representatives of an organisation and want to create good will. If you get particular help, ask whether the employee will be on duty the day you leave. If not, tip on the spot.

Room service can be a bother. Check the menu first to see if a service charge will be added. A tip beyond that is not necessary unless there is something special about the delivery. If no charge is added, 15 to 20 percent of the bill is fine.

The person who brings up the bags and opens the room for you should get $1 or $2, unless you have a whole trolley of luggage, when it should be more. The door attendant who calls a cab should get $1.

Employees at airports indicate that tips range from $1 to $2 a bag. Fred Baer, manager of ground transportation for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said that the airlines had policies that skycaps - the uniformed porters who are the only people legally allowed to carry **bags** at New York airports - were not allowed to solicit tips. (however, I’ve encountered that they do) At Terminal 4 of Kennedy International Airport, Baer said, a minimum charge of $1 a bag is in effect, and signs on the skycaps' carts note this.

Some aren't tipped

Economy hotels with no bell staff may have security guards in the registration area. Anthony Marshall, president and dean of the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association, said that guards help prevent crime just by their presence, and that they should not have tasks that take them away. But he said, if they escort a guest to a room, they can be tipped like a bellman.

Salaried people who sit behind desks, like managers of hotels, are not usually tipped.

Luxury-hotel concierges are. When they have really delivered - tickets for a hit show for that night, say - they should get substantial money (perhaps $50 for a couple of $150 tickets) in an envelope, with a note. Calling ahead with requests to the concierge can produce better results.

Flight attendants are not tipped.

Waiters on trains are tipped as in restaurants: 15 to 20 percent. If the meal is included in the price of the ticket, it is easy to be generous: $5 at a minimum.

People at the car-rental counter are not tipped, but if someone brings your car to the door in the rain and loads your bags, it's worth $1 or $2.

I hope this helps.

My travel companions often look at me like I’m crazy with my tipping in the U.S. Sometimes they think I’ve tipped to little. Other times they think it wasn’t necessary. I remember in particular a doorman at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco several years ago who had simply opened the door of my limo, who said, “sir, I’m off the next 2 days, I won’t see you again”, I said, “have a nice weekend, bye”:!!! as I left staring at his open palm.

From: Lois Jeffery , Bardwell Park:

If you get a chance to visit Wales be sure to see at least one or more of the following places, Powis Castle,Cog Rail train up the Snowden Mountain, tenby, Bishops Palace in St. Davids,Penrhyn Castle, Plas Newydd,and Conwy, Wales is a wonderful place to visit. However if you want to visit someplace very different when at the British Isles take a ferry or plane ride to Isle of Mann.

From: Maria De Silva, Denver:

"Queretaro is a beautiful colonial city in Mexico -- about two hours north of Mexico City. We travelled the area and loved it, along with San Miguel de Allende. In Queretaro we found a fantastic restaurant called Le Cuisine. The food is wonderful; they combine Mexican ingredients with French cooking styles. Try the Salmon Tower (Torre de Salmón) and Steak in Black Butter. All desserts were a dream. My favourites were Leche Frita (Fried Milk), and Hechizo de Chocolate (Chocolate Spell). It is run by the owners, a young couple that really enjoy what they do."

From: Karen Stacey, Perth:

KENYA

Mombasa is often omitted from American tourists' itineraries. It has a Portuguese fort, the famous entrance of elephant tusks, great Indian food and lovely beaches. Best of all: the most romantic restaurant in the world: Tamarind, serving seafood with a slight Indian essence. Sit on the patio overlooking the Indian Ocean, watch the moon rise over the ocean. Have the Arab coffee boy serve you coffee from his polished brass pots on his brass tray. Order the seafood platter for two.

From: Gablin, Montgomery, CA:

CRYSTAL CITY, VA

If you want to see Washington, DC, and stay in a decent hotel without paying a fortune, try staying in what is called Crystal City.

There are several chain hotels there, everything from a Howard Johnsons on up, but prices are much cheaper than downtown. You will be within a one or two block walk of the Metro, which will whisk you to the famous monuments and museums, and to the Capital area.

From: Melinda Sommers, Westleigh, NSW:

KENYA SAFARI AND GUIDE

Patrick Reynolds is an excellent guide who has lived and worked in East Africa and Southern Africa all of his life. The best part about his trip is that you are able to experience two completely different parts of Tsavo East.

The park itself is huge, a little over 11,000 square km, and the 2/3 north of the Galana River have been closed to the general public for over 20 years. The Tiva River is located in the middle of this northern area. It has been left completely for the animals.

Patrick is the only person allowed to camp in the area. With very few roads, the emphasis here is on game walks through the bush as you track the animals. The last two nights are spent at a camp set up next to the Galana River at Luggard Falls. The falls are stunning, with worn pink rocks on the banks of a chocolate river.

While staying here you can take advantage of the more open countryside of the southern part of the Park to explore further afield in your 4x4 landcruisers. This part of the park is fantastic for elephant, hippo, cheetah and crocodile and is still very deserted, despite the good roads.

From: Dianne Courtenay, Denver, CO:

FIJI

We just returned from a fabulous trip to Australia and Fiji. We ate at an EXQUISITE restaurant in Nadi, Fiji, which I would heartily recommend. It is called Chef's. Eat in the elegant dining room. The service was impeccable, the food incredible. And with the Fiji dollar nearly 2-1 for US D, it was an incredible deal. Also take the day trip to the Mana Island Resort -- it was everything you think of when you think of an island paradise.

From: Ian George, Gladesville, NSW:

When travelling we always set the combination locks on our Sampsonite luggage to a specific code before check-in. That way when we arrive at our destination and collect our bags from the carousel we can tell straight away whether the locks have been tampered with or if anybody has attempted to open our bags. If you have an older Sampsonite, for a small fee, you can have the clip lock replaced with a key lock for added security. Happy trails.

From: Jenny Hurst, Surrey, UK:

HOSTEL PRIMER

Rules will vary from hostel to hostel, but many of them do have a curfew and most will make you leave by a certain time, usually around 10 am. Most hostels separate rooms by gender, but if it's crowded they may ask if you mind being put into a mixed-sex room.

As for the number of people in the room, it will entirely depend on how large the hostel is, how many rooms they have, and how full they are. The bonuses of hostelling are that most places are clean, there are usually plenty of other people there to connect with, and staying there is almost always much less than it would be in a hotel.

That said, if you're looking for a little more privacy or a quieter environment, try staying at a pension, which usually just means a place where they want to rent out an extra bedroom in a house or apartment.

From: Bruce Goldberg, San Jose, CA:

IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME IN PARIS

There are so many things to see in Paris, everyone will have a different list of must-sees. Here are a few of my favorites...

Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, Les Invalides, Le Louvre, La Musee D'Orsay, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Centre Pompidou, Champs Elysees, Boul. St. Michel, Les Marais, Ile de la Cite, Sainte Chapelle, Place des Voges.

I also love to get up really early and stroll through a residential neighborhood as the city wakes up. If you can pick an area where there will be a street market that day, it's even more fun. Just about the time you start to get a bit hungry, the bakeries open and you can get a fresh hot croissant to munch in a cafe while you down a huge cup of cafe creme.

From: Janis Campbell:

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

You can (with a few companies) take cars to Ireland and back to Great Britain. By why? The cost of the car on the ferries is REALLY high. So it is much, much better to take a ferry or fly to Ireland, pick up a rental car, drive around Ireland, turn in the car -- and then fly or ferry to Scotland and pick up a different rental car. You will save hundreds of dollars and not have to hassle with the red tape.

From: Jack Devlin, Sutherland, NSW:

AMSTERDAM

If you wind up spending anytime in Amsterdam, you really must go to an Indonesian restaurant that serves Rijsttafel.

Rijsttafel (means Rice Table) has become SO popular that it has almost become the national dish of The Netherlands. If you are there on April 30, you have to go to Koniginnendag, the Queen's Birthday. It is the most fantastic party I have ever seen.

The whole city closes down for the day and is given over to partying, dancing in the streets, live music in the squares. Truly a wonderful time.

From: Astro, Santa Monica,CA:

PANAMA:

Panama is a very good country to visit. I work for a large US-based medical company and travel frequently to all of South America on business. Panama is probably one of the best countries for weather (and I live in Miami). The people are great, hotels are good, food is good. I would recommend anybody considering Costa Rica to also look into Panama. Tocumen International Airport DUTY FREE is one of my favorites in all of Europe, US or Latin America.

From: Laksi Pensinki:

HOLLAND

The Netherlands is great concerning public transport. If you plan to stay in cities, you can depend on it. Buy a National Strip Ticket, which is valid inside cities and on buses all over; you can buy them in railway stations, at tobacconist shops, post offices, and many more; you cannot buy them from the bus driver nor from the conductor.

Strip tickets are multi-trip tickets and they come in 15 and 45 strip units. My recommendation is that you buy your first one, a 15 strip at Schiphol Int'l Airport; later if you need it, you can buy a 45 strip.

From: Stephen Durling, Sydney, NSW.:

Dress for the occasion. If you turn up dressed in smart attire, along with a courteous approach to the check in staff, chances are you will be the one picked to be upgraded if other seats are not available.

I often travel Ansett to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney. A lot of my flights originate in Melbourne so by the time they get to Sydney, all the select seats are taken. All I do is dress very smart casual, (small things like clean polished shoes are a must - these always help develop a first impression) After requesting "a window seat if that is possible please" I have been told that there are none available and then found myself in an aisle seat in business class.

From: Larry Costa, Leichhardt,NSW:

HIROSHIMA: When you visit Tokyo, be sure to take a day trip to Hiroshima. Take the JR Line Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Tokyo Station. Take the Nozami train, which is the fastest and has only 3-4 stops. The first train as at 06:00. The cost is approx US$200 each way for reserved seating. Request a right side window seat, which is designated by the letter A. The trip is about 4 hours long as you speed along the Japan countryside at 175 MPH. If you're lucky you will be able to see Mt. Fuji en route. After you arrive, go to the south side of the station and take the city trolley to the Atom Bomb Dome. You pay the small fare on the trolley as you exit. It will take you about 2-3 hours to stroll through the park and visit the museum (small admission charge of about US$1). Be sure to ring the peace bell across the river from the dome building before you leave the park. Take the trolley back the way you came back to the station, which is the last stop. Purchase a return ticket for the next train. If you wish to spend the night there is a very nice hotel at the station that charges about US$125 single. Enjoy your travels.

From: Robin Williams, San Francisco:

The coins and change that you accumulate on a trip go