Travels With Jane

Travel woes: Devil in the details

As anyone caught in yesterday's AA baggage disaster at JFK knows, the devil is often in the details.

It's a lesson that struck home on my European vacation. No, I didn't get routed through JFK, so I didn't end up in that mess. But there were other hassles aplenty: The lost bag in Madrid (a plane-changing stop on my way to Copenhagen) and the inevitable security lines (clearing U.S. immigration in Nassau, which used to be a snap, took an hour).

Most of these are just minor irritants -- part of the price of going some place great. But some are poor management, plain and simple.

They’re also bad business. The friendly service and unexpectedly good cuisine on my recent Princess cruise to the Baltic was tarnished by having to stand in line repeatedly to get copies of my cruise bill - something other cruise lines allow you to view on your in-cabin TV.

How about British Airways' new on-demand seat-back in-flight entertainment system. It would have been a delight…if I hadn’t spent the morning navigating check-in nightmares that will forever make me think twice or thrice before I fly British.

And how about the completely ridiculous process of trying to go the two miles from any Heathrow-area hotel to Terminal 4 via public transport? The $8 shuttle goes to every other terminal -- but when you fly from Terminal 4, you have to switch to a train. Next time, I'll try to dodge Heathrow, maybe avoid London altogether.

The problem: Few executives experience their products the same way their customers do. Airline execs and company directors speed through First Class check-in, wait in the private lounge and sit in comfy seats. Airport directors rarely stand in the regular security lines. Hotel executives get upgraded to suites. Senior cruise managers rarely stand in line to check-in on their own ships, stay in standard cabins or wait on the customer service queue.

Many companies do survey customers and listen to the results - much to their credit. NCL has decided to leave it's libraries open all the time. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are planning to allow cruisers to make reservations in specialty restaurants online, in advance of sailing. And at Miami International, security lines have been cut dramatically (though the food options are still horribly limited, at best.)

In the weeks and months ahead, I"ll play travel shopper, reporting here and in the pages of The Miami Herald on what works -- and what doesn't. I hope you'll share your experiences as well -- both the lousy and, I hope, the good.

Just click here and comment.

A few quick pix

Now that I'm back at a decent online connection, here are a few quick pix from our cruise to the Baltic, with stops in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg and more. More to come soon...

I liked BA but....not sure I'll fly them again

I actually like British Airways. The staff invariably is nice, they give me a sandwich onboard without charging me for it, and its prices are highly competitive (as much as they can be. Read on.) But there are good reasons NOT to fly them, and one of those just forced me to pay 6 pounds for Internet access.

First, let me say that I'm at a hotel at Heathrow Airport, having just arrived for the first time at the new Terminal 5. It's one of the reasons not to fly British. T5 is BA's primary domain here. And though it is newly built and just opened earlier this year, it suffers from the same problem as all of Heathrow's other terminals: Ridiculously long walking distances.

The gateway from the plane to the terminal was at least the length of a football field -- and I don't mean soccer. Once in the terminal, we faced another long haul, about three times the length of our initial walk. I'm in good shape, so it wasn't a huge hardship, but you'd hate to make that walk if your knees were aching or you'd foolishly worn high heels.

The good news is that T5's much heralded luggage woes did not apply. The luggage arrived in a snap...all of it. Hooray!

Next, we had to contend with another of British's big drawbacks: No advance seating assignments (and the reason I'm making this post.)

Unlike practically every other legacy carrier on the planet, British doesn't assign seats until 24 hours in advance. This is a problem if your husband is 6-foot-4-inches and needs to be sure he has an aisle seat. It's also a problem if you have a different last name from any of your traveling companions and aren't on the same record locator (which we never, ever are, despite requests that our records be linked) and would, perhaps, like to spend your 9-hour flight next to one another.

So I went to the British counter, only to be told that we couldn't get seat assignments even though we were within the 24-hour pre-flight window, because .... we were standing in T5 and our flight tomorrow morning leaves from T4.

Huh? You're kidding me, right?

Nope. I could check in online, but .... well, I'm not sure how to explain this, but not everybody has online service abroad. The very nice BA woman told me to I could go to a fee-based airport internet kiosk....which is tantamount to telling me I have to pay a surcharge to secure my seat because British's computers in one terminal apparently don't talk to its computers in the next terminal, but they do talk to the Internet.

Could be there's a perfectly good reason for this, and I'm going to ask the BA spokesman when I get home, because fair is fair. But for the life of me, I can't think of one at the moment.

All of this inconvenience aside, one of the biggest problems with flying BA to Europe is Heathrow's taxes, which at hundreds of dollars dwarf the fees at most other airports. Which makes British a good airline to fly if you're going to London, but not so good if you're going elsewhere in Europe. Especially if you want your seats assigned in advance.

Oh, and did I mention that the 4 pound-per-person each way shuttle to the hotels DOESN'T drop off at T4? We have to take the shuttle to T2, THEN haul our luggage onto a train. You do have to wonder if anyone who runs an airport or an airline has ever tried to use their own products.

Way to travel on a cruise

One of the advantages of traveling with your own group, we’ve learned, is that you can take arrange private tours for the same price as taking ship tours … or less. And it’s definitely an advantage.

In St. Petersburg, for instance, we had a private van, superb guide, VIP front-of-the-line entrances and a customized itinerary for about $235 per person per day … and those days lasted 10-hours plus. To cover the same ground on ship’s tours would have cost more and, we think, covered less. Certainly, they would have been less personalized.

Today we took at tour to Gdansk that included bus transport and a walking tour. The sound system didn’t work well and the guide – though good – was hard to understand in such a large group (42) and noisy circumstance.

In Berlin, we’ll have two vans, two guides and an 11-hour tour for $185 per person (but without museum entries) – just $6 per person more than the ship’s transport purchased without any tour.

Of course, if you’re traveling with just two people, private tours are super expensive. So here’s to traveling with your friends!

Talinn, Gdansk

Too little time. That’s our verdict on the visits to both cities.

Not that there was anything wrong with the ship arrangements. Simply, both cities are delightful little jewelboxes, and we wished for more time than our half-day visits allowed. 

Talinn survives as an original medieval city, less scarred by war than most others. Its town hall is the oldest in northern Europe. Cobbled streets splay out from a cobbled square now rimmed with cafes. Winding lanes lead up the hill to castle, churches and outlooks to the sea.

Gdansk is etched in the American memory by Lech Walesa’s campaign for solidarity, and since Communist collapse of 1989 the city has blossomed (though, as our guide pointed out, prices also have skyrocketed.) But it was the old city we’d come to see, and we caught it on a day filled with parades and the start of the three-week citywide open-market that has taken place here for 700 years.   

Gothic-style buildings with gutters in the shape of dragons formed the background to the parade of knights and ladies on stilts. Though the city first made its wealth as a trading post for grain, the main shopping draw now it amber. Pendants and rings and necklaces are draped along street stalls, drawing you away from the splendid church, fanciful armory and other historic sites. A city that just might have it all….but you can only find out with many more days to visit.

Grand St. Petersburg

Years ago, when I first came to St. Petersburg, my not-yet-then husband complained that he didn’t want to go because he didn’t like sitting on the beach. When he found out I was heading to the other St. Petersburg in January, he out and out refused.

Snowbound, St. Petersburg was a glorious city, grand yet sullen and Zhivago-esque. More than a dozen years later, on two clear and splendid summer days, it is more beautiful yet.

On a two-day cruise-ship visit, even a mad whirl means hitting a handful of high spots. We were able to visit more than most by keeping a forced march and arranging a private VIP tour (that means we paid more) that included front-of-the-line entry to Catherine’s Palace, the Hermitage and other hot spots.

Between visits to those attractions, Pavlovsk, Peterhof, the Church on the Spilled Blood and St. Isaac’s magnificent church (where what appear to be frescos turn out to be intricate mosaics), we boned up on Russia’s bloody history of spousal murder, infanticide and seemingly endless conspiracy. We followed the imperial tree: Peter the Great who married the peasant, Elizabeth who died leaving 15,000 dresses, Catherine the Great who murdered her husband and hated her son, Paul who ruled only a handful of years, Alexander the Reformed killed by a terrorist bomb…and on to Nicholas II, a poor leader and poorer PR practioner, who died with his family at the hands of revolutionaries. And then, what was worse: power-hungry Stalin, the successes and failures of Communism and the pain of it’s transition to capitalism.

Not much fun, any of it. But the city where so much of the intrigue was hatched and excesses displayed is surely a place to see.

Side note: Sun sets tonight at 10:54.

Grand St. Petersburg

Years ago, when I first came to St. Petersburg, my not-yet-then husband complained that he didn’t want to go because he didn’t like sitting on the beach. When he found out I was heading to the other St. Petersburg in January, he out and out refused.

Snowbound, St. Petersburg was a glorious city, grand yet sullen and Zhivago-esque. More than a dozen years later, on two clear and splendid summer days, it is more beautiful yet.

On a two-day cruise-ship visit, even a mad whirl means hitting a handful of high spots. We were able to visit more than most by keeping a forced march and arranging a private VIP tour (that means we paid more) that included front-of-the-line entry to Catherine’s Palace, the Hermitage and other hot spots.

Between visits to those attractions, Pavlovsk, Peterhof, the Church on the Spilled Blood and St. Isaac’s magnificent church (where what appear to be frescos turn out to be intricate mosaics), we boned up on Russia’s bloody history of spousal murder, infanticide and seemingly endless conspiracy. We followed the imperial tree: Peter the Great who married the peasant, Elizabeth who died leaving 15,000 dresses, Catherine the Great who murdered her husband and hated her son, Paul who ruled only a handful of years, Alexander the Reformed killed by a terrorist bomb…and on to Nicholas II, a poor leader and poorer PR practioner, who died with his family at the hands of revolutionaries. And then, what was worse: power-hungry Stalin, the successes and failures of Communism and the pain of it’s transition to capitalism.

Not much fun, any of it. But the city where so much of the intrigue was hatched and excesses displayed is surely a place to see.

Side note: Sun sets tonight at 10:54.

A glitch? We hope not!

The best laid plans….

Because our group is so large, our travel agent arranged for a private tour in St. Petersburg through a highly rated travel company. It comes with a blanket visa…which means we don’t need individual visas.

Now the cruise line is telling us that those not on ship’s tours have to go through a lengthy immigration process. At best, we’ll likely be delayed and miss part of our tour. At worst…well, we don’t want to think about it.

Wish us luck!

Stockholm

lI've visited Stockholm once before, when thankfully, the weather was better than today. Yet even in the drizzle, the city is unexpectedly beautiful, with its gardens and cobbled streets and rows of fanciful peach buildings crowding the waterfront .

On this quickie visit, we don't have time to explore the city's depths. But we do make it to the City Hall, the extraordinary romantic mishmash of styles where the Nobel banquet is held each year. Then it's on to the medieval "old town'' of Gamla Stan, a clamor of delicate buildings, boutiques, ice cream shops and the "new'' royal palace. (The old one burned in the late 1600s; though the design for a new one was rapidly approved and construction estimated at six years, the project actually took 60 years. (Sounds like some modern cities I know.)

It's beautiful, and I'd love to share photos...but with this connection, I'll be lucky to post a single image.

Good news on the norovirus victim: He doesn't have norovirus. Just a hinky stomach. Bad news: A twisted ankle by another in our group. Let's hope the rest of us can stay out of the infirmary!

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Photo: Gold Room in the City Hall is covered with gilt mosaics. The post-dinner dancing is held here after the Nobel ceremonies each December.

On the ship!

It’s a beautiful day on the Baltic Sea – a welcome change from the occasional deluges of Copenhagen. Our ship – the Crown Princess – is handsome and huge, with a capacity for more than 3,100.

We are 12 Miamians sailing. Today is our single day at sea. Some have been energetically stretching and taking pilates classes; some have napped. One is sick, now under quarantine for possible norovirus. Let’s hope not.

Our ship features outdoor movies, multiple pools and hot tubs, bars and lounges galore (we haven’t begun to explore them all). There’s an abundance of restaurants, but given the size of our group we’ll stick mostly with the traditional dining room and the casual Lido-style café / buffet.

Already, we’re finding that the cruise allows the kind of flexibility we’d hoped for; by day, we each go our own way, by night we’ll convene for dinner.

The day’s highlight has been something that’s often a snore: The shipboard lectures. Author John Lawrence has regaled us with tales of Faberge eggs, philandering czars and the vision and energy of Peter I … a primer in advance of our two-day visit to St. Petersburg.

Internet access is slower than slower than slow…which means I won’t be posting many photos on this trip! We’ll do our best.

Iced in Copenhagen

You've probably seen magazine or TV stories about the Ice Hotels in Sweden and Canada, where every surface is carved from ice.

Here is Copenhagen, there's also an Ice Bar. It's No. 2...the original is in Stockholm.

I've now been to both. They aren't very different...but it's a lot more fun to go to one with a pile of friends, I learned last night, than by yourself (my Stockholm experience.) You're never there long enough to meet anybody new....too cold! The small space is lined entirely with blocks of ice, with drink glasses made of ice and even the seats (though they come with little fluffy sheepskin pads to warm the tush.)

(The tab: $31 per person including an Absolut vodka drink...and enough fun to be worth it!)

How expensive is it?

Here we are in Copenhagen, the land of the $25 burger, the $10 beer, the $17 museum entry.

Scandanavia isn't cheap under any circumstances, but with the current poor condition of the dollar, it's pretty well impossible. Our crew can't wait to get on the cruise...where at least our food is already paid for.

My bag is here!

Give a cheer; my bag is here!

Until you lose a bag, you don't focus on what an incredible hassle it is ... especially if you're heading out on a cruise.

For the past 36 hours, I've had visions of boarding without my bag...without clothes (carefully chosen over years of sale shopping), without the three pairs of shoes to pamper my aching feet, and scariest, without the various chargers for computer, two cameras and phone. I priced a camera battery charge replacement....over $100. And lucky that I could find one; in many places I travel, it would be impossible.

Yes, I have followed my own advice and bought travel insurance. But turns out that when I chose my policy, I was focused on medical and trip cancellation...but not much focused on bag delay. My coverage came to only $200 ... just enough to cover that charger replacement, a handful of underwear and the many phone calls I've made with my cell phone to track my bag.

Lesson of the moment: Look for a policy that would legitimately cover you if your ship sailed and your bag didn't.

As for the wisdom about cross-packing with your partner so you each have some clothing in case a bag is lost: Obviously whoever wrote that doesn't have a strong-willed partner (or isn't so strong-willed themselves.) Joint packing would entail intense negotiation in my household. Fuggetaboutit.

The joys of travel (not)

I love travel. But traveling...now this is another story.

The Miami-Madrid leg worked out fine...the usual hard seats and mediocre food, but it did the trick. Except, wouldn't you think American Airlines could replace the towels in the bathroom?

Madrid, no problem. On to Copenhagen.

Ah, that's the problem. Not Copenhagen per se, but the delivery of my bag.

Of course, no one ... not American or Iberia ... can tell me where it is. But they're very nice about it. With any luck, I'll have clean clothes within 24 hours. Keep your fingers crossed.

Heading to the Baltic

By this time tomorrow, the airline gods willing, I'll be in Copenhagen.

That's the launch point for our 10-day Baltic cruise, with stops in Helsinki, Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Talinn, Gdansk and the port outside Berlin. We'll be a crowd of 12 -- all Miamians whose main point of connection is a weekly stop at Einstein's Bagels.

Strange but true. We've never traveled together -- and we don't even agree on politics! With any luck, we'll still be friends at the end.

Already, we've survived itinerary planning, travel agent confusion, wardrobe controversy (long or short at the formal night.) No one has actually throttled anyone yet, and if it hasn't happened by now, I think we're home free.

Since this is my actual vacation, I'm not promising to blog every day. But I will check in occasionally, posting pictures and reporting on the high cost of traveling in Europe in these days of the miserable dollar value.

Got a recommendation for me in a city I'm visiting? Pass it on! Just click to comment below.

Ciao!

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BERLIN: The Brandenburg Gate. AP photo.

A smart carry-on idea

PR companies often throw new products at travel (and other) editors. A tour operator once sent out seven-foot wooden paddles hawking its new active tours; a theme park once sent out an item (I can't even remember what it was) packed in dry ice to promote its summer offerings.

Chocolates, suitcases and beach towels all come our way. Our ethics policy doesn't allow us to accept them, and we either return them (if the value is high) or give them to charity.

But the mail has delivered something that I might actually want to buy. It's called mysmartpac and it contains the kind of stuff you get for free if you travel overseas in Business or First class.

In the men's pack are face cleanser, shave gel, body lotion, hair gel, deo, toothpaste, razor and a one-quart zip-style plastic bag that holds it all...thus making it carry-on friendly.

In the women's pack are cleanser, anti-aging face cream, deo, toothpaste, toothbrush, lotion and hair gel, plus the plastic baggy.

Prices range from $9.95 to 12.95, says the PR release, depending on where you buy.

I like the idea. I'm not sure this is worth the money; despite claims you get up up to six uses, these packages are the sort that don't reclose well, so I'm thinking you can give it up after your first flight.

Still, the packs are small and handy, and these days, that's got to be a bonus.

Women designed Solstice cabins -- and it shows!

Not to be sexist but ... so often when I enter a hotel room or ship cabin, I know it was designed by a man. Crummy make-up light, tiny bathrooms, poor room lights -- I see every woman out there nodding.

Celebrity Cruises has finally done the right thing: They asked a group of women to design the cabins onboard its new ship, Solstice, first in a class of five new ships weighing 122,000 tons and carrying 2,850 guests.

The ship doesn't enter service until October, but South Florida press got a preview today of shopping, dining and spa options that will be offered.

Let's start with retail therapy. On Solstice, there will be plenty of it: 18 boutiques on two full decks, each shop with its own identity and -- get this -- it's own scent. That's right: coconut in the Caribbean shop, grass in the Lawn Club shop. Along with the usual logo shirts, you'll be able to buy flip-flops covered with astroturf (which are a good bit cooler than they sound), affordable glass jewelry reminiscent of Venetian offerings (the ship includes an artisan glass-blowing studio), designer glass art by Corning and Steuben, Riedel's famous flat-bottom wine glasses etched with the Solstice logo, semi-precious necklaces crafted by Miami ad exec Elaine Silverstein, Katherin Baumann purses and specially cut diamonds with 86 facets.

When it comes to dining, you'll want to loosen the waistband. Aqua Class passengers -- that would be the upgraded accommodations with a "wellness'' orientation that includes five-head shower towers, Frette robes and healthy menu options -- will have their own dining room included in the regular cruise pricing, as will guests in other cabins. The Solstice also offers additional-fee restaurants -- Murano, focusing on gourmet cuisine including foie gras and squab, a Tuscan Grill steakhouse (yes, they will infuse the steaks with olive oil, says dining meister Jacques Van Staden), and the pan-Asian Silk Harvest. A 24/7 bistro offers complimentary grazing, as does the casual Mast Grill, the healthy AquaSpa Cafe and the poolside wings-and-burger bar. Coffee and ice creams in the Café al Bacio & Gelateria cost extra (but believe me, the Forte tea is worth the price.)

On to fitness. I can't begin to explain the gravity driven inverted exercise board, but I do know what Botox and Restylane are. I'm not sure I'm willling to let someone on a cruise ship inject me with them...but if I get the yen, I can sign up on Solstice.

Now, back to those cabins. The feature bathrooms 50 percent bigger than usual, says Celebrity president Dan Hanrahan, -- and each shower has a rack where  you can put your foot while you're shaving your legs. The guys would never have thought of that one.

Add-on fees or higher fares? You tell us

Opinion Polls & Market Research

One of our commenters brings up a point that others are echoing: That they'd rather pay a higher base fare that includes luggage than feel "nickeled-and-dimed.''

I'm not sure I agree; if you're really counting quarters and you're traveling with a family of four, you may rather pare down to a carry-on than pay an additional $60.

Which would you prefer? Take our poll and comment below!

Air alternatives to Business Class

    With the rocky economy, international Business Class fares are sometimes on sale these days at as much as half of their usual cost. The bad news: That may mean that frequent flier upgrades are harder to come by. And if you've missed the sale, regular business class fares can set you back more than $4,000 roundtrip to London, and more than $10,000 roundtrip to Hong Kong.

   Here's an alternative offered by a number of international carriers: Premium Economy.

   Premium Economy costs less than double an economy fare in most cases (and sometimes a lot less), reports SeatGuru.com, but offers more legroom and service that's upgraded over economy. Premium Economy cabins are offered only on long-haul flights … from the U.S. to Europe or Asia, and Europe to Asia.

   Airlines offered Premium Economy include British Airways, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Japan Airways, ANA, Singapore, Qantas, EVA, SAS, bmi and Thai. No U.S. airlines currently offer Premium Economy, though United Airlines offers Economy Plus, which has greater legroom but offers the same services … and the same cabin … as economy.

   See a comparison chart of the seat pitch and other Premium Economy services.

   Here's a cost comparison for Miami-London, leaving Oct. 8, returning Oct. 15, including those whopping taxes and fees (researched on July 7, 2007). All fares may have restrictions:

• British Airways, Business Class: $3,247
• British Airways, Premium Economy: $2,031
• British Airways, Economy: $992.22
• Virgin Atlantic, Business Class: $4,428.90
• Virgin Atlantic, Premium Economy: $1,899.90
• Virgin Atlantic, Economy: $868.22
• American Airlines, Business Class: $3,853
• American Airlines, Economy: $867.20

MIA: Watch that laptop!

Here's a grim thought: Up to 12,000 laptops are lost weekly -- yes, that was weekly -- at U.S. airports, and more than 70 percent are never recovered, according to a report by the Ponemon Institute for Dell computers.

Among the worst -- you guessed it -- Miami International. We ranked second among 106 airports surveyed, just behind Los Angeles International. 

The Top Ten for lost laptops:

• Los Angeles International
• Miami International
• JFK
• Chicago O'Hare
• Newark
• LaGuardia
• Detroit
• Reagan/Washington National
• Atlanta Hartsfield
• Washington Dulles

According to the report, the stress of rushing to catch flights and the hassle of keeping up with a multitude of business gadgets are to blame; the process of separating an owner from his belongings during security procedures may also play a role.

Speaking for myself, I'd say jetlag, unfamiliarity with surroundings and the general hullabaloo of being in a place with multiple languages can be factors. Knock wood, I haven't lost a laptop yet, but I've nearly lost several cameras during my travels (just left them because I was too tired to keep up with all my stuff), and it was only by the kindness of strangers that I've gotten them back.

The report was commissioned by Dell computers as part of an effort to market its new ProSupport Mobility Services. But whether you buy the Dell item or not, the report is a wake-up call...and offers some good tips:

• Label your laptop, including full contact information. Yes, that means your cell phone.
• Allow enough time. As your grandmama said, haste makes waste.
• Carry less and think ahead. I don't buy the carry-less theory; my job requires laptop, photo downloader, multiple cameras -- and all have to go carry-on. But thinking ahead about how I'm going to unload at security, and then doing a check to be sure I've got all the bits, certainly helps.
• Take appropriate measures to safeguard data. Encryption and passwords can help.
• Think twice about how much info has to be on your computer. Can you download information less used onto a back-up drive?

Do you have more tips? Share your experience by commenting here.

Irresistible deals

"I have only one word for you,'' I told my friend Claudia. "Tahiti!''

That foray for four to Tahiti more than a decade ago was the result of my reading about too many travel deals. Still today, nearly 95 countries later, I'm beguiled by the idea of a bargain getaway. And even when I can't quite spring for the luxury splurge in some exotic place, I can dream.

Better yet, often the deals are to places close at hand. And this year, the deals are juicier than ever, thanks to the grim economy.

If you've got dimes left in your pocket, here are some tempting ways to spend them. And if not, well, we can always dream.

Florida Keys: Through July 31, KeysCaribbean Luxury Resort Villas & Marinas is offering 25 percent lodgings in Key Largo, Key West and Duck Key. (Regular rates start at $195.)

Amelia Island: Through July 31, guests get half-off the second night at the Addison on Amelia. Stay two nights at the Hampton Inn and get a $50 gas rebate card.

Around the state: VISITFLORIDA.com, the public-private partnership that promotes tourism in Florida, features a list of things you can do for under $5.

And at participating Marriott hotels, book at least 14 days in advance for rates starting at $119 at the Grande Lakes Orlando and Ponte Vedra Beach.

Mexico: The oh-so-chic Aqua Cancun offers a three-night package including airport transfers, daily breakfast for two, one candelit dinner for two and a 25-minute couples massage, from $1,605. Refer to promotion code PROMFB0006.

Asia:  Got miles? Use them before the new award levels kick in (or you have to pay fees, Delta's newest trick.) Then snag a six-night package in Hong Kong and Bangkok including breakfast for $289 per person, double occupancy, or a 10-night escorted tour of Vietnam for $1,239 per person, double. A five-night package to Bali INCLUDING air from Los Angeles is $1,189 per person. From Gate 1 Travel.

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PHOTO: Copyright Jane Wooldridge: Bora Bora, from the famous Tahiti trip.