The Best Time To Book Bargains-Go Back

Knowing where & when to go off-season can save you as much as 50%.

Looking for bargains on everything from airfares to car rentals to hotels? Think "off-season". How much will you save? Plenty. Early in 2002, the off-season--plus the downturn in travel--yielded these offers, all per person, double-occupancy:

A willingness to travel off-season can win you substantial savings on all aspects of travel. Here's what you can expect.

OFF-SEASON BENEFITS
Off-season is simply the time when most other tourists stay home--and when rates go down to lure business. Available discounts will vary by region and season.

Lower airfares. These reduced fares can be the main perk. Time your trip to catch airfare "sales" and you can almost always save 30 percent to 50 percent--sometimes as much as 65 percent to 70 percent. Savings depend on the region and the route.

Intercontinental. These routes, linking the U.S. with Europe, Asia, South America, and the South Pacific, have at least two seasonal price levels, usually called high and low, which are limited only to Economy Excursion fares. Some routes have only one seasonal fluctuation each year; others may have several. In addition, several U.S.-to-Europe and U.S.-to-South Pacific fares have an intermediate "shoulder" level. Shoulder fares usually cover a period of several weeks between in-season and off-season. In most instances, your round-trip fare is determined by the day you start your trip, although in a few cases the round-trip price varies by your return date as well.

Domestic. Fares within North America are generally not called seasonal, but they often vary through seasonal promotions. Airlines also adjust the number of seats assigned to various price categories to change their yield without changing the advertised fare levels. And some low fares can be blacked out during periods of highest demand. On some routes fares vary by week, day, or even hour.

Tactics. Most bargain airfares, available for a limited number of seats, are advertised for only a few weeks leading up to the earliest departure dates. Usually you must book by a certain date and travel by a certain date, typically within two months.

If you can, have a variety of travel dates. When first choices are not available, ask the ticketing agent to search the days just before or after your preferred dates. (Or check the airline's Web site for alternative dates.) You may also get a bargain by flying in the very early morning or late at night.

Rail deals. Amtrak, the private U.S. intercity rail-passenger system, uses multiple rates for each route in its system, and some vary seasonally. Via Rail, Canada's passenger rail system, also offers off-peak rates on many routes. Eurailpasses are not priced seasonally, but savings are always available for two to five people traveling together. (See Taking the train for rail information.)

Cheaper car rentals. In some countries, several of the major car-rental companies adjust rates seasonally. They also offer special U.S. promotions during slow seasons.

Hotel bargains. Seasonal price changes are common in the Caribbean, the main European beach destinations (French and Italian rivieras, Greek islands, Spanish coasts), Hong Kong (most big tourist hotels), the major South American vacation areas (Bariloche, Rio), the prime U.S. winter vacation areas (Arizona, Florida and adjacent states, and Hawaii), and in many U.S. summer-vacation areas (lakes, mountains, coasts). Low-season rates may be less than half the peak rates. But note that special local festivals or conventions push up rates.

Reduced resort rooms. Seasonal adjustments in resort-hotel rates vary greatly according to destination. Some have only one high and low season per year, whereas others have several. Most resort brochures list prices for the various rates. Generally, rates will be highest in warm-weather locales--such as Florida and the Caribbean--when travelers wishing to escape their own winter weather generate the heaviest demand.

More affordable city lodgings. Hotels in major cities don't peg their prices to the season, but some make seasonal adjustments by promoting special rates as part of airline packages. Tour operators offer reduced-rate promotions in major European cities during the colder winter months and during August, when locals leave for vacation and many businesses slow considerably.

You may be able to bargain with certain hotels during low-occupancy seasons. Make an offer; many times the hotel will accept it rather than see the room go empty. (See Getting the best hotel rates for more tips.)

SHOULDER SEASON
In many places, spring and fall shoulder seasons deliver the best mix of weather and prices, along with uncrowded attractions. Those time periods can be relatively short, such as in Quebec, or quite long, as in the Greek islands. Australia's winter (our summer) offers a long season of good value and mild weather.

In the Caribbean, for example, the winter months--when it's frigid in the U.S.--are always the busiest. Then demand lessens, and prices begin to drop--but the weather continues to be balmy and pleasant. Travelers looking for an early spring getaway, say, between early March and mid-April, when temperatures in northern cities can still be quite chilly, can snag some good deals.

Tour-operator ads in your Sunday newspaper travel section will give you an idea of some shoulder-season values. And travel agents can usually quote current promotions offered by tour operators and individual hotels.

Before you book, however, check out your destination with a guidebook and/or travel agent. You'll want to know just what the weather might have in store. Also ask about the availability of key attractions and tourist services. When fewer visitors are expected, attractions you hoped to visit may be closed or operating on reduced hours.

WEATHERING THE SEASON
Know what weather you'll face when booking either a peak-season excursion or an off-season bargain--it can make the difference between a satisfying trip and a washout.

Rainy season. When traveling to specific tropical or subtropical regions--Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Africa, and India, in particular--pay careful attention to guidebook and travel-agent guidelines on "wet" and "dry" seasons. Although temperatures typically don't vary by all that much, "wet" season is definitely more humid than "dry" and characterized by heavy rains that can last several days. Monsoons are also a hazard. Translation: Your dream vacation could be ruined--or at the very least, soggy. If you want a bargain, consider visiting very early or very late in the dry season.

Hurricane season. Technically, hurricane season in the Caribbean, Florida, and along the East Coast begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. But the greatest concentration of devastating storms occurs from August through October. Resorts and cruise lines will typically offer discounts during these months to lure bargain hunters.

Beware: Being caught in a major storm can be a frightening and potentially deadly experience. Should you decide to risk it, choose a date at either extreme--either July or November. Tropical storms also strike in the Pacific and Indian oceans, where they're known as typhoons and cyclones, respectively. Consult guidebooks for travel timetables to all tropical destinations.

Heat. Peak travel periods for many tourist destinations are the summer months. Unfortunately, summer brings very high temperatures (90° and above) in, for instance, Spain, Greece, Morocco, Egypt, India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Southern China, and parts of the Caribbean. In the U.S., the Southwest (particularly Arizona and Nevada) and the Southeast (Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana) can also have sweltering weather in July and August, as can Texas and Oklahoma. When you link heat with large crowds, the results can be extremely uncomfortable conditions--even dangerous for travelers with medical conditions.

Cold. Freezing temperatures can be equally distressing, especially if you're unprepared. And certain regions are inaccessible during many of the coldest months, including Alaska, parts of Scandinavia and Russia, the Himalayas, and northern China and Japan. In the Southern Hemisphere, southern Chile and Argentina experience their freeze during July and August--their winter. Again, consult guidebooks to avoid the ultracold months of your destination.

Essential Basics For Travelers-Go Back

A roundup of facts and tips you need to know before you travel.

YOUR PRE-TRIP CHECKLIST
Travel is exciting, alluring--and dependent on a multitude of details. Overlooking even one component can mean mixed-up plans, delays at customs or at an airport security checkpoint, or a scramble to find new accommodations--not exactly the stuff of dream vacations. Get organized now to head off problems later.

Make a list. If you're traveling abroad, get started at least two months in advance. List everything you must have before you leave--passport, an additional photo ID for security checkpoint requirements, visas, reservations, immunizations--then post the list where you can cross off each item after you've dealt with it.

Check tickets and reservations. Always examine everything when it arrives, either from your agent or the travel supplier.

Restricted items. You may need a permit or a license (or not be allowed) to bring in the following: Absinthe and liquors made with Artemisia absinthium; copies of copyrighted items, such as books and videotapes; cultural artifacts and cultural property; drugs and drug paraphernalia; food products, fruits, vegetables, meat, and poultry; game and hunting trophies; medications; merchandise from embargoed countries; and plants. Also restricted are pets; fish, wildlife, and any products made from them; certain gold coins, metals, and bullion; firearms and ammunition; and hazardous materials.

Currency. You may take out or bring in as much money as you like. For $10,000 or more, you'll have to file a permit with U.S. Customs.

Gifts. You may send gifts worth up to $100 to friends and relatives in the U.S., duty-free. Mark the wrapper "Unsolicited gift" and list the total value of the package. You can't send a "gift" to yourself. And traveling companions may not send gifts to each other.

Duty-free. Travelers who buy items at duty-free shops may think they won't have to pay any fees on their purchases when clearing U.S. Customs upon return. But "duty-free" purchases are only duty-free in the country where you bought them. They're still subject to duty in the U.S. if your purchases exceed your exemption, and are subject to all of the previous restrictions.

Foreign-made personal items. If you travel with valuable foreign-made items--say, a camera, watch, or laptop--register them with the U.S. Customs Service before you leave.

Baggage searches. U.S. Customs has always been permitted to search baggage and to detain incoming passengers, if necessary. Now more than ever, you should be ready to exhibit the contents of your baggage, and cooperate by answering all questions.

Last Minute Getaways:How Much Can You Save?-Back

It's not too late to book that trip you've been putting off--even if you want to leave just a few days from now. Welcome to the golden era of last-minute travel. Thanks to the Internet, it's never been easier to pull together a quick vacation, and grab a pretty outstanding deal in the process.

Economic uncertainty and jitters over security have left many airplanes, hotels, and cruise ships with unsold inventory. Travel companies are marketing and making available 11th-hour deals as never before, with the web making it easy to find and book those offers right down to the wire. Waiting to make up your mind can pay off. Here are the insider strategies for finding the best deals.

SEEKING THEM OUT
With hotels, cruise ships, and packaged-tour operators under pressure to unload excess inventory, you can often find discounts ranging from 10 to 50%. Once you start ferreting out these final-hour deals, you'll find yourself awash in offers. How you go about finding them will vary based on what you're looking for (air, hotel, cruise, packaged tour), but some general strategies apply.

An important note: the definition of "last-minute" varies from traveler to traveler and from travel company to travel company. Most of our tips on finding airfare deals are for fares available within a few days. But many airlines also offer deals for flights departing in less than 21 days. Southwest, for example, provides e-mail updates for its Click 'n Save Weekly Specials. This list of deals recently included one-way fares of $30, available between dozens of U.S. cities, for those traveling 14 days later.

FINDING CHEAP FLIGHTS
It's not surprising that airlines, which have long relied on sophisticated computer reservation and "yield management" systems to fill their planes, have been the quickest to use the Internet to unload seats that are still empty on the eve of departure, and many have offered spur-of-the-moment "e-fares" for several years. Your best bet for attractive last-minute airfares is to visit their online sites or the larger airline-focused booking engines.

On the web sites of a number of major U.S. airline carriers, you will find that higher fares become bargain "e-fares" or "cyberfares" on flights in which airlines have trouble filling their seats. You can register online with American, Continental, Northwest, United, and US Airways to be e-mailed those e-fares each week. Such deals are also offered by several international carriers, including Lufthansa (visit www.lufthansa.com and click on "InfoFlyaway") and Icelandair (visit www.icelandair.com and click on "Lucky Fares" and "Hot Deals"). The drawback of these fares is that they may limit you to Friday or Saturday departures and Monday or Tuesday returns.

If you're flexible, however, you can save substantially on last-minute fares that are lower then most discounted leisure fares. A check of American's "NetSAAvers" on a Thursday yielded 28 U.S. e-fares for the coming weekend, including a Boston-Fort Lauderdale flight for $169, considerably less than the minimum $405 fare quoted for a flight departing Friday but allowing you to return the following week. There were also 48 U.S. and 35 international e-fares for the following weekend (such as New York-London for $299 and Dallas/Fort Worth-Costa Rica for $339); the international NetSAAvers required a seven-day advance purchase.

Keep in mind, however, that airlines in some cases have begun touting "last-minute" fare sales that are really early-booking deals, for travel as much as a month or more into the future. But if you wait, the airline could discount the fare even further (although there's no guarantee that it will, or that the fare will still be there). Don't fall for a marketing ploy by assuming a given e-fare is always the lowest available; it pays to shop around before committing. To avoid too many automatic e-mail updates or e-newsletters, sign up for just those that meet your travel interests.

Third-party travel sites can be good sources for your last-minute searches. Visit Digital City/AOL's helpful Travel Guy (http://home.digitalcity.com/travelguy), which extensively tracks each day's best fares out of more than 50 U.S. airports. This site can help you find the low fares available on any given day. And the auction site Priceline (www.priceline.com) is worth checking out, since it reports markdowns approaching 60% off the lowest available retail fares. The site also features discounts on a wide selection of other travel products, from car rentals to hotel rooms.

We've found that major travel booking sites such as Bestfares.com, Cheaptickets.com, Expedia, Hotwire, Lowestfare.com, Orbitz, and Travelocity can do a decent job of finding attractive last-minute airfares (for example, Expedia and Orbitz feature weekend e-fare finders). But you must make sure that you comparison shop. When we checked prices for a next-day flight between Atlanta and Chicago on several of the major sites, the lowest price we found was $316 for round-trip airfare for Delta and AirTran. The booking engines we checked missed a $157 fare for the same route and time, available on AirTran's own site. That's why it's important to compare the search engines with the airline's own sites. You may also want to try the comparison sites www.sidestep.com and www.travelaxe.com.

Keep in mind that published airfares catering to business travelers, traditionally the highest airline fares, have dropped in recent months. Major U.S. airlines such as American and Northwest recently lowered them by 10 to 40%, especially on international flights. This is part of an effort to stanch the loss of road warriors to low-fare carriers such as Southwest, America West, and ATA (especially after Southwest slashed its own business fares by 25% in August).

FINDING CHEAP ROOMS
It's hardly surprising, given the empty rooms seen by many hotels across the country over the past year, that some national, regional, and local chains, including Radisson, Microtel, and Accor's Sofitel and Red Roof Inns, explicitly promote last-minute deals. Many chains advertise the specials, while others, such as Radisson, offer them only online. Look for catch phrases such as "getaways," "escapes," or "weekend specials." Discounts can range from minor to considerable; we found a deluxe double that normally costs $439 at the Sofitel New York available for $159 on Accor's web site for a next-day arrival.

There are a number of ways to uncover these rates. You'll want to visit the hotel's web sites, phone or visit the sites of tourist boards that represent the destination, or call the specific hotel (rather than a national toll-free number) and ask for any specials, upgrades, or better rates. During periods of low demand, vendors can be much more receptive to negotiation. Luxury upscale hotels that don't want to become discounters may be open to this more discreet approach. Individual properties within chains sometimes offer deals independently of the national programs, in response to specific conditions in that particular city.

Consumer Reports' advice: Always try to negotiate with someone at the individual hotel rather than with a reservations agent representing the entire chain. Although some hoteliers may not be able to lower rates beyond a certain level, that doesn't mean they can't throw in extras-such as breakfasts, dinners, free parking, or visits to the spa. Always ask.

Starwood's Sheraton and Westin brands, as well as Six Continents (the umbrella company of brands including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Inter-Continental) offer last-minute hotel deals in the form of air and hotel packages. Starwood's deals can be found on its own web site, but for Six Continents you need to visit www.lastminutegetaway.com. Check newspaper travel sections, hotel web sites, or travel agents, who receive updates on deals periodically from a number of hotels. Don't overlook hotel-room brokers, as they can be good sources of late discounts. Companies such as Hotels.com and Quikbook.com buy rooms in blocks, and may even have the only rooms left at a given hotel on a given date. Quikbook.com covers more than 1,200 hotels in more than 80 U.S. destinations, and recent same-day bargains in San Francisco, one of the priciest cities for hotel rooms in the country, included the upscale Hotel Clift for $195 (against a regular rate of $220), the Prescott for $139 instead of $209, and the Nikko for $99 rather than the usual $159.

FINDING CHEAP CRUISES
The high volume of deep, last-minute price cutting on the part of cruise lines is unprecedented, the result of a ship-building frenzy in the 1990s that resulted in more cabins than could easily be filled by passengers. One industry expert predicts the average last-minute rate for a seven-night cruise will hover around $400 through the holiday period this year. (Upper-end cruise lines Crystal, Silversea, and Seabourn all have resisted extreme discounting.) These last-minute deals will be most plentiful among the larger cruise lines, such as Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean, and will be more prevalent during peak times in locales where there's a glut of ships, such as the Caribbean in winter.

Unlike airfares and hotel rooms, however, getting a "last-minute" deal on a cruise requires a bit more planning. Don't wait until the week of sailing to book your cruise; the key to capturing cruise bargains is booking about a month in advance (from better-served departure ports such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale, you can probably play it a bit closer to the sailing date). Go to the cruise lines' web sites, where you may be able to sign up for e-mail alerts. For example, when we checked, Royal Caribbean's site was offering five-night Western Caribbean itineraries from $329; Norwegian had a seven-night cruise departing within a few weeks to the Eastern Caribbean for $329. The web sites of Carnival, Holland America, Princess, and Celebrity are also worth consulting.

In addition, the major cruise lines supply cabins to a pool of small to medium-size middlemen, called cruise consolidators or discounters, which occasionally offer rates even lower than those officially offered by the cruise lines themselves. They also make comparison shopping easier. For example, California-based Spur of the Moment Cruises sends out a "Cruise News" booklet twice a month. The company posts that same information on its web site under "Red Hot Specials." The company also sends out weekly e-mails itemizing late-breaking cruise deals. Consumer Reports found a seven-night Bermuda sailing for just $699 with Norwegian.

Another online consolidator is GalaxSea Cruises, which recently featured a Princess itinerary that was unavailable on the cruise line's web site: 24 days through the Hawaiian and Tahitian islands, departing within a month, for $1,499.

LAST-MINUTE PACKAGE DEALS
Companies selling tours and packages have to take more variables into account and contend with long-term contracts for flights, accommodations, and other facilities that lock their pricing in place for months in advance. While this can mean fewer price reductions at the 11th hour, you can still get some great last-minute package deals because the hotels, airlines, rental cars, and local attractions offer tour packagers discounts. These last-minute values might include free nights, food and beverage credits, or flat discounts on the entire package.

One of the best sources of last-minute package deals is travel agents, many of whom are kept abreast of these late-breaking offers by the tour packagers. A good agent or travel counselor should know which travel vendors are reputable, offer expert advice, and provide follow-up customer service.

But the downside is that many agents complain of being overwhelmed with the plethora of faxes and e-mails they receive. For instance, each Wednesday the West Coast vacation packager Suntrips faxes agents a handful of discounted Hawaii and Mexico air/hotel packages that depart within two to three weeks. With numerous other operators doing the same thing, agents have many specials to sort through, making it more difficult for them to keep up.

Be on the lookout for last-minute specials advertised by larger agency groups. For example, Liberty Travel, the 10-state chain of more than 200 travel agencies, advertises imminent vacation packages and cruises.

It's worth checking out tour operators' web sites as well as third-party sites. (See Last-minute specialists.) For example, the 25-year-old packager Moment's Notice offers many late-breaking deals: A recent seven-night/air-inclusive package out of several Northeast gateways to Cancun's all-inclusive Caribbean Village was $485. It also offers discounted cruises: seven nights on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas out of New Orleans from $339, or a deeply discounted $199 for a week on NCL's Norway out of Miami.

Other tour operators that feature last-minute opportunities with some frequency are Adventure Center, Apple Vacations, Baja Motion Tours, GoGo Worldwide Vacations (through travel agents only), go-today.com, and New Frontiers. Visit their web sites, call, or ask your travel agent. You can explore other reliable tour operators via the company and destination search functions at the web site of the United States Tour Operators Association (www.ustoa.com).

SUMMING UP
It seems clear that emerging technologies and the travel industry's economic downturn have combined to provide an abundance of good quick deals, for those who have the flexibility. In fact, we may very well look back on these years as the halcyon era of booking inexpensive trips at the last minute. If you haven't taken advantage yet, now's a good time to consider it.

Airfare tips

Timing Your Travels-Go Back

Consider these key points when choosing the most favorable travel times and ensuring traveling harmony.

You already have a destination in mind--or maybe more than one. But you still have two more important decisions to make: when to go, and how to plan a trip that pleases everyone who's coming along.

GOOD TIMING
Planning when to take your trip can have a huge impact on everything from cost to weather to crowds. Investigate less-busy travel times, such as off-season or "shoulder" season, which can provide excellent savings. Also check out local conditions: Overcrowded events, inaccessible attractions, or intolerable weather are travel tribulations you can skip.

Aim for spring or fall. Your reward will be a combination of moderate savings and generally favorable weather. For the most agreeable weather, choose dates straddling summer. May/June and September/October are generally excellent times to travel, weatherwise. There are a few exceptions: the Caribbean in August, September, and October, when it becomes "Hurricane Alley", and certain European winter resorts, which often close from mid-April to mid-May before reopening for the summer.

Discover "off-season". If a little rain won't ruin your parade, then check out the bargains of the off-season, when you can grab deals on airfare and lodging. For example, in 2002, Consumer Reports found a nine-day tour of Rome, Florence, and Venice, including airfare, for $1,199 to $2,099, through March 23, right before prices--and crowds--started going up.

Take advantage of "shoulder" season. The shoulder is a very brief period, typically two to four weeks, just before and after peak season. Shoulder rates are listed in brochures for resorts, cruises, or condo rentals--you get moderate savings with generally good weather conditions. But these rates often sell out quickly. (See The best time to book bargains for shoulder-season details.)

Swap hemispheres. Winter in the Southern Hemisphere creates different weather in different places. Temperatures in Tahiti are 67ºF to 84º, while Sydney, Australia, is a springlike 46º to 60º. Check with your travel agent or a guidebook; destinations closest to the equator will be hot, but you'll be able to ski during July and August in Chile and New Zealand.

Avoid summer crowds. Because summer is the time for family travel, popular destinations such as national parks (Yellowstone and Yosemite in particular), theme parks (Walt Disney World and Universal Studios), beach resorts (Cape Cod, the Outer Banks), and European capitals (London, Paris, and Rome) are almost always crowded. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that one-third of all vacations by American households occur in July, August, or early September. The result? Scarce, expensive accommodations; oversold planes, trains, and buses; and long lines.

Ask about August. If you do decide to travel in summer, avoid aggravation with a little research. For example, major European cities may offer limited services during August, when locals take their vacations; the cities may be less crowded, but restaurants, theaters, and small shops may be closed. And Europeans often jam resorts along the Mediterranean and Aegean as well as in mountain regions.

Don't expect a bargain during the holidays. Traveling during the Christmas or New Year's holidays can be fraught with frustration. Flights to places such as Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean are often sold out far in advance and can cost double what they do just a few weeks earlier or later. Hotel rooms will also command top dollar.

Still, there are bargains to be had. Some airlines and travel agents offer deals to Europe during the holidays; check ads and call travel agents for quotes. But remember, it can be wet and cold, and some cities, like London, are "closed" on Christmas. Also keep in mind that Easter is a major holiday in the Catholic countries of Europe, when roadways, trains, and resorts will be crowded with locals.

See about conventions. You'll want to avoid major conventions that monopolize cabs and dinner reservations. Ask your travel agent or the hotel reservation clerk whether these crowds will be in town when you are. If so, you may prefer another date--or destination.

Be aware of local events. New Orleans during Mardi Gras (mid-February) is a vastly different experience than New Orleans at any other time of year. Ditto for Pamplona, Spain, during the running of the bulls (early July); Siena, Italy, during the Palio (July and August); London during Wimbledon (late June); or Auckland, New Zealand, during the America's Cup (January). Some unsuspecting travelers who book accommodations months in advance arrive at what they expect to be an idyllic locale only to find it overrun.

Baggage Notes-Go Back

How to choose the right bags, pack sensibly for airport screening, and other baggage handling tips.

CHOOSING LUGGAGE
Today's new travel procedures--luggage searches, increased security screening, and resulting long lines and waits when boarding planes, trains, buses, and ships--mean more "baggage wrangling" for travelers than ever. You'll want luggage that's light yet sturdy, as well as easy to move and manage. Keep these tips in mind as you shop:

Durability. Nylon fabric held up best in our tests. Corner protectors add strength.

Stability. Wheeled carry-ons or garment bags may topple easily, especially with a briefcase or purse strapped on; large upright bags proved much more stable.

Handles and straps. The handle should lock in a closed position to avoid damage in transit. Some handles lock open at two lengths; which length is best for you depends on your height. Try before you buy if you can.

Insurance. Cover the difference between the value of your personal effects and the maximum airline payment with a year-round personal-property policy, separate baggage insurance policy, insurance offered by your credit card, or excess-valuation coverage.

How To Complain Effectively?-Go Back

Knowing what to say and who will listen can bring relief-and even compensation.

AIRLINES

Your rights depend on whether delays or other problems are caused by the airline or by outside circumstances.

Airline-induced events. These comprise any condition under the airline's control, including aircraft maintenance, crew problems, and ticketing or boarding errors; along with late arrival of inbound airplanes because of these conditions.

Force-majeure events. These include weather conditions; acts of God; riots; civil commotions; embargoes; wars; hostilities, disturbances or unsettled international conditions, whether actual, threatened, or reported; any strike, work stoppage, slowdown, lockout, or any other labor-related dispute involving or affecting service; any government regulation, demand, or requirement; any shortage of labor, fuel, or facilities; and any fact not reasonably foreseen, anticipated, or predicted.

Forewarned is forearmed. Best case, you'll avoid delays and difficulties altogether. But if a problem arises, be prepared.

Complaining constructively. When a delay or cancellation grounds you, be organized in your protest.

Complaining some more. If an airline fails to provide you with reasonable help, you can pursue other channels later.

CRUISE LINES

Nearly all cruise lines are based outside the U.S., which limits options for lodging complaints. But there are still means.

ALL TRAVEL COMPANIES

Always get reservations confirmations--a reservation number, a written copy, or, if booking via the Web, a printed copy.

Traveling Healthy Overseas-Go Back

Prevention remains the best medicine, particularly when traveling overseas. If you're not prepared, some common travel ailments can strike you down and ruin your vacation. We've prepared a guide to preventing more-common ailments, as well as tips for dealing with them. And we've made a list of medications and supplies you should carry with you when taking an extended trip abroad. This advice should help you prepare for a healthy journey.

THE DOCTOR IS IN
If you're off to London or another developed Western city, you don't need to see a travel-medicine specialist. But if you're booked on an African safari, you should see your physician or preferably an infectious-disease specialist, so you can receive any necessary vaccinations as well as advice on potential health threats. You should also consult a physician before traveling if you are older or traveling with an infant, if you have a chronic illness such as diabetes or heart disease, or if you are pregnant.

Although it's hard to predict what will happen on a trip, the most likely illness you'll have while traveling in developed countries is an illness you would have had at home. Karl Neumann, M.D., a travel-health specialist based in Forest Hills, N.Y., says: "The chances of getting exotic diseases are relatively small. More likely, if you're an asthmatic, you're going to wheeze. If you have arthritis, your arthritis is going to act up."

The World Health Organization (WHO) says destinations where accommodations, hygiene and sanitation, medical care, and water quality are of a high standard pose relatively few serious risks for travelers, unless there is a preexisting illness. But if you're going to remote areas in developing countries, you must take stringent precautions to avoid illness.

If you become sick after traveling abroad, tell your physician the countries you visited during the previous 12 months, since viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections can take as long as six weeks up to a year to incubate. As Dr. Neumann notes, "It makes a big difference if you have diarrhea and your doctor tells you it's a bug, and he doesn't know you just got back from Egypt."

The most common reason for a visit to a doctor at a resort or on a cruise ship is to obtain medications left at home. So make sure you pack adequate supplies of your meds in your carry-on bag and place a duplicate supply in checked baggage in case of loss or theft. Always carry your prescriptions and your doctor's contact information in case of problems.

DO YOU NEED TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE?
Well in advance of your trip, find out what medical services your health insurance covers overseas. If your coverage applies outside the U.S., carry your insurance policy card as well as proof of insurance and a claim form in your carry-ons.

The WHO advises that you consider buying medical-assistance insurance, particularly if you're traveling to destinations with significant health risks and expensive or inadequate medical care. Without insurance, you could spend $10,000 to $50,000 if you need to be evacuated by air from a hotel or cruise ship to a proper medical facility. (Note: A U.S. consular officer can help you locate medical services and inform family or friends of an emergency, although travelers are responsible for payment of medical expenses.)

Some medical-assistance policies may refer you to a network of Western doctors and reimburse you for medical costs, such as physician's fees, hospital charges, and emergency dental work. Other covered services can include medical evacuation, emergency transportation, and replacement of corrective lenses and medical devices. The insurance provider may maintain your travel health information--such as medical records, allergies, medications, and emergency contact information--on a secure Internet site. For example, WorldClinic creates an electronic medical record, incorporating medical records provided by you and your physician.

Before purchasing travel medical insurance, read the fine print carefully, particularly on two points: evacuations and exclusions. The insurance company may decide whether you need to be evacuated and where you'll be sent.

Injuries resulting from risky activities like scuba diving, parasailing, and other adventure sports are usually excluded from coverage. Despite such exclusions, travel medical insurance can still be money well spent.

PROBLEMS IN THE AIR
One of the most serious problems that can develop on long-haul international flights is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to a pulmonary embolism, a condition that can be fatal. DVT is brought about by prolonged immobility, particularly when an individual is seated without room for leg stretching, especially in cramped quarters, such as the economy-class section of an airplane; hence the common term "economy-class syndrome." DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep leg vein causing pain, swelling, warmth, and redness, usually of one calf, which is tender to the touch. When a piece of that clot travels to the lungs, it is known as a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. Symptoms of DVT include chest pain and cough.

In Sept. 2002, a 25-year-old Australian woman died of a pulmonary embolism hours after disembarking from a long-haul flight from Australia to the U.S. Health officials said the death was prompted by DVT, caused by clots that developed in the deep veins of the legs. Those clots can remain a risk for pulmonary embolus hours or even days after deplaning.

At cruising altitudes, the typical aircraft cabin has lower levels of oxygen and humidity, which can lead to discomfort. You can alleviate symptoms by drinking plenty of nonalcoholic beverages before and during the flight, wearing eyeglasses instead of contact lenses, and using a moisturizer on your skin and a saline spray in nasal passages. Restrict alcohol consumption before and during the flight, because it can contribute to dehydration.

FIGHTING JET LAG
When you cross multiple time zones, your sleep patterns and body clock are disrupted, leading to general malaise, insomnia, and reduced physical and mental performance. If you adhere to a strict timetable for taking medications (such as insulin or oral contraceptives), consult your doctor for advice.

To reduce the effects of jet lag, get as much rest as possible before departing. Drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids before and during the flight, eat light meals, and limit alcohol consumption. Seek medical advice if you want to use sleeping pills to adjust to a new time zone. A dietary supplement, melatonin, has had anecdotal success in helping passengers adjust to jet lag, but controlled studies are few and not convincing. There is virtually no regulation of dietary supplements by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so dosages vary and what's on the label isn't always what's in the bottle.

You can also use the sun to reset your body clock. If you're traveling west, get at least an hour's worth of morning sunlight after you reach your destination. And before you travel, try waking and going to sleep an hour later for each time zone you'll cross, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Instead of sleeping from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., sleep from midnight to 8 a.m., then 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. and--on the third night--from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m., although it's not always easy to do. If you're traveling east, do the opposite. Try to arrive in the early evening and don't go to sleep until at least 10 p.m. local time. It can be tempting to stay awake for as long as possible, but in general, try to get the same amount of sleep in every 24-hour period that you get at home.

MOTION SICKNESS
Motion sickness occurs when messages to the brain from the inner ear interact with messages from the eyes. It can strike at sea, in the air, or on the road, causing dizziness, fatigue, and nausea, which may lead to vomiting.

To tame motion sickness, busy yourself with an activity that takes your mind off the swaying environment. Avoid greasy meals and alcohol. Reading can make things worse.

In a boat, airplane, or car, face forward and look outside at a stable object in the distance. Locate yourself in the middle of a plane or boat, where there is the least movement. On an airplane, request a seat over the wing, preferably next to a window (and have a motion-sickness bag handy). If you're below deck or in an enclosed cabin on a ship, close your eyes and minimize head and body movements. If possible, lie down or stay in a reclining position. If you're in a car, ask the driver to minimize acceleration, deceleration, and hard turns.

Only injectable prescription drugs can combat the acute symptoms of vertigo, nausea, and vomiting. No single preventive works for everyone in all circumstances, so experiment. Some people turn to herbal remedies, such as ginger, and several small studies have found it to be comparable to the over-the-counter drugs noted below. However, because of the lax oversight of herbal medicines, you may not get what you pay for. Wristbands may or may not be effective. As Dr. Neumann notes: "It's hard to do double-blind studies with wrist bands."

Pharmaceuticals can successfully treat motion sickness, but drowsiness is a common side effect (though pinpointing the right dosage can help). Diphenhydramine (Dramamine) is popular, and can be purchased without a prescription in the U.S. and most other countries. Other antihistamines found to be effective are meclizine (Bonine), also available in prescription strength as Antivert. For movement of longer than six hours, a scopolamine transdermal patch (Trans-derm Scope) can be placed behind the ear at least eight hours before motion begins. It is effective, and one patch can last for 48 to 72 hours, but as with any medication, it's not right for everyone and should not be used by the elderly or people with glaucoma or an enlarged prostate. Medications must be taken before exposure--anywhere from two to eight hours.

WATER AND FOOD
Some doctors advise you not to drink tap water overseas or on cruise ships, even in developed countries. Even if the water is not polluted or contaminated, the bacteria and viruses are sufficiently different from the ones in your water supply at home to be potentially upsetting. So when you're abroad, play it safe and drink bottled water.

In areas with poor sanitation, drink only boiled water, coffee or tea made with boiled water, canned or bottled carbonated beverages, beer, or wine. Even the water on the surface of the container can be contaminated, so wipe dry the surface that will touch your mouth. And avoid ice, which can be made with unsafe water or with unclean ice-making machines. When in doubt, brush your teeth with bottled water.

Select foods with care. Food that is cooked and still hot is generally safe. If tepid food arrives at your table, send it back to be reheated. Raw foods can be contaminated. Avoid salads, uncooked vegetables and fruit, unpasteurized milk and milk products, raw meats, and shellfish. Fruit you peel yourself is generally safe. Remember this rule: "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it."

If you're staying at a luxury hotel in a developing country and are unsure about the kitchen's methods, ask. Fruits and vegetables should be washed not in purified water but in a permanganate solution, a disinfectant. Some luxury hotels in such countries tout their water purification systems, but that's not a guarantee that the water is always safe. They can make mistakes, such as running out of purification substances, and failing to notify you.

You can disinfect water with either iodine or chlorine. Tincture of iodine, or tetraglycine hydroperiodide tables, such as Globaline, Potable-Aqua, or Coghlan's, are available in sporting-goods stores and pharmacies. Most water filters screen only bacteria, but some can also screen viruses.

If you think you have ingested contaminated water or food, wait it out. Not everyone who is exposed to such contaminants becomes ill. If you do become sick, be sure to seek medical advice.

OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
Bug bites. No one wants even a common bug bite, so arm yourself with repellent, available at hardware, camping, or sporting-goods stores. To further reduce risk, wear a hat and a long-sleeved shirt tucked into long pants. You can treat clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear with permethrin- containing repellants, such as Repel Permanone. DEET-based products provide complete protection for longer durations than other insect repellents, according to Consumer Reports and The New England Journal of Medicine. Products containing 25 to 35 % DEET are most commonly recommended, but DEET is toxic when ingested, so be careful when applying it to hands, which are likely to come in contact with the eyes and mouth. Don't use DEET on children under age 2; use it sparingly on children between 2 and 6, and use no more than 10 % DEET concentration on any child. To deter ticks, tuck pants into socks, wear boots, and inspect yourself for ticks after outdoor activities.

Sunburn. To help prevent sun-induced skin damage, avoid sun exposure between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Typical summer shirt fabrics may have a sun protection factor (SPF) of only 6.5. In general, "the tighter the weave or knit, the higher the SPF," according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. "To assess protection simply, hold the material up to a window or lamp and see how much light gets through. Darker clothes generally have a higher SPF." Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. And always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion of SPF 15 or higher, and reapply frequently.

Heat and humidity. Exposure to high heat and humidity can result in dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Drink plenty of fluids (even if you're not thirsty) and add some table salt to food or drink if you have no contraindications.

For more information
Here are some web sites that can provide further information:

Medical-assistance companies

Money Matters-Go Back

Smart ways to handle your money, avoid excess taxes, and phone home.

CURRENCY
Check the exchange rate. You can better plan expenses before you go and assess prices once you arrive. The Universal Currency Converter (www.xe.net/ucc) has instant conversion rates. Your own bank may also be able to supply rates. (A minicalculator will help you switch from one currency to another as you travel.)

Pack your euros. This new currency, now used by 12 members of the European Union, entered circulation on January 1, 2002, with the exchange completed by March 1. Its value is roughly equal to that of the U.S. dollar--meaning that although you can't count on bargains, you can more easily track your expenditures.

COST-CALCULATION
Guidebook guidance. Most guidebooks give a financial overview of a destination, and hotel and restaurants ratings typically include icons keyed to a price range. Some books may also list admission fees to attractions such as museums, and bus and subway costs, plus other incidentals.

Per diem. Government figures, used to calculate the average daily allotments paid to federal employees in every country around the world for hotels, meals, and incidentals, can help you out, too. They're available at the U.S. State Department Web site (www.state.gov). Click on per diem, then the current year. Numbers are updated approximately every other year.

A Guide To Tipping-Go Back

Shelling out gratuities as you travel can raise perplexing questions. Are you expected to give a tip? How much should you give? To whom do you give it? Are you double-tipping if a service charge has already been added to your bill?

There's no shame in admitting you've been confused: Even the most experienced travelers don't always know when and whom to compensate. To help, Consumer Reports has compiled benchmarks for traveling in the U.S. and selected international destinations.

We've also rounded up the best advice from etiquette authorities and travel companies for how to tip those who serve you in restaurants, hotels, taxis, and airports and on railroads, tours, and cruises.

Americans tip more service providers and reward restaurant servers more generously--17%, on average-than any other nationality. The amount of a specific tip can vary based on location, level of service, and personal philosophy. There are no exact rules or official standards. Keep in mind that a tip is not mandatory, but rather a reward for good service--although most service people do rely on tips as an integral part of their income.

THE HOTEL EXPERIENCE
The amounts you tip at a hotel should match the level of accommodations. For example, you should tip more at a Four Seasons property than at a Holiday Inn.

One area that baffles many guests is the room-service dining bill, which these days may include a "service charge" in addition to a "room service charge" or "delivery fee." A "service charge" covers the tip; the other fees do not, so scan the bill and be prepared to tip--or not--accordingly. Some luxury hotels and resorts may also add a service charge to your entire bill, which precludes tipping the pool attendants and maids. Make sure to ask the front desk about such policies in advance. And if possible, try to hand the tip to the employee in person.

TIPPING AT SEA
The low prices advertised by cruise lines can be deceiving. Industry insiders note that cruise lines can offer lower prices for cabins because they know that once you get there, you're likely to buy shore excursions, visit the casino, order alcoholic drinks, and add on other costs. On many cruise lines, tipping the ship's staff and shore-excursion tour guides is another added expense. Cruise lines do issue tipping guidelines, but too often, passengers wait until the last day or two of the cruise to prepare their handouts, standing in long lines to get the appropriate dollar denominations or to cash traveler's checks.

Recently, some large cruise lines have begun an automatic gratuity program, which bills your shipboard account at the beginning of a cruise based on the recommended tipping amounts for stateroom and restaurant staff. But here's an important note: Cruise lines that do this will give you the option of increasing, decreasing, or eliminating those charges with a visit to the front desk or purser's office. If you eliminate the automatic charge, you can distribute tips personally to various staff members at the end of the cruise, as you would on ships without an automatic gratuity program.

Most cruise lines tack on a 15% gratuity to bar bills. The suggested gratuity for spa and salon personnel is usually 15% to 20% of the treatment cost. On shore excursions, be prepared to tip the tour guide $1 to $2 per person for a half-day tour, or $2 to $5 for a full-day tour, if you like the job they've performed. Tip drivers $1 to $2 per person, depending on the length of the tour.

ESCORTED TOURS
Typically, an escorted tour includes nearly all expenses, including hotels, most meals, sightseeing, entertainment, taxes, and most gratuities. However, you're still expected to tip the tour escort and driver at the end of the trip. For both domestic and international tours, tips generally range from $2 to $8 for a tour escort or director, per person, per day, and $1 to $5 for a driver. Tip local guides $1 to $2 per person, per half-day of sightseeing.

Tipping is a touchy subject among tour operators. Many won't release tipping guidelines until you have booked and paid for your tour. Tour directors generally earn about $100 to $200 per day, including salary, per diem, and gratuities. But keep in mind that not all escorted tours are created equal. Some tour companies hire their own employees, while others use independent contractors in various destinations. You may find that guides on some mass-market tours will want to sell you extras not included in your overall tour cost, because they earn commissions on such products.

THE RULES OVERSEAS
Tipping practices vary widely from country to country. It can pay to read up before you go. Most guidebooks include information about tipping (often you can access this information online); or ask the hotel concierge or desk clerk about local tipping customs. A general rule: If there is no service charge or you think it is too low, tip as you would in the U.S.

You should have local currency ready for tips before you leave the U.S., or convert some money upon arrival, preferably at a downtown location where the exchange rate is better than at the airport. But if you arrive without local currency, you can usually tip in U.S. dollars. If you're unclear about what to tip overseas, just base it on the American gratuity system. First, be sure to look for service charges on restaurant and hotel bills. If you're still not sure, just ask.

Many European hotels add a service charge to their bills. Hotel concierges may charge for their services, but you can also tip them the equivalent of one U.S. dollar for each service they provide.

As for Japan, tipping isn't accepted. The Japanese don't expect it and may be embarrassed by it. To really reward someone, leave a tip in an imprinted envelope designed for this purpose.

Traveling With A Weak Dollar-Go Back

Neglect to factor the dollar's exchange rate in your travel budget this summer, and you could be in for the sticker shock of a lifetime. Although you may be able to snag a cheap airfare to an overseas vacation spot, the cost of hotel rooms, food, and everything else you might buy while you're traveling can be a lot higher than you would expect. Although at press time the euro had retreated slightly, it was up as much as 21 percent against the dollar early in 2004 compared with January 2003 and remains at historically high levels. Worries about the U.S. economy, terrorism, and last year's invasion of Iraq are to blame.

That's terrible news for vacationers, since Europe is one of the top overseas destinations for U.S. travelers. And currency analysts don't see the dollar recovering anytime soon. Fortunately, there are ways to travel around the weak dollar.

HOLDING STEADY
For starters, you can go where the dollar remains strong. We looked at how the dollar has fared against other currencies in the 12 months before press time and found that in Mexico, the peso is still a very good buy for Americans. In the Caribbean, your dollars will go far in Jamaica, where the local currency has lost 20 percent of its worth. And while South Africa's rand has surged against the dollar, other safari destinations such as Kenya and Tanzania remain relative exchange-rate bargains, according to Laurence Hayward, director, sales and operations, Cambridge Mercantile Corp. USA, based in Toronto.

DOLLAR HAVENS
Turning to the Americas, this might be the year to visit the Galapagos, the Ecuadorian islands where Charles Darwin journeyed while developing his theory of evolution. Ecuador, like many other countries, adopted the U.S. dollar as its currency in 2000, noted Marc Chandler, chief currency strategist at HSBC Bank. So there are no currency fluctuations to worry about.

Elsewhere in the Americas, Panama, Guatemala, and El Salvador are "dollarized", or unofficially pegged to the dollar, so the exchange rate is also stable. Outside the euro zone in Europe, other places where economies are informally dollarized include Russia and the Baltics (Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania), said Steve Kuhl, vice president, foreign exchange at Travelex, a currency-exchange company with headquarters in London.

The dollar's woes also won't affect travelers headed to many Asian countries, including China, Malaysia, and Indonesia. These countries' currencies are officially tied to the dollar, unlike the Japanese yen, which rose 8 percent against the greenback.

Of course when traveling abroad you also have to factor in the cost of getting to a country where the dollar is stable. Airfares to many Asian countries with favorable exchange rates can exceed $1,000 roundtrip. Another factor is the relative cost of living. Hong Kong is a good exchange-rate value, but it's one of the priciest cities in the world. To get a sense of how expensive a country is, visit the State Department Web site listing maximum federal worker per diems around the world at www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm. The rates are broad guidelines but are a good starting point for budgeting, unless, of course, you're planning a major shopping trip.

EXPENSIVE ADVENTURES
If you can't defer your dream of snorkeling in Australia's Great Barrier reef, touring England's countryside, or sunbathing in Brazil, be prepared to pay a high price. The Australian dollar was up 29 percent against the U.S. dollar, and the New Zealand kiwi has gained 25 percent. The Brazilian real was up about 21 percent, and the British pound has risen about 15 percent. Even Canada's stalwart dollar has gained 11 percent on the greenback.

Wherever you're thinking about going this summer, be sure to check the value of the local currency at www.oanda.com/convert/classic. Keep in mind that a currency's plunge can signal political unrest; always check the U.S. State Department's travel advisory Web site, at travel.state.gov/travel_warnings, before you book any trip abroad.

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