Talk about Travel - The Washington Post

Q: Exchanging money AFTER a trip

I know people usually ask where to get money BEFORE a trip, but I have the problem of returning with a few hundred dollars worth of Soles that I failed to use or exchange when I had to leave Peru early due to an emergency. Will my regular bank buy them back, or would I be better off going to a current exchange (not sure where to find those other than next time I'm at the airport)? I also have AAA, but I don't know if they exchange back to dollars.

A: Carol Sottili

Depends on the bank. I'd call my local branch and ask. Citibank, for example, does, although it charges $5 for amounts below $1,000. There are also currency exchange places outside the airports. For example, there is a Currency Exchange International in Tysons Corner and several different ones in the District. And I'm fairly certain that AAA will also buy back your currency. 

Q: International "last minute travel" -- reputable sources?

We are trying to do some budget travel at the last minute, i.e. travel in mid-September. Very flexible schedules right now due to delay in work contracts. Hoping to book something for travel either overseas (Amsterdam, Italy, Switzerland, UK). When I do searches I'm coming up with some sites such as ASAPtickets.com that have great prices. Any suggestions on checking them out? Are they scams or bait-and-switch? 

A: Carol Sottili

I don't book through these third-party sites. I know that some of our chatters have received great deals, but I've heard too many stories of things going awry and finger pointing between the airline and the booking site. If you're willing to go with no luggage, no advance seat assignment and a bag lunch, there are good fares to Europe, driven by carriers such as WOW and Aer Lingus, that you can purchase directly from the airlines. 

Q: Dulles Security Line

Last month, I asked for advice on how much extra time to allow flying out of Dulles the morning after the baseball All-Star Game (you suggested allowing an extra hour). In case DC ever hosts it again, I thought I'd report back on the results. Normally, I get through the line in about 10 minutes. That morning it was a bit over 20. Public transport to the airport was also not crowded, there was a free check-in kiosk when we walked up, and there was only one person ahead of us at the bag drop. My extra hour was not wasted, though -- the line at Dunkin Donuts was nearly 40 minutes!!!

A: Christopher Elliott

I remember your question. Thank you for letting us know.

Q: Train Travel in Europe

I am taking a train from Amsterdam to Berlin. I've booked first class, but I'm wondering what I should do with my baggage. I will have 2 bags with me - One that I will be "checking" for flights, and 1 personal item (aka backpack.) Can I just carry the larger bag on board with me and store it near my seat? Or does it also have to be checked for the train?

A: Carol Sottili

As long as you can hoist it onto the train, take it with you. There are racks above the seats and racks at the end of each car. 

Q: Spain Gift?

A relative and soon-to-be-relative will be honeymooning in Spain. We're mainly giving them money to support the trip (don't tell Miss Manners), but I was thinking of giving the check along with a book on Spain, or a travel journal, or maybe even wrap it around a jar of Spanish [insert name of food item here]. Any thoughts?

A: Carol Sottili

Olives & Serrano ham. How about all of your ideas in a little basket with a nice check & chard? 

Q: Flight time changed...seven months in advance

Hi gurus, my family and I are flying from Orlando to Dublin on Aer Lingus in March 2019. Last week I got two emails from Aer Lingus (within ten minutes of each other, in fact) pushing our departure time from what seemed to me a reasonable time of 9:15 pm to 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm. They said they’d try to give us seats equivalent to what we paid for (window and aisle as close to the front of the plane as possible). But how can they know they’ll be leaving two hours later seven months in advance? And how can I make sure I get the seats I picked out and paid a premium to get? Thank you for your help, I am very confused.

A: Christopher Elliott

Airlines reserve the right to change their flights and schedules. However, you're also entitled to refund when there's a significant schedule change. If you don't like the seats or the flight times, I would ask Aer Lingus for your money back. Here are some Aer Lingus contacts. As to your question about your seats -- unfortunately, there's no guarantee you'll receive even comparable seats. But if it happens to you, please contact me and I will do my best to help.

Q: Annual travel insurance

Say I have an annual travel insurance policy that expires on June 1. On May1, I pay for a trip starting July 1. If something happens on the trip, am I covered?

A: Christopher Elliott

Normally, policies cover you for trips taken through the end date of your policy. I would read your annual policy to make sure, but I'm pretty sure you would not be covered after July 1.

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War Memorial

I still remember the first time I visited the American Cemetery in Normandy. I was in France on an exchange trip in high school and the whole group went. There was nothing more moving than seeing the rows of white crosses as far as the eye could see. Up to that point, the numbers of dead in WWII were purely theoretical. Knowing that only a fraction of those who lost their lives fighting in the war were buried there really drove home how many people that actually was. I've never seen anything like it and doubt I will ever again.

Flanders WWI Monuments

Three years ago, I was studying in Brussels and a weekend my roommate and I (both Canadians) and some Belgian friends went in a roadtrip in Flanders. Without telling me (I'm studying history, but not them), they had planned stops in one of the Commonwealth military cemetery in Flanders and to the Menin Gates at Ypres where are carved the names of thousands of soldiers from the Commonwealth. I have very vivid memories walking throughout the cemetery reciting In Flanders Fields and looking at all the names on the Gates and finally seeing Princess Patricia appearing at some point in the list (one of the Canadian battalions during the war was called Princess Patricia). I was so proud to see Canadian contribution being memorialized there. It's one of my best memories from my time in Belgium­.

War Memorials

Two pop to mind, one overseas, one close to home. 1) In Budapest, the Shoes on the Danube memorial. It's sculptures of 60 pairs of shoes, facing the river. During WW II, 3,500 people (mostly Jews) were told to remove their shoes, then shot so their bodies fell into the river. It was incredibly moving, and a monument to an event that we did not know about. 2) The Soldiers Home cemetery in DC. Most people visit Arlington, but walking through these grounds is quieter and allows more contemplation for the sacrifices made. You see gravestones from the Civil War on. Many note the country of birth of the soldiers, many of whom fought for the US despite not being born here.

Battlefield-palooza

I was fortunate enough to take a self guided WW 1 & 2 Battlefield site trip in June, we drove through Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Germany and Holland to see all of the locations of the major battles. Some places, it was just us, others (like Normandy) were crowded beyond belief. Our favorite stop was in Ypres, Belgium, where WW1 is everywhere. A nightly ceremony to honor the soldiers, beautiful monuments and cemeteries. We also got to take a tour and walk through actual German trenches and see the site of the famous Christmas Truce in 1914 where on Christmas Eve, soldiers on both sides put down their weapons and shared food and carols. Very moving.

Battlefield worth visiting

Every December, the town of Bastogne holds a walk in memory of the Battle of the Bulge. It's December in Belgium, so the weather is usually unpleasant- cold, rainy or snowy, and the mud never dries all the way out. Our family went one year when it was comparatively warm (45 degrees or so), and it wasn't actively raining. We took the shortest loop through the battlefields carrying some light snacks and water, wearing weatherproof boots and socks. The truly incredible part of this hike was picturing 18-year-olds, carrying rifles, boxes of ammunition, clothes, etc. as they trudged along the longest trail, digging new foxholes as they went, and not having the option to take a shorter path or to leave early to grab a beer and wurst as they headed for their warm home...

War Memorial....

I have yet to go to the Vietnam Memorial here in DC without crying at least a few tears. It is like a listing at a high school or college graduation, but of lives cut short, not lives just beginning. I have a cousin on the Wall, but I don't remember him. I expect that I met him as an infant, but he left when I was a year old. I do remember his parents becoming sad (which I didn't understand really when I was young) and having to leave the room at happy family gatherings when I was older. And the on-line resource about the names on the Wall is incredible. My cousin has a few entries. One from a high school friend who thought he was going to college. One that was not specific to him and seems to be from a group that leaves a tribute to all the soldiers listed. And one that is evidently from one of his friends who was sitting back to back with him and survived when their helicopter went down. I go back and read it a few times a year. And I show it to younger cousins who were born decades after he died.

Q: Annual Travel Insurance

When I tried to sign up for an annual plan with AMEX, I was told that such a plan was NOT available in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Is that correct? Are other insurer's annual travel insurance plans available in VA?

A: Christopher Elliott

I just tried to buy a policy through the Amex site and received the following error: "Sorry, the coverage you have selected is not currently available in the state of Virginia." I think you may have to look elsewhere. Allianz Travel Insurance, HTH Worldwide, International Medical Group, RoamRight, Seven Corners and Travel Guard, offer annual policies. 

Q: War Memorial-Hanoi Hilton

While the Hanoi Hilton is not a memorial, it certainly highlights the brutality of war. I visited two weeks before the election where McCain and Obama were running for president. My take away was that someone who can be successful after existing in those conditions for multiple years has true grit.

A: Nicole Arthur

Timely, thank you!

Q: Visits to Battlefields and War Memorials

I’ve visited many a Civil War battlefield and read many a book about the major battles; in fact, I'm headed to Gettysburg next week. I find all the sites moving, but it was at Antietam that I really sensed and felt the overwhelming nature of what happened there. The same thing happened at the Culloden battlefield in Scotland, and I knew very little about that event. Not to get too out there, but I can best describe the feeling as a subtle yet powerful vibration. Who knows, perhaps some kind of energy lingers where something so violent and earth-shattering and powerful happened to so many people. Anyone else had a similar experience?

A: Nicole Arthur

Yes, absolutely, and you're headed to the place.

Q: Spain and rental cars

I'll be in Spain next summer (Barcelona, Madrid and Marbella). First time out of the US. I'll be renting a car for a week while in Marbella for day trips. Should I buy the additional insurance coverage offered on the rental car or will my personal coverage and credit card coverage be sufficient? I'll be using trains (AVE), public transit between and in the other cities.

A: Christopher Elliott

It depends. Your credit card, auto insurance, and your travel insurance might already cover you. I'd check with each before buying insurance through the car rental company. Car rental company insurance tends to be pricey.

Q: Rental car towing bill

Last month we lost the key to a rental car. Note: I do not recommend this, especially not in no cell service area. We ended up getting the tow through the rental car company (Alamo) for ease. We were charged for the new key and lock out at the time we exchanged it, but not the tow itself. Alamo said it would be added to our final bill when we returned the replacement. It wasn’t. I’ve been checking the credit card expecting the charge, but a month later, still nothing. Any ideas as to when this might show up? And so you think they will mail a bill or just charge the card on file? It was a 60-mile tow, so I am dreading it, but I do know we owe it. FWIW, even this expierence does not make me more likely to pay for roadside assistance in the US later. Expensive lesson ($325 + the tow bill). Overall, less than if I’d paid the extra on the past 15 years of rental cars. Plus, they don’t cover lost keys ($250) in CA and NV!

A: Christopher Elliott

Unfortunately, it can take weeks, months, and in some extreme cases, years, before you receive a final bill. If you're concerned about the bill, I would contact Alamo to find out. Who knows, you might already be off the hook?

Q: Argh

Hi, I cannot find an easy, certain answer. We got TSA Pre, which expires in January. Subsequently, we got Global Entry, which they told us includes TSA Pre. That being said, I cannot find a definitive and clear answer on whether we can NOT renew our TSA Pre and then be sure we will have it show up on Boarding passes when it expires in January. Thanks.

A: Christopher Elliott

If you have Global Entry, you have TSA Pre. I don't think you have to worry about renewing TSA Pre if you already have Global Entry.

Q: Rehoboth restaurants?

Heading to Rehoboth for Labor Day weekend. Can you or the chatters recommend any good restaurants? Hoping to avoid Grotto Pizza, etc. Thank you!

A: Carol Sottili

Why pick on Grotto Pizza? I've eaten a lot worse. Seriously, Rehoboth has lots of good restaurants. I like Salt Air Kitchen, Henlopen City Oyster Bar and Fins Fish House and Raw Bar. Chatters have any favorites? Not all restaurants take reservations, but if available, make in advance. Labor Day weekend is busy and many of the Eastern European servers have flown the coop to their well-deserved California vacations, so seatings are often staggered.  

Q: Last minute Euro-traveler

Rather than looking on questionable booking sites, Google Flights allows you to search by date and departing airport to find the least expensive destinations. Their prices are generally pulled directly from the airlines. And if the destinations aren't ideal, don't forget to look for cheap intra-Europe flights on airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet to get you somewhere you actually want to go.

A: Carol Sottili

Google Flights can help point in right direction. 

Q: London at night

I'll be going to London for the first time for a week in October. After the museums and tourist attractions close at 6PM, what do tourists do in the evenings? I'll look into going to a musical, but I probably wouldn't do more than one. Any suggestions that don't center around drinking are appreciated!

A: Carol Sottili

Bus sightseeing tours, comedy clubs, walking ghost tours, concerts are just a few ideas that come to mind. Visit London and TimeOut London are good resources. Chatters? 

Q: San Francisco and?

I am taking my 6 year old son to San Francisco at the end of next month. We've been to San Francisco before so I only plan to stay one night for an event we are going to then get out of town. Any thoughts on whether a week is enough time to drive down to L.A. or should we just do a loop through Monterey and Carmel. It will only be the two of us, and I'm not too sure about driving down the coast by myself. And anything we shouldn't miss along the way?

A: Carol Sottili

I'd stick to Monterey, Carmel &  maybe Big Sur. Santa Cruz is also nice. Driving to Los Angeles from San Francisco on the scenic route takes a long time, and driving on the highway is draining. 

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WWI - Meuse Argonne Cemetary

Three years ago I went to France and located the grave of my great-uncle, who had died in battle only a week before the Armistice. I was the only family member ever to visit, and it was very emotional, even though of course he died years before I was ever born. I highly recommend the American Battle Monuments Commission website, which offers a search function to find servicepeople who were killed and buried overseas.

War Memorial

Several years ago, I ran a Ragnar Relay in the DMV (200 mile, 24ish hour relay race) and was super excited one of my legs was through Antietam, as I'd never been and thought it would be especially moving to have a long, contemplative run through such a somber place. Well, by the time I got to that leg it was 2am, pitch black, and support vans aren't allowed to trail runners (who were pretty spread out by that point in the race), so it was just me with a head lamp that only illuminated maybe five feet ahead. Instead of contemplative, I spent my entire run panicked that something or someone was going to jump out from the darkness and I'd join the ghosts of dead soldiers. On top of it all, even though I've run through Antietam, I can't say I actually "saw" it at all.

Battleifields

I highly recommend hiring a guide to take you around in your car at both Antietam and Gettysburg. Nothing brings it as close as these in-depth experiences with terrific guides. War is hell indeed, and you feel it after both these tours.

War Memorials in France

Ten years ago, while my son was doing a semester abroad in Paris, I went to visit, and we made a trip to Normandy for a D-Day tour. Sadly, BattleBus is no long doing group tours, only private tours. It was late October, so the beaches were deserted which made it more solemn. What brought me to tears were the visits to the American cemetery, and also the German cemetery in Normandy. So many young men killed. I was also brought to tears by the Holocaust memorials in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

It wasn't a memorial, but the exhibit about WWI at the Imperial War Museum

is extraordinary. They built simulated trenches so you can get a feel for how claustrophobic they must have been - and you are only spending a few minutes and you are dry and comfortable. Some of the information is really surprising. For example, in the initial call, the UK limited the heights of recruits to a very narrow range - the only heights they had uniforms for in storage. They didn't think they would need more than that because they expected it all to be over very quickly.

Normandy

In high school, mid 70s, I visited Normandy. Etched in my memory is the sight of row after row of white crosses and Stars of David.

Verdun Ossuary - War Memorial

We are a family of amateur military historians, so our vacations often include stops at war memorials, military cemeteries, etc. For me, one of the most moving was the ossuary (repository for bones of the deceased) in Verdun which contains the bones of around 150,000 dead French and German soldiers from that single WWI battle. Needless to say, a building to hold that many bones must be huge (and it was) and the bones themselves are visible which brings home the tragedy of that, and all other, battles.

Q: Annual travel insurance

I just bought a Seven Corners policy and I live in VA. I've had annual policies for the last several years. Typically what I care most about is emergency medical evac coverage since I spend a lot of time in developing countries in Asia.

A: Christopher Elliott

Thank you for letting us know about that.

Q: TSA Precheck/Global entry

There's no reason to renew TSA precheck if you have Global Entry. Just make sure you put your Global Entry "known traveler number" in your airline accounts or attack it to your reservations

A: Christopher Elliott

Thanks for the comment.

Q: re annual travel insurance

if the questioner has a new policy starting immediately after the old one expires they are covered but if the old one ends on 1st June and the new one starts on the 1st July they would not be covered for any issues that might happen in the intervening period that might cause them to cancel such as a health issue.

A: Christopher Elliott

Thank you.

Q: No baggage?

Whaddaya mean going to Europe with "no baggage?" Do you mean ship it as freight, or just take one carry-on, or what?

A: Carol Sottili

I mean putting all your stuff into a handbag-size bag. It has been done (not by me). 

Q: Chard and ham go well together

--- for the honeymooners ion Spain, you suggested ". . . . all of your ideas in a little basket with a nice check & chard? " The chard will go especially well with the Serrano Ham. See "Swiss Chard With Ham." Wait! Isn't this Free Range on Food?

A: Carol Sottili

I adore Swiss chard. Used to grow it in my garden. But it wilts very quickly, so not sure how it will hold up in that wedding basket. 

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Q: Rental Car Coverage

I think it's unlikely US-based auto insurance will provide any coverage outside the US and Canada. Credit card might provide coverage if Collision Damage Waiver is declined at pick-up. Log into your card account online and look for "card benefits" to see what (if any) international rental car coverage is provided.

A: Christopher Elliott

Thank you for the insight. I agree -- I'd investigate all your options before buying more insurance.

Q: Chargers & adapters

Belated thanks for the discussion a couple weeks ago regarding adapters for my upcoming Italian vacation! Thanks to suggestions from chatters, I have my adapter and my Upwade surge protector ready to go. One more question if I may - if you could pick one site or experience from Rome that is a must-do, what would it be? We have a limited amount of time and I'm curious what you all recommend. Thank you again!

A: Carol Sottili

Throw three coins into the Trevi Fountain. Tour the Catacombs at night. Eat gelato near the Spanish Steps (you risk a fine if you eat on the steps). Gaze at La Pieta.  I could go on for paragraphs. No way I can pick one thing. 

Q: London at Night

We typically do the tourist thing until stuff closes at 6:00, then wander around a bit looking for nice place for dinner (or just take a leisurely journey back if we already know where we're going). Figure dinner from about 7 to 8, then relax in the hotel (or a coffee shop, if you prefer) with a book for a couple hours before bed. Also, public parks like Kensington Gardens are open till sunset, so that's an option in the summer if you want to push dinner back a bit. Or stroll along the river. As long as it's still light, there's lots of great stuff to see just wandering around the streets of London. Even after dark, the Albert Memorial, for instance is ... interesting ... all lit up.

A: Carol Sottili

Yes, if you are content to just look at the surroundings, good thoughts. 

Q: Why would you limit yourself to only one play in London?

And why only a musical? Theater is cheaper there than in NYC. And you don't have to do the big expensive ones. Smaller venues can be amazing - I once went to a show in the back room of a pub that was great. Other than that, London almost never sleeps. Just hanging out in Trafalgar Square is an experience.

A: Carol Sottili

Or Piccadilly Circus. People-watching is great at night in London. 

Q: London?

Is the poster kidding? London is the biggest theater city in the world, or at least the equal of NYC. Go to a show that's NOT a musical. Get half-price tickets at Leicester Square.

A: Carol Sottili

If you like theater, definitely. Even the full-price tickets are not super expensive. 

Q: Spain honeymooners

A bottle of nice Rioja wine will go well with your check and travel guide book!

A: Carol Sottili

This basket keeps getting better. 

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Battle Memorial

A relative just returned from a trip to see a small memorial for the Battle of Champion Hill, part of the Vicksburg group of battles. Its a small cluster of signs located at a crossroads in the middle of the countryside and apparently took some effort to locate. I'm no historian, but that battle is where a great-great-great-grandfather lost his arm. Apparently it was amputated on the dining table of a nearby farmhouse-makeshift hospital. Seeing the video and pictures of the now-tranquil countryside, knowing the turmoil that took place there, really inspired me to learn more about my family history.

Normandy in December

Countless tourists have surely visited the American cemetery in Normandy but fewer head out there in piercing frigid temps the week before Christmas. We might have been two of seven people on the grounds. We were wandering the exhibit center when a guide approached and asked if we were Americans and, if so, would we like to join a tour he was conducting for a military officer. In doing so, we surely got a tour like few others. The guide not only told individual stories of the unsung women, African- Americans and gays who had fought and whose graves we stood beside, but also spoke of the abiding affection and gratitude that remain to this day for the ultimate sacrifices Americans made. Since I, with my hat and scarves and mittens, was dressed well for the weather, I enjoyed every word. My husband, not so prepared, tried to endure but did buckle under that frigid wind.

War Memorial

The site that affected me most is our local Arlington Cemetery. Standing at the top of the hill, looking down at the rows and rows and rows of graves was a very moving experience. Yes, it covers service over many conflicts, but it is a reminder of how very many people have served our country over the decades.

My Lai Peace Park

They My Lai Peace Park is amazing - organized by Madison Quakers in My Lai - they also funded a primary school in My Lai

In honor of the fallen

It's not the largest or grandest war memorial you'll ever see -- but touching nonetheless. The tiny British Cemetery on North Carolina's Ocracoke Island pays tribute to the crew of the HMT Bedfordshire, which was hit by a torpedo during WWII. In between the artist studios and beach shacks, there's four crosses for the Royal Navy sailors whose bodies washed ashore in 1942. It's a tragic and beautiful final resting place.

Q: Energy Lingers

Hooboy, it sure does for me. The most vivid experience was touring an old jail. As soon as I walked up to the doorway leading into the exercise yard, I had to hightail it out of there. Then I found out that they also executed prisoners in there.

A: Nicole Arthur

Thanks for weighing in!

Q: London after 6

You can't go to London without hitting up a pub!

A: Carol Sottili

Well, this chatter emphasized activities that did not include drinking. You can go into a pub and drink a soda or water, but having a pint is part of the experience. 

Q: Travel insurance

I have bought travel insurance for flights in the past, and just realized that one of my credit cards includes travel insurance if I use the card to buy my ticket. So now I'm feeling kinda dumb. Should I?

A: Christopher Elliott

Most insurance companies offer a seven-day "free look" period. You can always ask for your money back if you're within the seven days.

Q: Airline code sharing

While researching flights to Panama City, I noticed that there is a direct flight from Dulles apparently shared by Copa and United. Copa price is about $600 RT and the United price is over $1400. What gives? Is there some disadvantage to booking the flight with Copa (which btw I noticed has some very poor reviews on the internet)?

A: Christopher Elliott

Without looking at the specifics of the tickets, I'd say, not really. Codesharing airlines set their own prices. But it's essentially the same flight.

Q: "I'll look into going to a musical, but I probably wouldn't do more than one."

London has great Theatre - please look into that. Also try and time going on the London Eye at sunset - magical.

A: Nicole Arthur

Great suggestion -- and even if you miss sunset, going at night is so much cooler than going during the day!

Q: London at night

If you are going in late November/December, Kew Gardens is open at night with a trail through the gardens lit by "fairy lights" (that's British for Christmas Tree Lights). It's very popular and the garden shop is open, but I just viewed it as traipsing through a garden in near darkness in winter.

A: Carol Sottili

Sounds nice. 

Q: Paris Senate and General Assembly

My sons, a political scientist and an historian, will be in Paris next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and would like to visit the Senate and General Assembly buildings. It does not have to be a tour, nor does it have to be to watch sessions in progress, but they like to see the buildings in which various governments work. However, they are having difficulties finding information on how to go about this. Could you or any of the chatters offer advice on how they can arrange this? Your assistance is always appreciated; these chats have helped me more times than I can even count; love my Monday afternoons because of them! Thank you.

A: Carol Sottili

According to the Paris tourism site, tours for individuals are currently not being offered, and I don't believe they can wander around. 

Q: End of October trip

We will be visiting with our daughter for her 24th birthday in Richmond, VA. She would like to go to a park within 2-3 hours of Richmond. She would like to hike, kayak, etc. with her dad. I am in a wheelchair, I cannot walk. I would not participate in all of the activities. We would stay overnight. Can you recommend a wheelchair friendly destination?

A: Carol Sottili

Take a look at James River State Park. 

Q: for "feeling kinda dumb"

I'd say you would want to see exactly what the credit card's insurance covers and compare that to the policy the airline is offering when you buy the ticket. Most likely the coverage is similar so you wouldn't need to pay extra for it. But you need to check them against each other

A: Christopher Elliott

Thank you. I don't think anyone should feel "dumb" for considering insurance. But read the fine print carefully.

Q: Paris Senate and General Assembly visits

The only way to see the insides of these buildings -- and many others not normally open to the public -- is on the third Saturday and Sunday of September, known as Les Journees du Patrimoine -- Heritage Days -- throughout the European Community. Lines can be long but I have been to both and they are well worth the time!

A: Carol Sottili

Thanks for the tip!

Q: London half price theatre tickets

there are a number of shops suggesting they offer 1/2 price tickets but often don't have any at half price The official TKTS booth is at the south of Leicester Square - it's a small off white coloured building with a clock tower so easily recognised.

A: Carol Sottili

Too right. 

Q: Dulles to Panama City

Code-sharing notwithstanding, all flights between IAD and PTY are operated by Copa. So if the OP is concerned about negative reviews: take another airline (and a connection).

A: Christopher Elliott

Thank you. Great suggestion.

Q: Exchange money after a trip

Some charities, like UNICEF, will accept donations of foreign currency. Just a thought!

A: Nicole Arthur

A good one!

Q: More in London

The Tate Modern is open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

A: Carol Sottili

Thanks! And it is a great museum. 

Q: Primera Air

Lots of concern about it - cancellation, low fuel aircraft ... what's your take?

A: Carol Sottili

Probably not much different than other deep-discount airlines, but it doesn't get great ratings on sites such as Skytrax. 

Q: Exchanging Money

If you have a decent amount of foreign money to change back to dollars, I'd recommend the bank route. I don't think most banks charge much and the exchange rate is MUCH better than what you'd get at a currency exchange booth.

A: Carol Sottili

Q: War Memorials

A favorite of mine is the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. It is attached to a great museum that I spent hours exploring without really scratching the surface. But the part that moved me the most was the commemorative program they offer in the later afternoon. A random soldier is chosen from the list of war dead and then his picture is displayed as his story is solemnly told. It really does point out the cost in human lives.

A: Nicole Arthur

One final post about moving war memorials -- thanks for this!

Q: Gettysburg

When I was 8, we went to Gettysburg. I thought the Devil’s Den would be a fun place to play “forts” or hide and seek. Then I saw the famous photo of Devil’s Den. I been a pacifist ever since then.

A: Nicole Arthur

I hear you!

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Q: exchanging money

Just be aware that banks will take bills but not coins

A: Nicole Arthur

Good point, thanks! Many overseas airports have those charity drops for foreign coins -- I always look for those.

Q: london at night

the National Portrait gallery is open until 21.00 on Fridays as is the National Gallery I think the British Museum is as well. A little advance research can pay dividends. When I go away I put together a list of museums in a spreadsheet and list their hours on a day by day basis

A: Nicole Arthur

Smart -- thanks!

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