The Best Time To Book Bargains-Top

Knowing where and when to go off-season can save you as much as 50 percent.

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:

• Four-night air/lodgings package from New York to Paris, with superior hotels, from $343, through March 15.
• Virgin Atlantic's limited-offer six-night "London Excursion", including daily breakfast, a motorcoach tour, and discount coupons, from $529.
• Hotel specials throughout Europe, including free nights.

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-Top

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.

• See that listed flights--and airports--are the ones you booked, and look over flight departure and arrival information.
• Travelers using e-tickets should check with the airline to make sure they have proper documentation. You may need written confirmation to pass through a security checkpoint.
• Always reconfirm hotel and rental-car reservations. Be sure you have solid bookings--a reservation confirmation number from your rental-car company and a mailed or faxed confirmation from your hotel. If you've made an e-booking, you'll want a printed copy of your confirmation to take with you.
• Confirmations are especially important if you'll travel during peak season, when many travel services sell out.

• Be sure you have brought all trip-related documents home from the office. Many people plan trips during working hours, then leave vital papers in a desk drawer or folder.
• A leather or plastic document holder is ideal. You can keep it in a secure pouch or hotel safe as you travel.
• Photocopy your passport. Should it be lost or stolen, a photocopy will greatly speed up the replacement process. Make two or three copies and keep one in each bag. Also leave a copy at home with friends or relatives.
• Keep documents someplace where they will not be disturbed or thrown out during pretrip turmoil--but not in a location where they'll be forgotten.

• Put one copy in each piece of luggage, and one where you can easily access it--pocket or purse. Give another copy to relatives or friends so they can track you as you travel.
• Confirm all international flight connections. If you are flying on an international carrier, then transferring to a local carrier once you land, call to confirm 72 hours in advance--three days before your international flight.

• At Travlang (www.travlang.com), you'll find electronic dictionaries and translators, free downloadable dictionaries, and extensive language-study materials. You can also learn a new word every day via the Web or free by e-mail, and order books online.
• Fodors, the guidebook publisher, has a Languages for Travelers series--pocket-sized phrasebooks with pronunciation keys, and Audio Sets (phrasebook, two cassettes, and an audioscript), in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Visit http://www.fodors.com/about/us/ftp_key_lg.cfm for details.
• Lonely Planet, publisher of the guidebooks and cable TV series, also has pocket-sized phrasebooks (even in Farsi and Tagalog), and TravelTalk language tapes. Check out www.lonelyplanet.com.

• The Airport Transit Guide has the details you need on how to travel into town and back from over 450 airports around the world--routes, times, frequencies, costs, and more. It includes disabled accessibility info and airport Web sites. The 144-page, pocket- sized book is $9.95 (shipping is free). Go to www.airporttransitguide.com for information and sample pages.
• If you want more detailed maps than your guidebook provides, Internet map sites such as MapQuest (www.mapquest.com) and Rand McNally (www.randmcnally.com) can help.

• For passport information, call The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 900-225-5674 (automated calls, 35 cents per minute; operator-assisted, $1.05 per minute) or 888-362-8668 (flat $4.95 charge to Visa, MasterCard, or American Express).
• Or visit the NPIC Web site (www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html), where you can print out a passport application, and find answers to frequently asked passport questions--such as advice on obtaining your birth certificate.
• U.S. passports, good for 10 years (five years for ages 15 and under), are issued only to U.S. citizens or nationals. First-time adult applicants must appear in person. Some renewals may be made by mail, but call NPIC to be sure you qualify and have the necessary documentation.
• Each application must be accompanied by proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of identity, two passport-sized (2x2 inches) photographs, and required fees. Photos must have been taken within six months of your application.
• Fees for routine service--normally, a new passport within about six weeks--are $85 for those 16 and older ($55 passport fee; $30 execution fee); and under age 16, $70 ($40 passport fee; $30 execution fee).
• For expedited service--when you need to get your passport within about two weeks--add $60 per application. In this case, NPIC also strongly suggests that you arrange overnight delivery service for sending your passport application and having your passport returned to you. Contact the NPIC directly if you have what the agency terms a "life or death emergency".
• If you aren't eligible for mail-in service, you'll need to apply in person. Passports are issued at passport agencies (usually by appointment only) and at some post offices, in addition to other locations. To find out where to apply for a passport nationwide, call NPIC or check the Web site. Also determine what form of payment is accepted: Mail-in applications may be made with a personal check or money order only. Passport agencies accept certain credit and debit cards; other locations may not.
• Twelve major cities, including Boston, Miami, and San Francisco, now have automated numbers that let travelers make appointments for last-minute passports. You will need to show proof that international travel, or a foreign visa, is required within 21 days. Call NPIC or visit www.travel.state.gov/agencies_list.html for a list.

• For which country requires what, visit www.travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html. The Web site also lists locations and phone numbers of embassies and consulates in large U.S. cities. However, use this site as a guideline only, as requirements can change between updates.
• The U.S. State Department advises that you begin the visa process as soon as possible after planning your trip, since delays are not uncommon.
• In some cases, a traveler may be required to obtain visas from a local consular office. Visit "Foreign Consular Offices in the United States" at www.state.gov for nationwide listings.
• Certain passport agencies (such as many of those listed at www.travel.state.gov/agencies_list.html) will assist travelers who need visas. Check directly with the passport agency. Your travel agent may also be able to help.
• Many countries require that your U.S. passport be valid at least six months or longer beyond the dates of your trip. If your passport expires sooner, you'll have to apply for a new one.
• Travel Document Systems (TDS) provides visa services for U.S. citizens for most countries requiring an entry visa. TDS also expedites U.S. passports. Very urgent passports may be obtained the same day if you must depart on short notice. For information, call 800-874-5100 or visit www.traveldocs.com. Fees may be stiff.

• They concern fast-breaking news, cover a short, finite time period, and have expiration dates. In an uncertain situation, such as political upheaval, that date may extend as far as three months ahead.
• In the past, Public Announcements have concerned short-term coups, bomb threats to airlines, violence by terrorists, and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.

• They provide an overview of the location, including such information as location of the U.S. embassy or consulate; health conditions; unusual immigration practices, currency regulations, or entry requirements; minor political disturbances; crime and security information; and drug penalties.
• If an unstable condition exists in a country, but it is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a rundown of the situation may be included under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security".
• Consular Information Sheets generally do not contain advice per se for travelers. They instead present the facts, allowing each traveler to make the decision. But read them carefully, since they can often present a disturbing picture, revealing serious problems such as car theft, violent assaults, and armed robbery.
• You may also find important caveats, such as the necessity of taking a taxi after dark, the prevalence of pickpockets, or overbilling of tourists in restaurants.

• Travelers returning from any of 24 Caribbean-basin countries may claim up to $600; travelers returning directly to the U.S. from the American possessions of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands may bring in up to $1,200 worth of goods duty free.
• You may include up to 100 cigars and up to 200 cigarettes in the exemption; you are also allowed 1 liter of alcohol.
• Families and/or couples may fill out joint declarations--meaning that if one spouse spent $200 and the other spent $600, the couple is still within the exemption limit. Children and infants have the same exemption as adults; alcoholic beverages are excluded.
• If you have used your $400 exemption within the past 30 days, you are still eligible for a $200 exemption; families may not use a joint declaration. (The tobacco/alcohol limit is also reduced.)
• Beyond your exempted amount, you must pay a flat 3 percent duty on the next $1,000 worth (1.5 percent duty if traveling from U.S. possessions) and various duty rates for any additional items.

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?-Top

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.

• The Internet is the medium best suited to disseminating and finding late-breaking deals, thanks to relatively low costs, instant e-mails, and convenient browsability. You can easily sign up with a variety of industry sources to receive automatic e-mail alerts touting final-hour deals. It's best to decide which of the many web sites offer the type of travel you're most interested in, however, to avoid having an inbox filled with mail you don't want.
• Last-minute specials may not necessarily be the lowest or best fares. Sometimes, the highest category rooms or cabins are up for grabs at the end, but even if you can get a good price for the category, it may be more than you would have paid had you booked in advance for a lower category.
• A low last-minute price may not be that great if it's for travel during the less attractive off-season. Often a rate sounds very good if you're unaware of a particular destination's off-season periods. For example, a $398 air/hotel package to London in January, when the weather is likely to be cold, may be worth less than the same package offered for more money in June.
• Flexibility is key in the last-minute marketplace. You can profit most when you aren't locked into a specific travel time or return date, or if you can pick up and go at a moment's notice.
• With those tips in mind, you can explore how specific segments of the travel industry work to get rid of their last-minute inventory

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-Top

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-Top

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.

• If a bag bumps your heels as you roll it, the handle is too short.
• A side handle should be positioned so you can grasp it with your stronger hand.
• A piggyback strap will secure your purse or briefcase; a simple hook lets it dangle. (But large bags have a greater tendency to tip when extra pieces are strapped on.)
• Check all handles and straps for padding, comfort, and fit.

• Recessed wheels should withstand damage well; feet add stability.
• Stair skids--plastic shields on the back of the bag near the wheels--help a bag slide over stairs or curbs more easily.

• Inside mesh pockets keep contents visible. Those made of water-resistant materials hold cosmetics and damp clothing.
• Exterior pockets are handy, but look for double zippers with pull tabs you can lock together.
• The easiest duffel zippers open across the top and down the side.
• An expansion gusset enlarges the bag’s capacity. However, an expanded carry-on may no longer fit airline size limits.

• Choose lightweight, washable, no-wrinkle layers in coordinated colors (preferably dirt-deflecting dark tones).
• Wear your bulkiest items--an all-purpose jacket or sweater--in transit. Pack one lightweight waterproof outer layer in your bags, along with a small-size umbrella. Try to take only two pairs of footwear--walking shoes and a dressier pair.
• Avoid wearing clothing and accessories that contain metal when flying, since these items may set off the metal detector, and you may then have to go through secondary security screening.
• Use travel-sized toiletries. Take a compact hair dryer; if going abroad, you’ll need a two-in-one adapter/converter (available at hardware stores).

• You are permitted to bring aboard only one carry-on and one “personal bag”--a purse, briefcase, laptop, diaper bag, etc. Don’t expect to sneak by with more than this allowance; you’ll be asked to check any extras, and may incur increased scrutiny from screeners, even a personal search.
• When packing your carry-on, include only items you would need on the plane, prescription medications, house keys, eyeglasses, passports and other travel documents, or anything perishable or breakable. You might also want to put in a 48-hour supply of essentials.
• Airlines won't accept liability for certain valuables in checked luggage, such as cameras and photographic equipment, musical instruments, jewelry, computers, cash, or artwork. Never pack these in your checked baggage, since carriers won't reimburse you if they're lost.
• According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the federal government agency created to oversee airport security, you may bring personal items such as the following aboard in a carry-on: nail clippers with a file attached, nail files, tweezers, safety razors (including disposable razors), eyelash curlers, diabetes-related supplies (syringes, insulin, etc.), and medication with a professionally printed label identifying the medication or manufacturer’s name.
• The TSA also has a long list of items you may not bring aboard a plane. Some you would certainly expect to be prohibited: ammunition, automatic weapons, axes, brass knuckles, cattle prods, dynamite, hand grenades, a knife of any length, meat cleavers, stun guns, and tear gas. However, others conceivably might be carried to a screening point by the unsuspecting: golf clubs, hockey sticks, pool cues, pen knives, razor blades not in a cartridge, or ski poles.
• TSA screeners may veto some items--tweezers, knitting and sewing needles, and even safety pins have been blocked. You may be able to transfer them to checked baggage. Or they may be confiscated (and “confiscated” means you won’t get the article back). If you have doubts about anything, check with the TSA before you travel. You'll find a list of permitted and prohibited items at the TSA Web site (www.tsa.gov), or call the TSA Consumer Response Center at 866-289-9673.
• Child car seats that meet Federal Aviation Administration specifications may be carried on the plane to accommodate a child. However, strollers usually must be checked at the gate.
• Don’t overstuff bags. Remove or stow any straps and hooks; they can get caught in baggage-handling machinery.
• Consider putting personal items in clear plastic bags so screeners won't have to handle them if your luggage is inspected.

• Always pack your camera or camcorder in your carry-on, preferably in a cushioned case. Riding in checked baggage can be too rough for the lenses and mechanism and airlines won't reimburse you if they're lost or damaged. TSA rules allow travelers a photo bag, in addition to their carry-on and personal bag allowance--however, some airlines may enforce their carry-on rules more strictly, especially if your flight is full.
• High-dosage airport security scanners will damage undeveloped film in checked baggage, so always carry undeveloped film with you. Processed slides and prints and digital media are not affected.
• Most film is not affected by x-ray machines that scan carry-ons. However, some specialty film might be affected, such as film with an ASA of 800 or higher, large format film, professional grade film, and scientific film. Push process and underexposed film may also be damaged. In any case, film exposed to x-ray machines more than five times before being developed may be affected. In these cases, travelers should request a hand inspection of film from TSA screeners.
• Travelers are entitled to hand inspections of film in the U.S., but airport security in other countries may not honor the request.
• If you use protective lead-lined pouches (available in photo-supply stores) for film or loaded cameras in carry-on baggage, be aware that you will likely face a secondary security screening. However, if you're traveling internationally, the protective bag may be a good idea, since you may not be able to avoid x-raying the film repeatedly, and hand inspections may not be an option.
• Be sure to allow extra time if you plan to request a hand inspection. To speed up the process, remove film from boxes and carry it in clear canisters, rather than solid-colored ones.

• Always carry on your laptop. Invest in a padded or hard-sided carry-on case.
• Laptops may be hand-inspected as well as x-rayed. Airport security scanners won’t harm computer hard drives or floppies. (Scanners in small overseas airports might erase disks; if in doubt, request hand-inspection.) You must remove your laptop from its travel case so that each can be X-rayed separately.
• “Explosive-trace detection systems” at some screening locations allow airport personnel to inspect electronic devices without turning them on. (Screeners rub hand-carried items with a swab and put the swab into chemical analyzers that separate and identify any explosives.)
• Since it’s hard to predict inspection methods--especially if screeners want to give your laptop a second look--allow plenty of time for all procedures, including booting up.
• Never leave your laptop unattended. Theft is a very real risk. Be sure to label your laptop with your name and contact information.
• Onboard, it’s safest to stow the laptop under the seat in front of you. When placing it overhead, make sure it’s resting on the bottom of the bin, below the lip of the door. If put on top of another bag, it could fall out when the bin is opened.

• Also remember that you may not have access to curbside check-in at all airports. So the less you have to lug and check, the easier it will be for you to get to the gate on time.
• Carriers have varying rules on the size of permitted checked baggage. (If the bag exceeds their limits, the item may be shipped as cargo.) You will pay an extra fee for any oversized item, which also varies with the airline. If you plan to take anything out of the ordinary on your next trip, clarify rules when you book. Since the airline also may want to inspect the item, do not wait to resolve the issue until you arrive at the airport.
• Expect separate rules and fees for sports equipment and other oddly shaped items. Again, call your carrier in advance of travel.
• Suitcases weighing more than 50 pounds may be slapped with hefty overweight-baggage fees. If you're checking two bags, distribute heavy contents between them, since the weight limit is per bag, not cumulative.

• Frames and displays near many airport check-in counters show size limits. But always check with your carrier when you book; an airline has the right to modify its rules at any time. If a particular flight or aircraft does not have sufficient storage space for all the carry-on baggage passengers may want to bring aboard, the airline may restrict some carry-ons. Airline Web sites may also have additional information. (See Travel contacts: Airlines for telephone numbers and Web sites.)

• Airlines may have a “baggage cut-off time,” after which you cannot get your bags on the plane. Limits vary, depending on such factors as terminal location and the use of automated baggage-sorting systems. Call the airline for specifics at the airport you’ll use.
• A “late check” tag is automatically generated if you get to the counter after cut-off time. When your bags arrive at the destination, airline policies vary on how, when, and where you can claim them.

• Put your name and address inside your bag as well as on the outside tag. Include a copy of destination information (address, phone number) and a flight itinerary in the bag.
• Remove old airport checking tags.
• The TSA warns consumers that locks may be broken if luggage needs to be inspected, but leaving suitcases unlocked makes some travelers nervous. Rather than risking ruining a lock, use a plastic zip tie, available at hardware stores, or buy a TSA-approved lock such as the Travel Sentry.
• Watch as bags are tagged to be sure they carry the right destination airport code.
• Keep carry-ons with you. Take them along if you stop over; your plane may be switched. Since carry-ons often contain valuables, they’re a target for thieves, so never leave them unattended. (Plus, unattended bags will be taken by airport security.)

• According to DOT statistics, the reported rate of mishandled luggage domestically averages about 5 per 1,000 passengers or less. This includes damage, delay, and pilferage as well as loss. Baggage is more likely to be delayed than truly missing; more than 95 percent of “lost” bags are returned to passengers within a few hours.
• Although airlines aren’t required to compensate for delays, some offer free kits of overnight supplies. A carrier may also reimburse the cost of personal-care products plus some clothing basics. Buy nothing without airline authorization, however, and save receipts. If baggage is delayed more than a day, ask the airline to allow additional purchases.
• Travelers in a pinch may qualify for more recompense. If you’re attending an important meeting or special event, for example, airline personnel may authorize replacements for clothes caught in luggage limbo--but you must ask first.
• Most airlines assume no liability for carry-ons, since this baggage should remain in your possession. If a carry-on is lost, however, the airline may give you a small advance for supplies and toiletries while it searches for your bag.

• Baggage liability limits for many international flights increased in 2003. The exact limit changes daily with currency fluctuations, and ranges from $1,300-1,500 per passenger. Flights that originate in the U.S. and other countries that adopted a treaty known as the Montreal Convention are subject to these limits.
• For flights that originate outside the U.S. and countries that have not adopted the Montreal Convention, the old maximum baggage compensation remains $20 a kilogram of checked baggage weight (about $9 per pound). According to the DOT, claims are seldom based on actual weight. Most airlines serving the U.S. on international routes (both U.S. and foreign carriers) have filed tariffs stating they will assume every lost or damaged bag equals the maximum weight limit, usually 32 kilos (around 70 pounds), making the allowance $640 per bag, regardless of weight.
• The international liability limits also apply to domestic portions of international itineraries, even if travelers stop over for an extended period and baggage is lost on a domestic flight.
• The airline is liable only for depreciated value, not replacement value or original purchase price.

• The DOT cannot force airlines to reimburse you. But most carriers voluntarily accept valid claims up to the allowed amount.
• Always negotiate with the airline on which you arrived. Even if another carrier is involved--if, say, the domestic code-share partner will actually trace the baggage or pay for it--the airline landing at your destination initiates the process.
• If a bag is simply damaged, you may be able to get repairs done on the spot or get a replacement bag.
• Airlines will issue cash or a check at their baggage-service centers. A carrier may offer you a free ticket for a future flight in lieu of compensation. If that doesn’t meet your needs, demand cash instead.
• If you do not get satisfaction for loss or damage, pursue your request in writing.
• The process is more complicated if your luggage was opened and inspected by TSA screeners, and you claim items were lost from your bags. (You'll know because the TSA will place a note in your bag and seal it after inspection.) In these cases, travelers have to file claims with both the TSA and the airlines. Reimbursement may take extra time, since the TSA and the airlines have to negotiate who's responsible for the loss.

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?-Top

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.

• If you are flying on a major airline, the carrier will send you on the next available flight (one of its own or that of another airline), or will provide an upgrade at no cost if this upgraded seat is the next one available, or will grant a refund for the unused portion of the ticket.
  
• The exception is Southwest, which doesn’t maintain interline agreements with other airlines. Instead, Southwest will either put you on another of its flights or offer a refund.
  
• Meals, ground transportation, and phone cards may be given in some cases. With certain restrictions, the major airlines will provide one night’s lodging. (However, Southwest states that such decisions will be made by its staff.)

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.

• In these cases, the airline has no responsibility beyond giving you a refund for the unused portion of your ticket. The carrier will attempt to rebook you on the next available flight, when possible.
  
• Further amenities will be provided at the airline’s discretion.

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

• Before your trip, download your airline’s Customer Service Commitment--a list of promises to improve passenger treatment put forth in December 1999 under pressure by Congress and the DOT. (The Resource Guide has carrier Web site listings.) Quoting from this statement may help. At the least, you will position yourself as an informed traveler.
  
• Or get a copy of the airline’s Contract of Carriage. The DOT requires airlines to keep a copy at ticket offices and airport counters for any passenger to see. But if one is not available, a synopsis of the DOT’s Rule 240, which outlines standards for passenger treatment (and is the basis of every carrier’s contract), is posted at www.mytravelrights.com. You’ll also find a copy of the 240 document for a number of airlines, including American, United, and Southwest.
  
• Query the airline (or check its Web site) about interline agreements, which would allow you to switch to another carrier’s flight. (Newer, smaller, and low-fare airlines may not have them.)
  
• Understand weather delays. That bad weather may not be at your origin or destination. It could be somewhere in between--or even in the place where your flight’s aircraft originated. You can check weather forecasts at the FAA Web site (www.fly.faa.gov). Also remember that in really bad conditions, all flights will be grounded; your best strategy will be to work on other travel plans or start looking for accommodations.

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

• Be polite. Why offend the very service representatives who have the power to help you? And, although all passengers should be treated equally, those dressed neatly may be more “equal.”
  
• Take immediate action. Ask a passenger service agent for the cause of the problem, or call the airline’s reservations center to determine who’s at fault. Request perks, if the delay is long.
  
• For possibly better treatment, let the airline know if you are one of its frequent flyers, have purchased a first- or business-class seat, or have bought a full-fare ticket.
  
• If you’ve booked through a travel agent, ask the agent to help rebook you on another flight and/or provide you with overnight accommodations.

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

• Contact the airline in writing, explaining the situation. Even if this approach does not get you satisfaction, you’ll have a written record of your problem and the response, a help if you take further action.
  
• You can file an air-travel-related complaint against a U.S. or foreign airline, travel agent, tour operator, or travel Web site directly with the DOT. Call 202-366-2220 (automated menu only); write to Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room 4107, C-75, Washington, D.C. 20590; or e-mail atairconsumer@ost.dot.gov. All complaints will be acknowledged and entered into the DOT data base.

CRUISE LINES

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

• Deal with complaints, especially those concerning cabin or service personnel, immediately by contacting the ship’s hotel director or the purser. Even if you don’t resolve the problem at sea, you’ll be on record and can follow up after you disembark. Document your complaint with notes, including employee names.
  
• Types of complaints most likely to get a cruise-line response include changed itineraries, food poisoning, assaults, fire and smoke inhalation, and failure to deliver advertised services and facilities.
  
• When you return home, contact the cruise line about any unresolved complaints. Address a straightforward, nonemotional letter to the passenger-service or customer-service department, detailing the reason(s) for your complaint and the steps the cruise line should take to compensate you.
  
• Ask your travel agent to contact the cruise line on your behalf. Cruise specialists, usually affiliated with industry organizations such as the Cruise Lines International Association, often have additional clout because of their volume bookings.
  
• Federal authorities have little oversight of cruise lines based outside the U.S. But you can contact the Federal Maritime Commission’s Office of Consumer Complaints (call 202-523-5807 or visit the Web site, www.fmc.gov).
  
• Cruise lines rarely offer cash refunds; discounts for future cruises are the usual compensation. Even after Sept. 11, cruise-line responses to nervous passengers wishing to cancel or those unable to reach their cruise due to a grounded flight ran the gamut from tight-fisted to generous. Many cruise lines were giving credits to clients for future cruises.
  
• To avoid losing your deposit (or the entire price of the cruise) in case you must cancel or the cruise line fails, purchase coverage--including that for supplier default--from a travel insurance company (see Do you need travel insurance? for more information). Coverage through the cruise line is worthless if the line declares bankruptcy.
  
• Passengers only rarely recover damages via lawsuits, since cruise companies are protected from liability by maritime law, which often overrules state law. If you sue, however, act quickly. A passenger must file a claim of physical injuries within six months and commence a lawsuit within one year. Time limitations for nonphysical injury can be much shorter. Before you file, read the details of a cruise line’s liability (on the ticket and/or the brochure) for the--many--exclusions.

ALL TRAVEL COMPANIES

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

• In all cases your best protection against travel suppliers is to book by credit card. (However, policies of some issuing banks may not provide the same coverage as the major credit-card companies.) Whichever card you use, follow its procedures to stop a charge if service isn’t delivered. With an overseas tour operator, don’t book at all unless it accepts credit cards. Obtaining a refund will be too daunting otherwise.
  
• Again, pursue complaints in writing. Even if the problem was a minor inconvenience, the company is likely to offer you something--future discounts, an upgraded room or vehicle, or some other incentive to return.
  
• The Association of Retail Travel Agents has helped develop the non-profit Consumer Travel Rights Center, designed to educate consumers about their rights when dealing with airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains, car-rental firms, tour operators, rail lines, and attractions. Visit the Web site (www.mytravelrights.com) to view a “Traveler’s Bill of Rights” for various types of travel suppliers. If you feel your rights have been violated, you can file a complaint.
  
• If you are a very frequent traveler, investigate travel insurance that covers all your travel for an extended period of time rather than for a single trip. Or weigh the cost of short-term insurance against a high-priced, one-time purchase, such as a cruise or extended tour.
  

Traveling Healthy Overseas-Top

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

• Assist America ( www.assistamerica.com)
  
• International SOS ( www.internationalsos.com)
  
• Medex Assistance ( www.medexassist.com)
  
• WorldClinic ( www.worldclinic.com)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( www.cdc.gov/travel)
  
• International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers ( www.iamat.org)
  
• MDTravelHealth.com ( www.mdtravelhealth.com)
  
• U.S. State Dept.'s Bureau of Consular Affairs ( www.travel.state.gov)
  
• World Health Organization ( www.who.int/ith)

Money Matters-Top

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.

• The euro replaces the Austrian schilling, Belgian franc, Finnish markka, French franc, German deutschmark, Greek drachma, Irish punt, Italian lira, Luxembourg franc, Netherlands guilder, Portuguese escudo, and Spanish peseta. When traveling among these countries, you won’t need to swap currency.
• However, three of the 15 EU nations--Britain, Denmark, and Sweden--will continue to use their own independent currencies for now. So you will need to exchange currency if you include them in your European travel plans.

• You’ll avoid the conversion fee (sometimes as high as 10 percent) that many stores and restaurants charge when you pay in U.S. dollars or traveler’s checks.
• Before you leave, however, call your credit-card issuer to determine the currency-conversion surcharge. American Express, Diners Club, First USA, MasterCard, and Visa all impose a charge on foreign purchases; rates run between 1 and 2 percent. (Visa generally has the best rates, but they can change.) Rates vary slightly from day to day, and card purchases made on the same day may not be processed at the same time, making after-the-fact comparisons difficult. However, some banks which issue the credit cards then add their own surcharge of another 2 percent. Check with your credit-card issuer before you leave to get rates. You might consider using a card that does not entail this extra fee. Even with these charges, plastic is still a cheaper option than getting or converting cash or using traveler’s checks overseas.

• Your withdrawal will be converted at the interbank exchange rate--the “wholesale” rate that banks use for large-scale financial transactions. (At banks, the rate may be 3 to 5 percent less favorable, plus many charge an additional fee of perhaps 2 to 5 percent.)
• ATMs outside North America may not accept a Personal Identification Number (PIN) longer than four digits. If your PIN is longer, you may want to ask your bank for a new number.
• You follow the same proce