With the new second-bag fee, airport check-in lines will only get worse, says reader LizDuffy. (Who can guess which airport I snapped this picture at?)

A few of the travel tips and opinions posted by readers this week:

* WhataTrip had this suggestion for how to get the lowest air fare:
"I like FareCompare because it posts multiple airline prices on the site, sometimes even before the airlines' own Web sites. I also use the 'My Trips' feature to alert me when specific travel destinations that I have selected drop or increase. While the site doesn't book the actual air fare, it allows me to be an informed flier so that I can select the best time to purchase my airline tickets." I rely on those alerts too; and, for serious fare watchers, Rick Seaney's FareCompare blog is a must.

* Zendurango had advice for avoiding ATM fees when withdrawing cash overseas:
"For ATMs, open an online checking account at Bank of Internet (refunds up to $8 in foreign ATM fees per month) or Schwab (refunds all ATM fees)." So did Hoffnung: "Many brokerages (USB in my case) will not charge you foreign currency fees for using non-US ATMs. Don't know if this is true for discount brokerages." Small local banks are also much more likely to charge no overseas ATM fees (or very low ones) than the big banks are.

* LizDuffy had this to say about the airlines' new fee for checking a second piece of luggage:
"I wonder if they have considered the extra time, lines, and delays this will cause, with that many more people needing to make a payment for their second bag. Now, most of the people who previously used online check-in or kiosks will have to GET IN LINE, making the whole process even longer than it already is."

Charlie and Doug had a blast climbing the "look-out towers" of the Alhambra Palace when we were in Granada, Spain, three months ago.

by Wendy Perrin

Several moms I know (including my own) have insisted I link to today's recording of The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC Radio (New York's flagship public radio station). I'm on the show every Thursday morning in May as part of its month-long travel series, and this morning our topic was how to survive vacations with the kids (and are they truly vacations or just changes of venue?). It was quite an entertaining half-hour, I have to admit, partly because Brian (who also has two sons) is such a great interviewer, and partly because the other guest on the show was one Hollis Gillespie, a former flight attendant (with an amazingly well-traveled daughter) who shared some pretty horrifying stories about what she saw parents doing with their tots on planes--everything from overmedicating them so much that the plane had to make an emergency landing to tucking them away in the overhead bins! 

You can listen to the segment by clicking here (just scroll down past the pic of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid--that was the interview before me--until you get to the segment called "Unraveling Traveling: Are We There Yet?").

Paris's Ile de la Cite (above) is charming at night, although my favorite Parisian island oasis is the Ile Saint Louis.
Photo: David Lefranc, Paris Tourist Office

by Wendy Perrin

Yesterday I started to answer TravelGal's question about what to do, see, and eat in Paris from her base in the Latin Quarter in late May/early June. Since the suggestions I shared can be a bit pricey, given the dollar's weakness against the euro, I promised to finish up today with a few recommendations of things to do that are cheap or even free. These tips come from one of my favorite France specialists, Howard Lewis, who is on Conde Nast Traveler's annual list of the country's best travel agents:

(1) Shop in a couple of Paris's neighborhood food markets. These outdoor markets, a tradition dating from the fifth century, reflect the local color of each of Paris's 20 arrondissements and provide great insight into French daily life. The best and most famous near the Latin Quarter is the Maubert Market (go on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday between 8 a.m. and  1 p.m.). Don't forget to bring a bag so you can stock up for a picnic lunch.

(2) Stroll through the historic Marais district, which is full of trendy boutiques and cafes. The best time for this is Sunday afternoon (it's a Jewish area, so many shops are closed on Saturdays).

The nexus of Place de la Concorde, Rue de Rivoli, and the Tuileries, Paris.
Photo: William Abranowicz, Conde Nast Traveler

by Wendy Perrin

"We leave May 29 for five days based in the Latin Quarter," writes TravelGal. "I've been in Paris only once before, 25 years ago, so we have five weeks' worth of things we'd like to see and do. With so many enticing options, it is possible that we'll be the only tourists to visit Paris and NOT visit the Louvre! Any tips on the latest fabulous things to see, do, or eat?"

ITASoftware.com is a great vehicle for determining all your different air itinerary options.
by Wendy Perrin

Amy Higer of Maplewood, N.J., writes, "Hi.  I heard you on The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC Radio last week.  You mentioned your favorite website for finding the best air fares, but I neglected to write it down.  Would you be able to tell me the site?  Thank you so much."

I recall mentioning two air fare search engines. The first was Kayak, and here's why. The second was ITASoftware, and here's why. Neither is a travel agent: You use them to find the most convenient flight/route at the best fare, then you buy from the airline.  Hope this helps!

If anyone else has a favorite air fare search engine, won't you share it by clicking on "comments" below?

Whistler has great skiing in summer, but if you fly there carrying your own skis, you'll likely need to pay at least $50 in fees.
Photo: Randy Lincks, Whistler Blackcomb 

by Wendy Perrin

Every major U.S. airline has just begun, or is about to begin, charging $25 each time you check a second bag. But should that fee--which amounts to $50 round-trip--apply to travelers who bought their tickets before the fee existed? 

A friend who is an expert skier who coaches kids is traveling with a group of 57 to their annual ski racing camp at Whistler in July. For this group--which consists of 3 other coaches, 14 high-school/college-aged counselors, and 40 kids age 9 through 13--luggage is a major factor: The campers each must bring two pairs of skis, plus the coaches and counselors carry another 35 to 40 pairs of next year's skis for testing, plus 400 pounds of gear including racing gates, timing systems, etc.

The group is flying from JFK to Seattle, then bussing up to Whistler. In February when they bought their tickets, Delta's policy was that you could check two 50-pound bags for free (and pay extra for any excess weight). With Delta's recent policy change, however, now each camper will be charged at least $50 round-trip, if not $160 round-trip (since the fee to check a bag weighing between 50 and 70 pounds is $80 each way, and a camper's second bag can easily exceed 50 pounds). The camp is not a commercial venture--nobody is getting paid or making a profit--so the teachers will now get stuck with an enormous extra bill.

Attention, coach fliers:  Delta's new "Cozy Suite" seats, from Thompson Solutions, are on the way.

by Wendy Perrin

For your weekend reading pleasure, here are five nifty posts that I stumbled upon in the blogosphere this week:

(1) Wired's Autopia blog on The Cozy Suite -- Building a Better Airplane Seat. These seats, to be introduced in 2010 on Delta 767s and 777s, will provide more legroom, a place to rest your head, and two armrests for each passenger. They won't recline but, personally, I consider that a huge plus.  (By the way, it's amazing to me what the airline, cruise, and hotel industries get away with calling a "suite" these days.)

(2) Delicious Baby on Easy Hack for Getting a Refund From Your Credit Card. Attention, digital-camera shutterbugs who traveled abroad between 1996 and 2006: Here's a surprisingly easy and fun way to get money back for the foreign transaction fees you were unfairly charged by your credit card.

(3) HowStuffWorks on What happens to weapons confiscated at the airport? Collecting and reselling the thousands of items confiscated daily turns out to be a profitable business. The article even explains how to "become a millionaire! Sell confiscated weapons on eBay!"

(4) The Juggle, The Wall Street Journal's blog about the choices and tradeoffs people make as they juggle work and family, on Breastfeeding on the Move and Other '"Bad Parent" Shortcuts.  Any mom who's taken a road trip with an infant can relate and will probably find the thread of passionate comments riveting.

(5) Eileen Ogintz's Taking the Kids on How to Find the Perfect Beach Getaway because her post introduced me to a nifty Orbitz tool for finding your ideal beach vacation. Love it!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone.

Tracker1312 spent $2,200 per person, including air fare, on a two-week honeymoon in England last fall. Above, the Lower Avon River in Bath.
Photo: Dennis Johnson, Lonely Planet Images

by Wendy Perrin

Readers have been sharing such nifty nuggets of advice in our "Comments" threads lately that from now on I'm going to highlight a few each week:

(1) On whether it's safe to drink the water on flights within foreign countries:
Joe_Kayaker wrote, "Always treat the food and drink on the airplane as you would the food and drink at your departure airport. In the third world always drink carbonated and break the seal yourself (so you can be sure the bottle was not reused). And no ice. Coffee and teas don't get hot enough to be sure they're safe."

(2) On stretching your dollar in Europe:
Tracker 1312 wrote, "My husband and I went to England last October for our honeymoon and rented a self-catering apartment, with the most gorgeous view of Bath, for $100 a night. That was with a weak dollar. We bought train passes at RailEurope.com, also in U.S. dollars, and because the trains are efficient and pretty fast, we took day trips from Bath to London, Cardiff (Wales), and Bristol. The train tickets were $400 per person for unlimited travel over 15 days anywhere in England. This included transportation when we arrived, as we took the train from Gatwick Airport to Bath and from Bath to Heathrow. It was even good on the Heathrow Express. We ate at pasty shops and a hole-in-the-wall fish 'n' chips place on the Upper Boro Walls, where we ate for $10 for both of us and had more food than we could finish. Overall, we spent, not including airfare (which was $700 roundtrip), about $1500 per person on the trip."

(3) On whether European cruises represent good value for your dollar:
Anne Campbell of ShipCriticBlog wrote, "I personally believe that cruisers can save money only when they plan ahead. Spend time on Google researching the sightseeing opportunities in port so you know what you're going to do before disembarking the ship. And, you can decide to eliminate unnecessary purchases which drive up the tab: alcohol, gambling, cruise line logowear, spa treatments (overpriced and below par in quality), art auctions. A dozen years ago cruise lines made money from the price of a ticket. Today it's almost entirely from onboard revenue, so there is pressure aboard ship to spend unnecessary money."

(4) On toyless ways to occupy your kids on planes, including guessing games:
Mechteach wrote, "Don't forget the ever-popular 'find the doggie' (or kitty, or R2D2, or Harry Potter) in the Skymall catalog."

(5) On the travel tips gleaned during lunch with Paula and Mike Hlastala, the Seattle couple who won this year's Behind-the-Scenes Hot List Experience:
WhataTrip wrote, "I'm a member of Omni Hotel's 'Select Guest' program. It doesn't cost a dime to join and once you've filled out your guest preferences such as room type, feather pillows, daily newspaper, complimentary Wi-Fi and morning beverage service, all future stays are tailored to your preferences. If you are traveling with kids, request the turn down service with complimentary milk and cookies."

by Wendy Perrin

I was asked that question this morning on WNYC Radio (New York's public radio station, where I'm talking travel on The Brian Lehrer Show every Thursday this month).  And a related question recently came in from Perrin Post reader BarbaraammJohnson:  "I will be in Northern Ireland, England, and South Africa for 30 days. In the fall, I'm in Poland. What common currency could I take?  My first choice is travelers' checks in euros. Second thought would be travelers' checks in British pounds. I don't use ATMs or credit cards."

Barbara's question is a tough one, so I hope other global travelers will weigh in with their opinions (by clicking on "Comments" below). I have to preface my answer by saying that I always use a combo of ATMs and credit cards. Since that's what most travelers do, let me begin with a warning to them:

Find out before leaving home how much your bank will charge you for international ATM withrawals (my bank, J.P. Morgan Chase, charges a whopping $3 per withdrawal plus 3 percent of the amount withdrawn) and also how much your credit card charges for foreign purchases (I prefer to use American Express because it charges 2 percent rather than the 3 percent my MasterCard charges). If you're looking for a bank that does not charge extra for overseas cash withdrawals, Commerce Bank doesn't (at least, it didn't last time I checked, which was about a year ago). If you're looking for a credit card that doesn't charge extra for foreign transactions, Capital One doesn't (again, last time I checked, about a year ago).

Now, on to travelers' checks and Barbara's question:

by Wendy Perrin

If you're Conde Nast Traveler stuntman Mark Schatzker, he of 80 Days Around The World blogging fame, you spend May in Europe becoming a Renaissance Man. Starting today and for the rest of this month, Mark will be attempting a Da Vinci-like mastery of the arts (and a few other disciplines) and blogging about it over at Daily Traveler.  Right now one of Scotland's greatest golf pros is teaching him how to swing a golf club (it's "a lot like swinging an axe into a tree").  Next up: London, where he'll learn the art of horticulture at the city's oldest botanical garden. Then he'll be cooking in Paris under the direction of some of France's finest chefs, taking piano lessons at Vienna's State Opera, studying Italian in Florence, and learning to paint on the shores of Lake Como. "If all goes according to plan," says Mark, "by May 31 I will be brilliant. If not, I'll have spent a lot of money trying." Don't miss it!

The pool deck during my family vacation onboard the Norwegian Gem last month.

by Wendy Perrin

Yesterday I mentioned that I already spent my tax rebate . . . on a cruise. In actuality my vacation, onboard Norwegian Cruise Line's new It Girl, cost a helluva lot more than any rebate check I'm gonna get, but that's because I opted for one of the few ships sailing out of New York City (our backyard) in winter and because I splurged on a "mini-suite" with a balcony. And boy, was it worth every cent.

That's me and the kids on our cabin balcony in New York Harbor, March 15, 2008. We loved getting to the warm weather of Florida and the Bahamas without having to get on a plane.

As I wrote the other day, I don't think mammoth cruise ships are the best vehicle for seeing Europe's world-class sights and absorbing its culture. I DO think they're a great way for exhausted parents to get some R&R. For this particular vacation, you see, our goal was not sightseeing. Our goal was sleep. That meant we needed a ship with (1) a great child-care program in which to park the boys, (2) sports facilities for exhausting the two little Energizer Bunnies, and (3) a been-there-done-that itinerary, so we wouldn't feel pressure to race around each port trying to see as much as possible in our limited time.

The water slide was key: It allowed us to exhaust the whirling dervishes with minimal exertion on our part.

I can't tell you more about our cruise because it would give away my article in Conde Nast Traveler's upcoming August issue. My husband, Tim, has therefore graciously offered up the top ten reasons why HE loved the cruise. After the jump, a husband's perspective.

I already spent mine on a cruise on the Norwegian Gem last month (yes, that skipping child belongs to me).

by Wendy Perrin

Yesterday those tax rebate checks meant to stimulate the U.S. economy started going out to 130 million Americans, and one of my favorite blogs, Freakonomics, asked readers, "What's the smartest way to spend your rebate?" The 88 comments are an entertaining read. By my count, 8 of the 88 respondents plan to spend all or part of their rebate on travel (with 3 of the 8 planning to stimulate the economies of foreign countries). That's nearly 10 percent.

It stands in striking contrast to the response from readers of The Washington Post's Travel Log, who were asked, "How much of your check will you spend on travel?" At last count, 39 percent said they are devoting all or part of their rebate to travel.

So now I'm curious: What are YOU planning to spend your tax rebate on?