Visiting England by road or by rail; Europe in Canada
Q: Our family of three older teens and two adults will be traveling around England this summer; London, Brighton, Chichester, Bath and other spots. Would we be better off renting a car for our travels (not in London) or traveling via rail between cities? Is it a trade-off of price and convenience?
A:
Because you are visiting so many cities, Iwould suggest you rent a car (hope you can drive on the opposite side of the road!). The cost of trains and cabs for the five of youwill add up. Plus, youwill have a lot more freedom to pop into charming towns youmight have missed if youwere traveling by train.— Andrea Sachs
Q: I know there are issues if you try to travel internationally with a nearly expired passport, but what about trying to rent a car (domestically or internationally) with a driver’s license that will expire in a couple of months? I will be heading to England in the early fall (September-October) for a couple of weeks, andmy current driver’s license expires at the end of the year (Dec. 31). Normally the renewal letter wouldn’t arrive until late October or early November. I’m guessing that I won’t have a problemif I try to rent a car while there, but I hate to assume anything, especially not when I’m several time zones from home. Am I worried about nothing?
A:
I’ve never heard of that being a problem for a car rental. If it’s expired, that could be an issue. Otherwise, I think you’re fine. It’s probably best to check with the car rental agency or your travel agent.— Christopher Elliott
Q: I have a trip planned to Spain for late September. Iwas tracking the fare on Google flights. Economywas about $500, but Iwas also thinking about doing business class for about $2,500. I didn’t pull the trigger because Iwasn’t sure the expensewas justified. Nowthe business class ticket has gone up by about $1,000 (economywent up by $200). Is there any chance itmight come down again? Or did Imiss the window?
A:
There is no way to be certain. You could have initially looked while a sale was going on, and now the sale is over. Or the seats could be filling up, which means the fares go higher. I’d try going to an airline site that covers the route to see if you can view how many seats remain on your desired flights. Some airlines, such as American and United, allow you to view this information before purchasing. If the flight is wide open, there may be another sale. If seats are mostly booked, prices will likely continue to go up.— Carol Sottili
Q: When passengers are bumped, as in the notorious United case, does the airline offer vouchers— which are likely good only for future travel on the same airline with complex conditions— or does it offer actual cash? An $800 voucher might really be worth zero to someone who doesn’t travel a lot, but $800 cash, is, well, $800 cash.
A:
If the airline is seeking volunteers, the agents typically offer vouchers, which are useless if you don’t need to travel within a year of the bumping. However, as the agents get more desperate, they might offer cash— or feel free to approach the agent and tell him or her that you are willing to give up your seat for cash. If you are involuntarily bumped, only accept cash. However, if the airline can put you on a flight within an hour of your original departure, you won’t receive any compensation.— A.S.
Q: If airlines routinely overbook flights because they operate with such razor-thin profit margins, how can WOWbe so cheap? As in $500 cheaper than its nearest competitor that doesn’t require a ridiculously long layover somewhere. I know about paying extra for baggage and food and space, but seriously, they do maintenance on their planes, right? And pay their employees?
A:
Airlines likeWOWtend to have a lower cost structure because they are startups. Reduced labor costs, a newer, more efficient fleet, perhaps even better management— it all adds up. At some point, though, WOWwill need to raise fares in order to stay profitable. Then passengers will jump to the next startup, low-fare carrier.— C.E.
Q: My husband and I hope to celebrate our 30th anniversary in a “European” city without going to Europe. WillMontreal fit the bill? Which neighborhood should we stay in? We’re a little uncomfortable with private-owner sites.
A:
Absolutely. Or consider Quebec City. The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is the perfect honeymoon hotel. For Montreal, I suggest looking for hotels in OldMontreal or PlateauMont-Royal.
— A.S.