JetBlue's Mea Culpa

Secret Hotels of California Wine Country You don't have to spend a fortune to visit the fanciest farmland in America. We've found a crop of lovely, family-run inns in Napa, Sonoma, and beyond for less than $200 a night. Hotel Database River Cruising in Eastern Europe Cruise ships are now larger--and have more attractions--than some small nations. But there's also a subtler way to sail: river cruising. Marilyn Holstein explores Germany, Austria, and Hungary while drifting slowly along the Danube. Cruise Checklist (PDF) My Brooklyn in Better Than Yours Manhattan? Fuhgeddaboudit. These days, the most interesting part of New York is across the East River. 3 Brooklyn Walking Maps The Cool List: The Best New Thrills We celebrate the best new thrills, from over-the-top water attractions and interactive art to North America's first bridge climb and New York City's best view. Watch the Cool List Videos Web Smart: Booking Cruises Online Buying a cruise used to be kind of like sailing in uncharted waters. A new online tool helps you get your bearings. Road Trip: Michigan's Upper Peninsula The area is gorgeous, remote, and quirky--where the people prefer ATVs to cars, and menus feature meat pockets and Paul Bunyan-size cinnamon rolls. 40 Best Vacations The Real Deals right now.

I argued that my name had no business being on this book. I'm the editor of Budget Travel, but I didn't come up with these tips--the readers did. When I made my case to the publisher, he said my name was on the book simply so bookstore workers would know where to shelve it. So please ignore my name. This is your book--and by "you" I mean every reader who has ever submitted a tip to the magazine. The 20 Tips section is the very soul of Budget Travel. It's where we share clever solutions and hard-learned lessons, where we're not afraid to admit our obsession with Ziploc bags. No wonder so many people love it. I know I do: I used to think an occasional tip was ridiculous--until I found myself using it while on a trip. We're sending a free copy to everyone whose tip was included in the book. I hope those of you who didn't make it will think about buying one--for yourself, for your family, for your friends, for your cat. And keep sending us tips! Over the next year, we'll be giving published tipsters not just the usual free subscription to the magazine, but also a copy of The Smart Traveler's Passport. Remember: Together we're the smartest travelers out there. Here's a sampling of what you'll find in the book: Make Packing a Breeze It's unnecessary to create a packing list for each trip. Instead, draw up a master list with everything you might need on any given trip--from ski goggles to snorkels. Save it on your computer. Before you pack, cross out anything you don't need for that trip. Bonnie Herbst, Ventura, Calif. Outsmart Snooty Hotel Clerks If you book a package online, print a copy of all the details that are included and take it with you. When a hotel clerk in Paris said the breakfast buffet we had enjoyed all week wasn't included, I was able to prove him wrong. He apologized profusely. John Lavelle, Avon Lake, Ohio Don't Get Stranded at Airports Try to get on the first flight out in the morning. Those planes often arrive the evening before, so you won't have to rely on an incoming plane, which could be delayed due to bad weather elsewhere, resulting in the delay or cancellation of your flight. George Glover, Brunswick, Maine Think Unconventionally When you attend a convention or trade show, the official prices at recommended hotels may not be the best you can do. Go to the hotel website. I recently got an AARP rate that was 30 percent below the special price offered through the trade-show sponsors. Duane Dahl, Santa Fe, N.M. Plan a Trip the Sneaky Way We send away for brochures from tour operators. They provide sightseeing itineraries and hotel and restaurant recommendations, which we then follow on our own. Raymond White, Dulles, Va. Pack Light or You'll Pay for It On a Ryanair flight between Glasgow and Dublin, my husband and I were charged over $100 for excess baggage. Always check the weight allowances--especially on low-fare airlines--before you leave home. Lynne Heath, Hudson, N.H. Be a Smooth Operator Dry-cleaning bags can stop clothes from wrinkling. Slide each garment into its own bag (leave the hanger at home) and place them flat on your bed, one atop another. Then carefully fold the entire stack to fit it in your suitcase. Once you get to your hotel, hang everything up ASAP. Claudette Christman, Colonial Heights, Va. Increase Your Recharging Power Many cruise-ship cabins have only one outlet, but you'll need more if you want to power up your laptop, iPod, cell phone, and other gadgets. That's why I pack a power strip. Jay Van Vechten, Boca Raton, Fla. Don't Just Stand There If your flight is canceled, call the airline's 800 number while you wait in line. They may answer your call before you reach the front of the line. Karen LoPresto-Arbaugh, Kennett Square, Pa. Destroy Credit Card Receipts I bought several items in London and noticed upon returning home that my credit card number was printed in full on each sales slip. (In the U.S., only the final digits of the number are visible.) When overseas, don't leave sales slips lying around. Jackie MacNeil, Santa Maria, Calif. Check In at Checkout Before you head to the airport, stop by the front desk of your hotel or cruise ship and ask if they'll print your boarding pass. It'll save time at check-in. It's worked for me at Marriott hotels and on a Celebrity cruise. Rose Jakubaszek, Jersey City, N.J. Ensure a Nice First Impression For overnight flights, pack a few Oral B Brush-Ups in your carry-on. You can "brush" your teeth before the plane lands! Janice Pruitt Winfrey, Marietta, Ga. Ask the Right Questions My family and I made reservations for a beach condo on Maui. Upon arrival, we were shocked to see a sign at the beach that read no swimming. Make certain you specify a swimming beach. Ruth Herlean, Richmond, Va. Don't Get Alarmed Always check to see if a previous hotel guest left the alarm clock on. I've been rudely awakened twice in the last few months. Rachele Hemphill, Napa, Calif. Shower Wherever You Can If you fly overnight to Europe and early check-in at your hotel isn't an option, ask if you can store your luggage and use the gym's shower. Pack toiletries and a change of clothes in your carry-on. Brian Huseman, Washington, D.C. Make the Right Call I have "hotel" and "taxi" on my cell-phone speed dial. On a trip, I change the numbers but leave the titles the same--no more slips of paper everywhere. Isabel Burk, New City, N.Y. Create Your Own Evidence I take a digital picture of the gas gauge to prove I returned the rental car with a full tank. I've used the photos to get refunds after charges appeared on my credit card bill. Jeff Mishur, Roselle, Ill. Liven Up Museum Visits When going to a museum with kids, head to the gift shop first and buy postcards of the museum's most famous works. Your kids can go on a treasure hunt for the masterpieces. Daphna Woolfe, San Jose, Calif. Avoid Getting Totally Soaked Always bring a few Ziploc bags whenever you're going to a theme park. They'll protect your cell phone and wallet when you're riding on water attractions. Jack Bell, Kissimmee, Fla.

New Prize: The AzoresThe best response Budget Travel receives between April 1 and April 30, 2007, wins a six-night trip for two to the Azores, a Portuguese island chain in the Atlantic just four hours from Boston. The prize, courtesy of Azores Express, includes round-trip airfare from Boston's Logan Airport to your choice of islands (Terceira, São Miguel, or Faial) and six nights' accommodations with breakfast daily. For more on Azores Express: 800/762-9995. How to Enter TrueStories@BudgetTravelOnline.com or True Stories, Budget Travel, 530 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10018. Read the full guidelines. Winner! This month's winner is Steve Hall of San Ramon, Calif. He wins a seven-night stay at the all-inclusive Riu Vallarta, courtesy of Riu Hotels & Resorts. It was '60s theme night on a recent Royal Caribbean cruise along Mexico, so my wife and I, with three other couples, dressed up as the cast of Gilligan's Island. As luck would have it, our costumes became even more appropriate when--that very same night--the ship crashed into the cruise pier in Costa Maya, tearing a 42-foot-wide hole in the hull. Everyone got a kick out of seeing us castaways wandering about. We even found a piano player to play the Gilligan's Island theme song while we all sang along. We ended up being "stranded" in Mexico for three nights until the ship was repaired. He Paid Extra for That View After checking in to a small cottage hotel in Tiruchirappalli, India, my wife went to freshen up. "What is that chirping sound?" she asked--and then shrieked and came flying out of the bathroom. She pointed to the sink, where I saw our friendly visitor calmly hanging out. The hotel staff came and took the frog outside, and we made sure to check the sheets very carefully before climbing into bed that night! Mark Bayfield, Rockville, Md. Nice Moms Wear Gloves My 7-year-old daughter and I went to Kansas City, Kans., to visit family for the holidays. After the long car trip, we both had a lot of energy to burn, so we were wrestling on the beds. I called it to a stop after a few minutes; when my daughter protested, I made a joke and popped her gently on the chin. Unfortunately, it was just as she was bringing her head down. She let out a little gasp, opened her mouth, and out fell a baby tooth. We were both surprised, but I was much more upset than she was--and I was even more upset when we went down to the front desk to buy a bottle of water and she announced, "My mom knocked my tooth out!" In fact, I was mortified, but my daughter just grinned and the clerk didn't bat an eye. Fortunately, I had a Ziploc bag with me (thanks, Budget Travel!), so we put the tooth inside and placed it under the pillow. The tooth fairy left an extra-big treat. Aimee Buhr, North Liberty, Iowa You Know the Old Saying: Red Thighs at Night, Sailor's Delight My husband and I were enjoying an elegant alfresco dinner in Nassau, Bahamas, when I asked one of the other patrons to snap a photo of us with the sunset in the background. The picture came out fantastic, although on closer inspection I noticed that my bright red underwear was peeking through! I suppose I would've been better off wearing undies that matched my dress . . . . Caroline Tetschner, Mundelein, Ill. You're Lucky They Didn't Say Yes and Order a Sex on the Beach Late one afternoon, while sipping island libations inside our rented cottage in the Bahamas, my wife and I saw two people standing at the top of our stairway. They were obviously tourists who'd walked past the No Trespassing sign on the beach. I thought they'd turn away when they realized the residence was occupied, but they kept on walking toward the house. The intruders were trying to cut through the property! So I turned to my wife and said, "Watch this." I took off my bathing suit, walked outside, held my drink up high, and said, "You must be here for cocktails!" They ran back to the beach. William S. Phillips, Sopchoppy, Fla. You can find more True Stories in the April 2007 issue of Budget Travel magazine.

So what was Beijing really like? John and Amy got to see a lot in four days, including Tiananmen Square, where they met a group of Chinese teenagers who were also sightseeing. "They approached us with a camera. I thought they were asking me to take their picture, but they wanted to pose with me," he says. "They told him he looked very cool," laughs Amy. "It must've been the beard!" John and Amy were both struck by the city's mix of ancient and modern. "The theme of this trip was contrast," says Amy. "For example, we spent one morning exploring the Bell and Drum Towers--my favorites. From there we walked down Dianmenwai toward Jingshan Park and past a temple built in the 600s. We then walked around Qianhai Lake and watched locals ice-skating. It felt like an experience we couldn't have had anywhere else until we happened upon a Starbucks. We ordered a grande sugar-free hazelnut nonfat cappuccino without any trouble!" Did you find any unique souvenirs? "We always buy a trinket that'll remind of us of a trip," says Amy. "Near Portland, Ore., we bought a glass fish at the aquarium. In Yellowstone, it was a little buffalo. This time, we found a jade pig for $13 at Long Di Superior Jade Gallery, right next to the Ming Tombs (011-86/10-8971-7131). It seemed very appropriate because 2007 is the Year of the Pig." Dining with monks: After a visit to Confucius Temple, John was thrilled to find the all-you-can-eat buffet at Deng Pin Su Shi Fu Vegetarian Restaurant (26 Guozijian Jie, 011-86/10-6404-6568). "I knew it had to be great because there were Buddhist monks dining in groups with regular folks. Later on, we noticed that the regular folks were paying, so this must have been a take-a-monk-to-dinner sort of thing. Anyway, I tried to get very small portions so I could try a lot of different things, but I probably only got through a quarter of the main dishes. Everything I tasted was wonderful!" Haggling in the markets: Amy bought calligraphy brushes at half price. She worried she'd pushed too hard when the saleswoman scowled at the sale. "But as I was turning to leave, I said 'xiexie' [thanks]. She responded with a big smile and a 'xiexie.' " Off the beaten path: John liked the Sacred Way, a walkway that leads to the Ming Tombs near Badaling. "There are 36 statues," he explains. "Twelve are of people who served the emperor and 24 are of animals, each with a specific meaning. I took a lot of pictures there, mostly close-ups for black-and-white prints."