The Best Wheelie Bags

Oh no! Last year, I needed to catch a Pearl Jam concert in St. John's, Newfoundland, for a story I was writing. I reserved a room at a B&B near the venue and then booked a flight through my company's travel agent. When the date came, I boarded a plane to Montreal, went through customs, and caught my connecting flight. On the ground, I hopped in a taxi and told the driver the B&B's address. "That doesn't sound familiar," he said. "Wait. Are you supposed to be in Newfoundland? 'Cause you're in New Brunswick." What I did Besides freak out? The driver walked me to the Air Canada counter--in Saint John, New Brunswick. "She's supposed to be in Newfoundland," he said. The desk agent sighed and said, "Another one, eh?" I went into Amazing Race mode, asking if there was another flight. "Sure," the nice agent told me. "Tomorrow. Connects through Halifax." Maybe I could rent a car? "Sure. It's about 1,000 miles." I was soon heading back to Montreal (but I didn't make it home that night because a flight was canceled). After pleading my case with several layers of management at the travel agency, I eventually received a refund. What experts say As we all know, everybody makes mistakes, and I should have double-checked the itinerary beforehand. The obvious advice is to be sure you have the correct airport codes and city names, request e-mail confirmations, and look over the details carefully. My experience could have been worse, I suppose. The folks at St. John's Tourism told me about several other airport mix-ups, including a British couple who wanted to go to Australia but ended up in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Honeymoon registries sound appealing to engaged couples and gift givers alike: After all, a South Pacific cruise is more exciting than new pots from Williams-Sonoma. Honeymoon registry specialists The Big Day, HoneyLuna, Distinctive Honeymoons, Traveler's Joy, and The Honeymoon now compete with programs from lodging chains Marriott, Starwood, and Sandals. Even Aruba Tourism is getting in on the action, allowing couples to register for Jeep safaris and restaurant gift certificates. The problem, as with marriage itself, is that some couples sign up for honeymoon registries without knowing what they're getting themselves into. Create a wish list There are several big differences between agencies like HoneyLuna and programs from lodging companies. Some of the honeymoon specialists are simply travel agents that book whatever trip a couple pleases--and like any middlemen, the agents add a fee one way or another. A registry through such an agency can include first-class flights, overwater bungalows, hot-air-balloon rides, dinner on the beach, estimated cab fares, bottles of champagne, and more. Airfare and lodging can be divvied up on the registry in suggested gift amounts ($100, say) or at per-night rates, the same way other couples list place settings. A honeymoon registry might also include vague items like "happy-hour dollars" (whatever that means) and "shopping." With lodging-chain registries, couples may select only tours, meals, and accommodations operated by the company and affiliated vendors. On the other hand, gifts for these registries usually come as a flexible credit. If it rains on the day the couple is scheduled to go snorkeling, that dollar amount can be exchanged for (on-property) spa treatments, cocktails, or room service. Ultimately, it's your bill With traditional wedding registries, couples select their wineglasses and whatnot, then wait for the gifts. If the gifts never come, it's no problem because no money was spent up front. Travel registries work differently. Airfare and certain tours must be reserved and paid for long before wedding presents are traditionally given. Couples pay for much of their honeymoons in advance, hoping guests will chip in with gifts down the road. Can't hurt to ask Many splurges--$200 couple's massages, private boating excursions--don't have to be reserved beforehand. A couple can wait and see if somebody picks up the tab, knowing that if guests don't come through, the newlyweds aren't on the hook for something they can't afford. More personal than cash Wedding guests view the registry online and pay via credit card. The registry company notifies the engaged couple every time a guest buys a gift. Distinctive Honeymoons, for example, sends an e-card in which a gift box opens to reveal a personalized message from the giver. All the websites track who has given what in order to help couples organize their thank-you notes. But still pretty impersonal Typically, the agency mails the couple a check for whatever's in the account shortly before the wedding. A second and third check may be sent to account for late gifts. For registries through Starwood, Sandals, and Marriott, the couple receives a gift card or company credit. Expiration dates Starwood's registry gifts--called Honey Money--expire two years from the purchase date, which seems stingy. Marriott credits, on the other hand, never expire. Watch the fees The Honeymoon adds an 8.85 percent service fee, meaning a wedding guest who wants to give one $200 hotel night actually has to pay the agency almost $218. In fact, all the honeymoon-specialist agencies tack on fees of some kind for registries. The Big Day charges 9 percent, though the fee decreases depending on how much the couple books through the agency. Distinctive Honeymoons charges couples a flat $150 to set up a registry and doesn't take a percentage of gifts. But you'll pay more if you use one of its agents to "customize and build your registry so you don't need to do the work," as its website suggests. "Each itinerary will be evaluated as to the fee charged" on top of the original $150. Sandals registries use American Express gift cards, which have a handling fee of 10 percent. There are no extra fees for registries through Marriott and Starwood. Don't assume it's a good value There's no guaranteeing that prices for airfare, lodging, and tours booked via any registry are the best out there. In fact, rates may be inflated. One option at Aruba Tourism is a barhopping excursion called the Kukoo Kunuku. It costs $130 per couple via the registry program, but only $54 per person for bookings made online directly with the company.

Timing 'If you're traveling to a warm climate, go for a run in the early morning. Not only will the temperature be much cooler and more pleasant, but the ground won't radiate as much heat up onto your feet and legs.' Bob Glover, coauthor of The Runner's Handbook Meeting people "Most local running clubs love it when newcomers jump in on a run, so inquire in advance about organized runs in the area you're visiting. Just drop them an e-mail. If nothing is scheduled, they can still tip you off to a few good trails." Jean Knaack, executive director, Road Runners Club of America (rrca.org) Clothing "Always bring nylon running clothes that you can wash in your hotel sink. They dry a whole lot faster than cotton." Mark Wetmore, head coach, University of Colorado men's cross-country team Hydration "A lot of people underestimate how much flying can dehydrate the body. In addition to drinking lots of water on the plane, you should take a 20-minute bath as soon as you get to your hotel. There's an incredibly high rate of absorption when we bathe. It also helps soothe the swelling and muscle stiffness that are caused by long flights." Dr. Brian Dorfman, a kinesiologist who runs 10-20 miles per week Jet lag "To overcome jet lag, the first thing I do when I get off the plane overseas is go for a run. Your increased endorphin levels help revive you until it's time to sleep, making the transition from one time zone to the next much easier." Coolrunning.com cofounder Dave Camire Hotels "I make sure that my hotel always has a gym and a good treadmill, just in case the weather's cold or rainy. I'd rather be in a sleeping bag on the floor of a hotel that's got a nice workout area than in a king-size bed in a hotel that lacks a fitness center." Paul Heffernan, executive vice president of global marketing for New Balance Packing "A few days before the 2006 New York City marathon, my bag and all of my gear was lost on the flight from California. Luckily, the bags had a few days to find me. Still, it's always a good idea to pack your running flats (and anything else that's important) in your carry-on." Meb Keflezighi, 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist Safety "Having identification on you is hugely important, especially if you plan on running in places where you've never been before--it's the only way that emergency personnel can help you in case something bad happens. Also, I always bring $10 in case I need a drink, something to eat, or a cab ride home." Runner's World editor-in-chief David Willey Fast tip Omni Hotels offers running maps at all 35 of its properties--as well as bottled water and towels for guests who break a sweat. At BudgetTravelOnline.com, you can download and print out Omni's suggested runs in Atlanta, Boston, Cancun, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Montreal, New Haven, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Save perfume ads from magazines. Those smelly magazine inserts may be annoying at home, but they can really come in handy at sea. I've used the ads to freshen the air in my stateroom bathroom. I also like to stick them in the closet and dresser drawers. Kevin Lum, San Francisco, Calif. Punch a hole in your key card. Bring a single-hole punch and lanyard on your next cruise. Once onboard, you can make a hole in your plastic key card and attach the lanyard, allowing you to carry the key around your neck. This is especially useful when your dress or slacks have no pockets. Just be sure to put the hole where it won't interfere with the card's magnetic strip. Sallie Clinard, Las Vegas, Nev. Join the frequent-cruiser program. If you're a new cruiser to a major cruise line such as carnival or Princess, make sure you check out its frequent-cruiser program before going on the cruise. The benefits, which may increase as you take more cruises, are great and are usually free. We've received access to a priority line for nightly shows (instead of standing in line with everyone else), and on one cruise, we returned to our cabin to discover a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. You might also get exclusive discount son future cruises. Steve Maglich, Rolling Meadows, Ill. Go to the spa when the ship is in port. I've been on many cruises with various lines (Carnival, Costa, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, American Hawaii, and most recently, Princess), and I've learned that the spas usually offer discounts on days that the ship is docked. Rhonda Grabov, Philadelphia, Pa. Use a diaper bag as a day pack. On a recent cruise to Bermuda, I found that a diaper bag is great to carry ashore for the day. The waterproof interior made sure our passports, credit cards, tour books, extra clothes, and beach towels stayed dry while we were near the water. The insulated bottle carrier kept my water bottle cool. The separate pouch usually used for soiled baby clothes held our wet swimsuits. There were pouches and elastic bands for sunscreen, sunglasses, and our camera. Because it had a shoulder strap, it was a lot easier to carry than many beach bags. And the newer styles don't look like "diaper bags" either. Susan Rixman, Louisville, Ky. Pack some candied ginger. Besides being a tasty treat, candied ginger is a preventative or remedy for motion sickness. (Some cruise ships even offer it with after-dinner mints.) We always carry a small supply with us in a resealable plastic bag, whether were on the road, in an airplane, or at sea. Weyman Lew, San Francisco, Calif.