You Fly Into the Wrong City

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.

Airfares rise and fall in ways that are impossible to predict--until now, according to a company called Farecast. Its crystal ball is historical airfare data--some 150 billion (and counting) "airfare observations"--that the company uses to deduce whether prices will go up or down on a particular route. Farecast is just one of several websites taking aim at answering the age-old travel question of when you should buy an airline ticket. We tested the sites over the course of several weeks to answer an equally important question: Can they actually do what they promise? Predicting the future Say you're shopping for a flight from Minneapolis to Denver departing in 30 days. After you enter the cities and dates at Farecast, a line graph shows the best prices for that route over the past 60 days, a list of current fares, and a prediction--for example, "There is a high likelihood of major price increases over the next week." Flexible travelers will be especially interested in the site's grid-view option, which displays a range of current fares available for anyone able to shift dates. For now, Farecast only analyzes round-trip domestic flights that last two to eight nights and depart within the next 90 days. The company says it's accurate about three quarters of the time. In a series of tests conducted by The Seattle Times, however, Farecast's predictions were correct only 61 percent of the time--not much to brag about, considering that flipping a coin results in 50 percent accuracy. If you're nervous, you can buy the $10 Fare Guard option. Let's imagine that Farecast indicates that the Minneapolis--Denver fare will drop. You can hold off on booking the trip and buy the protection policy. Farecast will then track prices for a week, e-mailing you the best fares daily. If the company is wrong and the price goes up--and you book a ticket within that week--you'll receive a check for the difference between the original quote and what you ended up paying. (If the price goes down, your $10 will, you hope, be made up for in the savings.) Farecast, which is still in beta testing, only predicts what prices will do over seven days, which doesn't resolve the question of whether to book now or wait another month. In December, Farecast correctly foretold that a $165 ticket from Minneapolis to Denver would stay about the same for seven days. But three weeks after the initial search, we saw the fare take a dip, to $149. Learning from history Another site, FareCompare, also mines old airfares to create informative charts. Plug in a departure and arrival city, and three lines will illustrate the highest, lowest, and average prices for flights bought during each of the previous 12 months. A list of the cheapest fares in the coming 12 months will also appear, alongside ratings: Four stars means the price is at or below the lowest historical precedent, and zero stars indicates it's nowhere near a good deal. Actually booking that flight can be difficult. After the 12-month calendar of current fares pops up, you have to click on a month, week, and day to see date-specific fares. Only then does the site search for availability--and often, there aren't any seats at the best price. If the fare does exist, departure times may not be ideal, so you have to start all over again. Itineraries and prices mysteriously disappeared during several of our tests, and extra charges vary depending on the route, making it hard to compare apples to apples. Finally, when it comes time to buy a ticket, you're often sent to partner sites like Orbitz and Travelocity, which tack on service charges. The other players Large travel sites Expedia and Kayak now show the ups and downs of recent fares for a given route. While Farecast's data come from a wide range of resources, Expedia's and Kayak's numbers come solely from searches conducted on each site. For less popular routes, there may be only a handful of previous fares (if any) on which to base a decision. Rather than predicting the future--or telling folks what they could have paid two months ago--some websites are displaying more options as to what's available right now. Travelocity has a flexible date search that finds the best fares for up to three days before and after your chosen dates. Travelocity doesn't guarantee availability at displayed prices, however, which certainly makes the feature a lot less useful. And at first there's no telling what the departure times are. A new site, FlySpy, does far more ambitious flexible-date searches, creating line graphs that display how prices fluctuate as you adjust dates over a 30-day period. For now, however, FlySpy searches only Northwest Airlines flights from Minneapolis to 50 cities. The company plans on expanding, and we look forward to it. For modern travelers, every little bit of information helps. Three rules for smarter searches 1. These days it's rarely in your interest to book more than two months in advance. The exception is for high-season flights and routes with infrequent connections, when buying four or more months ahead may get you a better deal. In low season, it's OK to wait as few as three weeks before departure. 2. No matter how good a fare is at a booking engine, always see if the airline website has a better one. All things being equal, book directly with the airline. 3. Try to get an idea of what fare you're hoping to pay; Farecast and FareCompare reveal the best prices other folks have found. The cheapest seats disappear quickly, so have your exact dates, names of people going, and your credit card handy. Pounce the moment you see a good price available.