A low-tech way to enhance your trip

By Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Staff, 2/09/2003


		Sensible traveler Destinations Where they went Get in gear Going Strong All Along

In this age of the Internet, they've been jokingly called portable information terminals. They're compact and thus easy to take along on your travels, and they contain troves of information that could save you money or otherwise enhance your trip.

They're books.

Some, of course, are guidebooks, which tell you all about your destination. But there are others, designed for everything from helping you en route to picking the right cruise ship for your lifestyle. Among these publications, all of which are paperbacks:

"Rest Areas & Welcome Centers Along US Interstates" by William C. Herow (Roundabout Publications, $9.95). You won't find exciting writing in this book. In fact, you'll find very little writing but lots of charts, guiding you to those places along the interstates that vacationers find vital: rest areas, welcome centers, roadside turnouts, scenic villas, discount stores such as Wal-Mart, and, in this latest edition, travel centers. If you can't find the book, it can be ordered with free shipping by calling 800-455-2207.

"Zagat Survey: 2003 London Nightlife," edited by Sara Norrman and Laura Mitchell (Zagat, $12.95). As Roger Miller sang long ago, London swings. The guide covers more than 825 clubs, bars, and lounges, directing you to the hot dance clubs, the romantic lounges, the gay and lesbian spots, and even the places with water views.

"The Dog Lover's Companion" by various writers (Avalon Travel Publishing, $17.95-$21.95). This is a series of guides for people who travel with their pooches, giving the scoop on dog-friendly parks, restaurants, shops, and hotels. Volumes are available for Boston, the Bay Area of Northern California, California, Florida, New England, New York City, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

"Living, Studying, and Working in Italy: Everything You Need to Know to Live la Dolce Vita" by Travis Neighbor Ward and Monica Larner (Owl Books, $17). Whether you plan to stay a few weeks or the rest of your life, the book's step-by-step guide to settling in may ease your transition.

"European Vacation Rentals" by Steenie Harvey (Avalon Travel, $17.95). If you're looking for an alternative to a hotel, this book offers many, from log cabins in Norway to houseboats on Amsterdam's canals to apartments in Ireland. There is information on long- and short-term rentals for families, couples, and solo travelers.

"Africa: Top Wildlife Countries" by Mark W. Nolting (Global Travel Publishers, $19.95). An African safari certainly falls into the "trip of a lifetime" category. This book compares wildlife reserves and other major attractions. There are maps, photos, charts, and information on accommodations, graded for quality. A companion volume from the same publisher is "African Safari Journal" ($16.95) with a wildlife/botany guide, language guide, trip organizer, safari directory, check list, and, of course, a journal.

"The Total Traveler Guide to Worldwide Cruising: The Encyclopedia of Vacations at Sea" by Ethel Blum (Travel Publications, $29.95). This hefty journal contains over 400 reviews of ships, with information on vessels ranging from cruise ships to riverboats to freighters to barges. Opinions are given on which ships are best for romance, singles, seniors, families, disabled people, etc. There is information on deals, insider tips, shopping advice, and a lot more.

$649 -- with air

Carnival Cruise Lines is offering Caribbean cruises, including round-trip air from Boston's Logan Airport, starting at $649 per person.

The air/sea packages are for selected February and March sailings from Miami. Prices begin at $649 for four-day western Caribbean cruises to Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico, aboard the 2,052-passenger Fascination; $699 for five-day cruises to Key West and Belize aboard the 2,052-passenger Imagination; and $849 seven-day eastern or western Caribbean cruises aboard the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory, and 2,052-passenger smoke-free Paradise.

(The fine print: Rates reflect interior cabins, are based on double occupancy, and are subject to change. The offer is capacity controlled; there are other restrictions as well.)

See a travel agent, call 800-CARNIVAL, or visit www.carnival

.com.

Stylish tip

If you're visiting Hong Kong, Travel Holiday magazine suggests a stop at Bossini Clothes in Kowloon. The quality is high and the prices are low: Most pants, shirts, and skirts are less than $35 each.

Bossini is on Nathan Road, Victoria Heights; telephone 011-852-2377-4322.

$80 ski package

The Inn at Mountain View Farm in East Burke, Vt., has an $80-per-person weekday Alpine Ski Package, valid through March 30. Included are a night's lodging with a country breakfast; two adult passes to nearby Burke Mountain, with its 43 trails and 2,000-foot vertical drop; afternoon tea and sweets by the fire; and all taxes.

(The fine print: Packages are double occupancy; add $15 a person for weekend stays. The offer is not valid Feb. 14-16. Larger rooms and luxury suites cost more.)

Call 800-572-4509 or e-mail innmtnview@kingcon.com. Visit www.innmtnview.com for additional packages.

Cruise sale

People who use MasterCard to book a qualifying cruise on Travelocity by Feb. 28 for sailings departing between March 1 and Dec. 31 will get up to $250 back per stateroom on a MasterCard Gift Card.

(The fine print: The $250 is for a cruise of 10 days or more. Other possible savings are $50 for a three- to six-night sailing and $175 for seven to nine nights.

Visit www.travelocity.com and click on Cruises.

$15 lift tickets

Ski Butternut in Great Barrington is offering $15 lift tickets every Monday and Tuesday. The price is valid for a full-day all-mountain ticket. Regular price for a midweek lift ticket is $32 for ages 14-65 and $22 for ages 7-13 or 65 and older. Children 6 and younger are free midweek.

(The fine print: The $15 price doesn't apply on Presidents' Day.)

Visit www.skibutternut.com.

Clues and strategies

The Web site www.biddingfor

travel.com is a message board of sorts in which contributors reveal their successful bids on priceline

.com. The idea is to provide clues on how low you might go in offering an acceptable bid on a similar property in a given location. Meanwhile, one traveler claims success in checking out a room rate offered on Hotwire, then bidding 15 percent lower on Priceline for the same type room in the same neighborhood. With either method, there is no guarantee of success, however.

Quotable

"Have you ever walked into a hotel room for which you paid, say $100, only to see a placard on the wall indicating that the top price for the room was $250? . . . Do you think anyone actually ever paid that $250? Not likely. The sad fact is that all too many hotels -- especially the higher-priced ones -- adopt fictitious list prices (or `rack rates') that nobody ever pays. Then, they promote the real going price as a big `discount' "

-- ED PERKINS, syndicated travel columnist.

Discount tickets

Broadwaybox.com lists promotion codes for buying discounted tickets, sometimes as much as half off, for Broadway shows. I tried it recently, and found three discount codes for "Cabaret," two for "Beauty and the Beast," and one for "The Phantom of the Opera." Interestingly, the site lists expired codes, saying they are often extended beyond the original date. The site explains how to use the codes.