5152008: Two Airlines for One Trip?
I've been shopping online for airline flights to the Caribbean. Because my fiance and I don't live in a hub city, we'll have to make connections to get to any of the islands (I'm still picking which one!) Here's my question: should I consider an itinerary that involves more that one air carrier to get us from our hometown to the island?Thanks for your email. Well, the answer is yes...and no...
If the carriers have a CODE SHARE agreement or at least an INTERLINE agreement, the transition from one airline to the other will be easy. You'll check in at the first airline, check in your luggage and board. When you make your connection, your baggage will be transferred from airline A to airline B for you. Airline B will have been notified by airline A that you made the airline A flight so they'll know your status.
However, if the airlines do NOT have an agreement, the connection can be much more difficult. Check with the airlines involved but generally it means a lot more work (and potential delays) for you. If you check bags, you'll need to retrieve your bag (which means leaving security) from the airline A baggage turnstile at the end of the airline A flight, come back through security, and start all over with airline B. Airline B will assume that your trip is originating in that city; they will not know that you have been flying aboard airline A to reach that connection city.
In short, we'd really suggest you look for carriers with code share agreements (or at least an interline agreement for the transfer of baggage) or stick with one carrier for the entire journey. If you do split the trip between two airlines, make sure you leave lots of time to make that connection.
Labels: mailbox
posted by Paris & John /Click for permalink 9:00 AM
Help Us Identify This Castle
We received this letter from a reader yesterday:
I came across your website, and am hoping you can help me out. I am trying to discover the location in the attached photo? It is not the best quality photo, but there is definitely a castle/tower in the background with this rather unusual garden. I think it is somewhere in the UK, but I just cannot seem to find it. Any information would be gratefully received. 
We can't identify this castle...but we're hoping one of our readers can! If you have an idea of where this castle might be or, even better, if you know the name, please email us at
editors@lovetripper.com . Thanks!
Labels: mailbox
posted by Paris & John /Click for permalink 8:59 AM
08272007: Punta Cana Wedding Question
Hi: We are going to be staying at the Club Med Punta Cana for a week in January, 2008, and thought we might get married at Casa de Campo or a church (we are not Catholic) while we were there. It would be just a small group of 5 adults and a baby. Do you have any suggestions? I have called Club Med but they haven't responded and it might be nicer off of the property. Thank you. Judith Dear Judith,
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Casa de Campo is a lovely resort in the La Romana area (not too far from Punta Cana). Close to Casa de Campo in the Altos de Chavon complex, the St Stanislaus Church is a beautiful spot for a wedding. Here’s a
slide show of the church. The church and the Altos de Chavon complex (which includes restaurants and shops and is built like an historic village, all overlooking the Chavon River), is administered by
Casa de Campo.
We’d suggest hiring a local wedding planner (or checking again with the one at the Club Med...or Casa de Campo will be able to help, too.) To marry in the DR, you’ll need to have your paperwork officially translated into Spanish and there are a few extra forms such as proof of single status that you’ll need to provide. It’s all pretty straightforward and a wedding planner will be able to help; you’ll just want to start early.
Best wishes!! Paris and John
Labels: Caribbean, mailbox
posted by Paris & John /Click for permalink 1:19 PM
