Time for a gut check. There was a story out Thursday morning about a government report showing that average domestic airfares rose 4.4 percent in the first quarter. No surprise, right?
But if you take a closer look at the Department of Transportation press release you see that the agency notes that from the first quarter of 1995 to the first quarter of 2008 average domestic itinerary fares rose 11.7 percent while inflation surged 41 percent.
Average fares include round-trip and one-way fares, taxes and fees and exclude abnormally high reported prices as well as freebie frequent-flier deals.
So I took their numbers, adjusted for inflation, graphed it out, and discovered that there's actually been a trend downwards -- a 20 percent drop from '95. Witness my handiwork above.
Surprising? Not really. Think about it. One of the first times I flew, in the mid-1980s, I did it on the budget-pioneer People Express, which basically priced itself out of existence. A round-trip, coast-to-coast ticket was about $200, which is a bit over $400 in today's dollars. About three weeks ago, I flew from Boston to Sacramento for a total of $465.
Some will want to quibble about details (Is the Department of Transportation Domestic Average Itinerary Fares the best way to gauge prices? And is the Consumer Price Index the best way to compare rates of inflation? Are first quarter prices the best period for comparing numbers), but apply your own life experience to this. Think about a flight you took about 10 years ago. Then plug those numbers in the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator. Not look around to see what that fare is now. And be fair.
Bottom line: Airfares are on the rise and for good reasons (in '95, a gallon of regular gas set you back $1.10-$1.20). But, historically speaking, they aren't that high. Yet. So let's turn down the volume on the kvetching.

I was in an airport in Sacramento earlier this month, getting ready to board a flight back here. And for those who have not traveled in a while, let me make this clear: The airlines are deadly serious about new baggage rules, including size and weight. We're talking both checked and carry-on.
While checking in, there was a woman in front of me who had been told that her suitcase was about 5 pounds over and her options were either to make it lighter or pony up about $80. So she popped it open right there and started pulling out a travel iron, knick-knacks, various articles of clothing (I leave this to your vivid imagination). And got the bag down to fighting weight.
Similarly, I saw a man trying to carry on a questionable-sized suitcase who was forced to check it (and pay for a second bag).
Anyway, the Washington Post, compiled this list of the current rules and if you are planning soon it might be worthwhile printing, clipping, and saving on the fridge:

I'll fess up: Jet lag does me in. I just got back from a quick trip to the Golden State. There's only a three-hour time difference, but it takes me about a week to get so I'm not still squinting quizzically through bloodshot eyes at the sun at 8:30 a.m. on the T.
I'm willing to try anything. Reader's Digest (I once had an English professor who likened the reading of digested material to the consumption of already digested material) has some tips. Most of them involve trying to get your body ready for the changes in advance; some focus on your general well-being; some are fabulously ridiculous. Here are a few (along with my own insights):
ACCLIMATE. If you’re going to be gone longer than a couple of days, begin acclimating your body to the new time zone by altering your eating schedule three days before your plane takes off -- cool, dinner at 3 sharp.
AVOID AIRLINE FOOD. See above. It seems if you're going to be tricking your body by eating closer to the new time zone you don't want at airline repast to mess up your schedule. Besides the food usually sucks anyway.
CHUG. Stay hydrated, but avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they can dehydrate you, mess up your internal clock, make you unpopular with the seatmate you have to climb over to get to the restroom, and exaggerate jet lag symptoms.
HIT THE LINGUINE. Or any other carb-dense food at dinner on the night before your flight. Recent research suggests carbs boost your ability to sleep — particularly when you fly westward. Wonder whether a Sam's summer ale would count. Carbs is carbs, right?
REFRIGERATE. Particularly if you need to sleep on the plane. I call this the suspended animation tip. Use earplugs to cut noise, an eyeshade to kill the light, and turn the air-conditioning valve on high. A lower temperature lowers your body’s core temperature and signals it’s time for sleep.
Here's the whole, unadulterated list.

Not a big surprise, but United and US Airways have decided to join rival American and start charging many customers $15 to check even one bag.
United, which said it was considering making the change when American announced its move last month, also plans to increase fees to check three or more bags, overweight luggage, or items that need special handling from $100 to $125 or from $200 to $250 depending on the item.
US Airways, which also plans to start charging domestic coach customers $2 for nonalcoholic drinks Aug. 1, detailed other cuts, including trimming its domestic schedule as much as 8 percent by year's end and axing 1,700 jobs.
The $25 fee that both carriers charge for a second checked bag will not change.
United's new policy will apply starting June 13 for passengers who buy seats for domestic travel and starting Aug. 18 for those headed to and from Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
Exempt will be travelers flying United First, United Business, and those who have premier status with either United for the Star Alliance. Here are more details.
US Airways' new baggage fee will apply to tickets booked on or after July 9 for domestic flights and those to and from Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The airline will exempt Dividend Miles Preferred members, First Class and Envoy passengers, Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, military personnel on active duty, unaccompanied minors, and passengers checking assistive devices. Here are the details.
All this should come as no shock. Sit tight. There will be others

The Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) has released these Top 10 rankings for US, North America, and International hot spots for student and youth travel from their annual member survey, which polls student and youth travel industry professionals on current and emerging trends:

Top 10 U.S. Destinations
1. Washington D.C.
2. New York City
3. Orlando
4. Chicago
5. Greater Boston
6. Historic Virginia
7. Southern California
8. Philadelphia Area
9. Baltimore/Annapolis
10. Hawaii

Top North America Destinations
1. Toronto
2. Montreal
3. Quebec City
4. Vancouver
5. Cancun & the Yucatan
6. Calgary
7. Edmonton
8. Ottawa
9. Oaxaca
10. Mexico City

Top 10 International Destinations
1. United Kingdom
2. France
3. Italy
4. Spain
5. Australia
6. Germany
7. Greece
8. Brazil
9. Peru
10. China

How refreshing to find a hotel "deal" that is actually a bargain! Shell Vacations Hospitality is offering family-friendly summer deals at some of its resorts in the US and Canada. Included are a $15 gas card (OK, that's not even half a tank these days, but at least it's something), room rates ranging from $68-$189 for guests staying four nights or more, and a gift pack of beach games for the kids. Packages are valid from June 2 until Sept. 5 and can only be booked online through Shell's website. Shell's resorts include:
Peacock Suites, Anaheim
Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Legacy Golf Resort, Phoenix
Starr Pass Golf Suites, Tucson
Desert Rose Resort, Las Vegas
Carriage Ridge Resort, Horseshoe Valley, Ontario
Mountainside Lodge, Whistler, British Columbia
Waikiki Marina Resort, Oahu
Kauai Coast Resort, Kauai

Once again it's Us vs. Them. Beantown vs. The Big Apple. Final score? 667-142. We lose. Say it ain't so, Papi.
Actually, this isn't about baseball but restrooms in public places as measured by Imodium's Bathroom Finder, an admittedly unscientific, incomplete -- and potentially inaccurate -- yet for our purposes authoritative and informational source of Where to Go in America. (Thanks to Consumerist.com for the tip.)
OK, the battle of Us vs. Them is obviously unfair, they being not only much bigger but so full of it.
But let's see how we stack up against a handful of cities of our approximate size. At 142 we absolutely rock next to El Paso, Texas (94) and Milwaukee (134).
Sadly, though, we compare unfavorably with Seattle (247 -- but all that coffee those people drink...), Denver (200 -- I'm sure it's somehow related to that Mile High thing), and Washington (220 -- perhaps the only American city that could probably outdo New York in per capita generation, given the unfair advantage bestowed by Capitol Hill as well as the White House).
So we end up someplace in the middle. At least this time there's no Curse of the Bambino. Besides, who could wait 86 years?

If you're looking to fly this summer, maybe you'd better think about buying soon.
Delta and United have once again raised fuel surcharges, the second time in two weeks. This time the increase amounts to $10-$40 round-trip.
This increase pushes the domestic tote board figure for round-trip fuel surcharges to as much as $110 (!!) and the transatlantic figure to $230 (!!!).
Thanks to Rick Seaney at farecompare.com who has been keeping track and doing the math.
The latest hike comes a week after United pushed a similar one, which was joined by all the majors by Saturday.
And it was a week ago today that Delta CEO Richard Anderson said that US carriers would need to raise fares 15 percent-20-percent to offset rising fuel prices. They are most of the way there at this point so it would not be surprising to see a couple more increases heading our way.
Bear in mind, that these increases are not simply across the board. It's still possible to get a sale or a good deal on highly competitive routes. But this trend isn't going away any time soon.

The May issue of Parents magazine has compiled of list of what it considers the 10 best US and Caribbean beach resorts for families. Lo and behold, a Cape Cod resort clocks in at number 8, competing alongside heavy hitters in Florida, Hawaii, California, and the Caribbean. The rankings are based in part on cost, quality of supervised children’s programs, variety of family activities, and quality of pool and beach areas. In order of their rankings, here's the list:
1. Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya (Bahamas)
2. Club Med Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)
3. South Seas Island Resort (Captiva Island, Fla.)
4. Atlantis, Paradise Island (Bahamas)
5. Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (Florida)
6. Beaches Negril Resort and Spa (Jamaica)
7. Hilton Hawaiian Village (Honolulu)
8. Ocean Edge Resort & Spa (Brewster)
9.Loew’s Coronado Bay Beach Resort & Spa (San Diego)
10. Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort Casino & Spa (Puerto Rico)

A friend recently sent an email asking for travel tips. She was about to leave for Geneva and hadn’t been abroad for a very long time. Here was my response. (Blog readers: Feel free to comment with your own ways to make air travel easier!)

*The best way to get through a long flight is to upgrade to business class. (This is a joke, of course, but also serious! It's sooooo much better. I save my frequent flier miles for this.)

*Bring earplugs and eye mask as you never know when a screaming child will be in the next row. Also, the eye mask helps shut everything out when you want to snooze. If you sleep, make sure the flight attendant can see your seat belt is buckled--especially over a blanket--because if the captain turns on the "buckle seat belt" sign while you are sleeping...and you aren't buckled...the attendants will wake you up. What a pain!

*Speaking of blankets, I was told by an attendant that these and pillows are the worst source of germs on the plane. I bring a light shawl and use that instead. Also--I always wear socks & shoes because my feet get cold.

A friend recently sent an email asking for travel tips. She was about to leave for Geneva and hadn’t been abroad for a very long time. Here was my response. (Blog readers: Feel free to comment with your own ways to make air travel easier!)

*The best way to get through a long flight is to upgrade to business class. (This is a joke, of course, but also serious! It's sooooo much better. I save my frequent flier miles for this.)

*Bring earplugs and eye mask as you never know when a screaming child will be in the next row. Also, the eye mask helps shut everything out when you want to snooze. If you sleep, make sure the flight attendant can see your seat belt is buckled--especially over a blanket--because if the captain turns on the "buckle seat belt" sign while you are sleeping...and you aren't buckled...the attendants will wake you up. What a pain!

*Speaking of blankets, I was told by an attendant that these and pillows are the worst source of germs on the plane. I bring a light shawl and use that instead. Also--I always wear socks & shoes because my feet get cold.

The bottom line: Yes, you should be worried but probably not for the reasons you think.
Over the past couple weeks, everybody's been reading about hundreds of flights being grounded because of maintenance problems. It started a couple of weeks ago when Southwest got hit with a record $10.2 million fine after admitting it missed required structural inspections on about 50 planes. And some days later the airline grounded dozens more because it wasn't sure that other necessary check-ups had been properly done.
In the past couple days, American and Delta have canceled hundreds of flights as they grounded scores of planes to inspect wiring. At Logan, this has ended up affecting more than a dozen flights.
No one wants to end up like Southwest.
But right now, with all these planes getting grounded for safety checks, you're getting kind of skittish about flying, yes. The airline wise guys say you're missing the point. In a story in the L.A. Times, they lay it out thusly: Yes, there is a safety issue, but it's not huge. Planes will not be raining down. What you are seeing is the result of an aging US fleet needing more maintenance at a time when carriers have less money to replace them and are trimming schedules to cut costs. As more planes need more work and with fewer options to reschedule we are going to start seeing more of these kinds of disruptions.
So air travel isn't necessarily less safe, but it could become a little less predictable.

There are plenty of things you can do to make traveling with very young children easier. Some of those things work — in theory. In practice, though? Well…
In theory: Taking an 8:10 p.m. flight — right at bedtime — would mean that my adorable 3-year-old and my angelic 16-month old would sleep on board, and we'd tuck their sweetly slumbering selves into their beds at my in-law’s home in Florida.
In practice: Not so much.
O. — he’s the baby — soaked through his diaper, his onesie, his cute little shirt, and his overalls before we had even cleared security. Of course, I had a gorgeous, brand-new, color-coordinated designer outfit for him in the diaper bag, which I whipped out in the beautifully appointed and clean changing area at the airport. Wait, what? Hahahahah… no. I whipped out a pair of pajamas that may have fit him 6 months ago and certainly did not fit him now, squeezed him into it while trying not to let him touch any visible surface in the ladies bathroom, and prayed that he wouldn’t have a blow-out on the plane.
L.–- she’s 3 — watched all sorts of wildly inappropriate cartoons and other televised programming in-flight and finally fell asleep 10 minutes before we landed in Fort Lauderdale. At 11:45 p.m. I’m opposed to the whole give-them-Benedryl-and-they-will-sleep school of traveling with small children, but there was a point there when I would have gladly given it a try. Except that I already know my kids are in that slim minority of people who get hyper, rather than sleepy, after taking antihistamines (unlike me, who conks out when a pink-and-white capsule is waved in my general direction).
In theory: There are things you can bring and things you can do to make traveling with small children easier.
Posted By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff

Magellan Press is out with a guide for hungry travelers: ''Where the Locals Eat: The 100 Best Restaurants in the Top 50 Cities.'' That's US cities, and Boston is included.

Entries include a range of food and prices. Boston restaurants include Brown Sugar Cafe for the best Thai and the Cask 'n Flagon for the best sports bar.

If you think the $11.95 price is too steep, particularly for a guide that includes only one New England city, check their website for more foodie news and blogs.

And if you have your own local winner, share your tip with us.

It is good to be wired. Sha. This is why I keep the JiWire in my favorites list (right next to my Starbucks store locator because I like to stay wired, too). JiWire is so excellent. It keeps a registry of 236,834 free and pay Wi-Fi sites in 135 nations.
The top city? Moscow with 8,237, followed by London (3,442), Paris (3,179), Taipei (2,751), and Seoul (2,498). (But there is no Starbucks in the real Moscow; the one in Idaho has one, and this may influence my travel plans).
Here in Mass., Boston comes in first with 225 hot spots, followed by Cambridge (61), Hyannis (46?!), Newton (29), and Waltham (22).
A grande Guatemala Casi Cielo and the Cape in winter. Sweet.

I always wanted to be a teacher. Molding those young minds. Cultivating the best that America has to offer. Making a real difference.
And then there are the three most obvious reasons: June, July, and August.
In recognition of the good work that they do -- and recognizing the short money they do it for --
I feel it my obligation to make sure these shock troops in the Battle against Ignorance know about Educators Bed & Breakfast Travel Network (800-956-4822).
No, there are no guys with shaved heads and orange togas here. This is a kind of co-operative run by teachers for teachers. You must be a working or retired educator to join. Once in -- there is a $36 annual membership fee -- you pay just $40 a night (plus a $5 booking fee) for a double room at any of more than 6,000 homes in 50 countries. This includes a spouse and kids under 18, providing you can all fit -- and stand each other (think Texas Death Cage carping) -- in one room. And you get a light Continental breakfast -- yes, I'm sure sometimes this means doughnuts.
A caveat: By joining you also agree to potentially be a host, but you're under no obligation if a request comes at a bad time. By hosting, you build up credits that can be redeemed for future stays.
Besides, single rooms it's also possible to wire up a Home Stay -- which is $50 a night -- in which you essentially housesit for someone else for five days or longer. A win-win: They get someone to watch over their stuff and you get a whole house.
So, it seems that y'all don't know everything, eh? I hope you paid attention because there may be a pop quiz later.

Pay $20 per diem for WiFi in your hotel room or get it for free? Hmm. Seems like a no-brainer to me. You can make up your own mind. Go ahead. Take your time. I don't want you to pull anything.
The folks at Travel Hawaii LLC have put together a database of what different hotels charge. Based on it, you might notice that in Waikiki, guests at Starwood's Moana Surfrider have to pony up $13/day for access, while next door at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach it's comp.
Your pals at Travel Hawaii say that there's quite a range throughout the islands: On Kauai, say, about half the hotels are free, while others charge $10 to $15/day.
Now this probably won't be the deciding factor in where you stay, but as Mrs. Russell used to say in the 4th grade: Knowledge is Power.
What's that? What for do I need the Wifi while on vaca, you ask? OK, go ahead and stand there in your ugly palm tree shirt (yes, I always hated it) with your goofy grin, doing the pinky-hang-loose thing. But don't try to make out like I never warned you. And don't you dare try to skate on the bar tab at Foley's after you get back cause you're tapped out.

And then there is the hassle of airport parking. According to a survey by Park ’N Fly Network, 50 percent of travelers cited dragging their luggage from the car to the airport and back as one of their biggest annoyances.
Seventy percent expressed concerns about long waits for the shuttle to and from the airport. Park ’N Fly, with facilities at 65 airports across the nation, notes that it offers luggage assistance from drivers who also provide pick-up and drop-off at the travelers’ cars, as well as continuous shuttle service. The company maintains that savings average 25 percent vs. compared with airport parking lots.

Posted by Richard C. Carpenter, Globe correspondent

Why it seems like just yesterday that oil hit $100 a barrel. That's because it was. So now it's time to play: Why Should I Care.
OK, you like to travel, right? And you've noticed that airfares have been increasing along with rising fuel prices, yes? Nothing gets by you.
There are some guys who get paid a lot more than you or me to figure out what the airlines are up to. There is a growing buzz, according to Reuters, that the carriers will soon be looking to charge a separate fee for fuel so you, The American Traveling Public, can share more of the pain.
Let me spell it out: You would pay for your ticket and then you would get assessed a separate fee for fuel. The fuel payment could come as late as just before you board, which is reportedly the way some charters did it during the 70s energy crisis.
Sound farfetched? Consider that many carriers, like American and United, already tack on a fuel surcharge. The airline wise guys think that this could be just an intermediate step, so they can get us used to the idea of ponying up separate for the fuel (like in high school when everybody gave the driver a buck).
I know, I know, this could be just so much second-gunman-on-the-hillside-outside-Dealey-Plaza talk. But stay tuned.

Next time you're on Oahu's North Shore, take a few minutes to check out "the
hole in the rock," as locals refer to it. This "hidden" sea arch (there are
no signs pointing the way) was created on April 1, 1946, when a tsunami
blasted a hole in the middle of this sandstone island that sits right off
La'ie Point and left behind this grand, natural sight. From the point, you
have a stunning view of other nearby islands and Oahu's windward coastline.
Crashing waves add to the drama and beauty of this exposed point, but take
care walking along the slippery rocks.
La'ie Point is located just past the Polynesian Cultural Center in La'ie
(which, itself, is well worth a visit -- allow yourself a couple of hours to
see this center; it offers re-created villages and cultural demonstrations
from the islands of Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, the Marquesas
and Tonga). To find the point, head west along Route 83, take a right at the
stoplight in Anemoku, take another right onto Maupaka and follow the road to
the end.

Posted by Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

One of the special pleasures of travel is discovering a bookstore that
embodies the spirit of the place. For my taste, Native Books/Na Mea Hawaii
in Honolulu takes the cake for local interest. Located in the Ward Warehouse
shopping plaza out at 1050 Ala Moana Boulevard, Native Books is completely
devoted to Hawaiian life, language, song, and culture. Not only is it jammed
with children's and adult books about Hawaiian history -- including
biographies of major figures, a history of tourism, and an illustrated book
on the development of Waikiki Beach -- it also has a vast collection of
Hawaiian music on CDs and a extensive CD listening station to sample before
buying. True, the shop does hawk some of the predictable flower shirts and
shell jewelry, but they sell the stuff to support Hawaiian artisans. In
fact, the operation serves as something of a cultural center, with free
Sunday afternoon concerts and free introductory classes in everything from
Hawaiian language to playing the ukulele to dancing the hula. That's about
as local as any bookstore ever gets. If you're bound for Honolulu, check
them out.

Posted by David Lyon, Globe Correspondent

On a recent “girls’ getaway” in Kauai, my friend Sarah and I discovered a local treat that became a staple of our daily diet: shaved ice. After a day hiking in the 90-degree heat in Kauai’s impressive Waimea Canyon — dubbed “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific” by Mark Twain — we stumbled upon a place called Jo-Jo’s Shave Ice in the town of Waimea on Kauai’s south shore. Here, you can get a giant pile of shaved ice on top of either vanilla or macadamia nut ice cream.
Choose three flavors of syrup to create your own shaved ice concoction or choose from 15 tried-and-true favorites, like the Picnic Special, which is made with watermelon- and pink lemonade-flavored shaved ice on top of macadamia nut ice cream. My favorite combo was a self-concocted blue raspberry-, cream soda- and passion orange-flavored shaved ice on vanilla ice cream. I’m thinking of calling it Creamy Passionberry.
Turns out Kauai is known for its shaved ice, so you’ll find shaved ice stands, shacks, and shops all over the island, but none is as good as Jo-Jo’s (trust me, we tried them all).

Posted by Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

We still don’t have a definitive answer to Freud’s famous question: What do women want? But it seems that travelers, at least, care most about germs, green tourism, and that guy in the seat next to them turning off his cell phone. And it turns out that next year, Jerba, Tunisia, is destined to the next great place.
Where do we get this stuff? TripAdvisor, the popular online community devoted to travel, just put out its annual survey of top trends. And according to their not-totally-scientific study:
Not only did 80 percent of respondents say they worry about germs, bacteria and viruses when traveling, but that they fret most about airplanes, followed by public transportation, eateries, hotels, and airports. What do they plan to do about it? Wash those hands like demons. (Over a quarter of those asked -- and you know who you are -- actually plan to travel with disinfectant and cleaning supplies.)
26 percent plan to be more environmentally conscious in their plans, particularly by hiking and biking more.
A huge majority of folks think fliers should have to shut off their mobiles, but only a bit over half think they have the right to tell a seat mate to turn off video content they deem inappropriate (Did I miss the news? Did Larry Flynt get himself an airline?).
Besides Tunisia, other possible top hot spots for world travel in Makandi Bay, Egypt, Phangnga, Thailand, Kovalam, India, and Sabaudia, Italy. In the states, folks may be heading to Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., Kitty Hawk, N.C., and Seward, Alaska.
One of the more interesting things is that about a fifth of the folks feel the need to swear their travel partners to a vow of secrecy about what happened during their trip. What happens in Lompoc stays in Lompoc?