A US-based travel company I'm dealing with wants me to pay the balance due for a trip (a few weeks before I depart) "by check only." I'm very curious as to why the company won't accept a credit card. The company doesn't seem like a fly-by-night operation. Any idea what's up?

An acquaintance has told me that if you are 70 years or older you can not get insurance and so can not rent a car in Europe, is this correct?

Are ATMs still the best way to get cash abroad?

Are there any web sites on-line that allow me to buy multiple-stop or open-jaw ticketing?

Because of a new job, I'm about to become a major frequent flyer. I'm currently a member of many of the airline flight programs, but I have no "status" on any of them. How can I qualify for an airline's "elite" status level short of spending a year flying the minimum number of miles necessary? And any ideas on how to get club membership?

Can you recommend a Florida rental company that offers a Disney World-area vacation condo/home? It seems more cost-effective to stay near Disney World for a week rather than getting hotel rooms, but I'm concerned about winding up in a place that's far less than advertised.

Can you recommend any cooking school vacations in the southeastern United States?

Do you know if it's possible to use Family Radio Service frequency two-way radios (such as the Motorola TalkAbout sets) in foreign countries? In the USA, these frequencies have been set aside by the FCC for unrestricted use. Can they be used in Italy, for example?

Do you know of any kid-friendly guides to traveling in Europe? We're looking for nice places to stay that welcome children, sites that boys 11 and 14 would find interesting, and restaurants with kid-friendly foods that don't cost a fortune.

Do you know of any way to get a reasonable airfare for my daughter, a college junior, who is studying opera in Luca, Italy this summer? We haven't been able to find anything for under $1,000 round trip.

I am a widow who loves to travel but hates being charged the single supplement by tour companies and cruise lines. Is there any way to avoid this surcharge?

I recently bought an advance-purchase, round-trip ticket but only used the first half of it. When I tried to get a refund on the other half, the airline not only refused, but I was also told I couldn't apply its value to a future ticket. Can this possibly be correct?

I recently had some items stolen from my hotel room. Hotel security and management took no responsibility. What does the hotel owe a guest whose room is burglarized?

I want to drive west this summer with my teenage son who has a learner's permit from New Hampshire,where we live. Since it's legal for him to drive in our home-state as long as an adult, licensed driver accompanies him, is it legal for him to drive through other states if I'm with him?

I want to take my son, who will be almost 16, to Europe this summer. He is not enthused about going, however, so I want to plan carefully to make the trip interesting. I'm thinking about 10 days, probably in Italy (Roman ruins, battlefields?) and/or Great Britain (more war and pillage and history sites). On the one hand, I think going with a group might give us more structure and people with whom to interact. On the other, I would hate to get stuck for the entire trip with people with whom we don't click. Can you suggest a group that would be smallish and also have a mix of ages, including a few teens?

I was in New York over the weekend and stayed at the Mayfair Hotel in the theater district. On my bill I saw something I had never noticed. I was charged an $8.50 a day gratuity. The clerk said it was for the maid. Is this common?

I was seasick for 19 days crossing the Pacific on a troopship in November 1946 -- couldn't eat or drink for the entire trip -- and have avoided ships ever since. Are modern ships, say the ones that cruise the Alaska waterway, more comfortable?.

I went to Tuscany recently on a painting trip. I flew Air France, but my luggage never arrived during my 10-day vacation. It was returned to my home about a week after I came back. I had expenses of about $1,000 to buy the paints and clothing I needed while away. The airline will only reimburse me $300. Is there anything I can do?

Is it still possible to obtain cheap airfares by flying as an air courier? And, if so, how do I manage that?

I'd like to go windsurfing in November-December. Do you know any travel agencies or organizations that specialize in windsurfing vacations?

I'm a single man, 56 years old and recently retired. I'd love to see the world by sailing on cruise ships acting as a host. Do those jobs really exist? If so, how can I find out about them?

I'm in the middle of a lost luggage claims nightmare with American Airlilnes regarding items lost in transit from Costa Rica. The airline is demanding receipts for anything worth more than $100--specifically for some nice pieces of luggage, clothes, etc. Expecting someone to have receipts months after a purchase is asking a lot. I've written a letter to send to major national newspapers about this. What's your take on this?-September 2004

I'm not having great success planning a ski vacation to France this winter for eight to 10 people. I can't seem to find a web site that provides details on accommodations and/or packages. Our budget is $1,000 to $1,500 per person, excluding the flight, for one week of skiing. We all want to stay together in a chalet (meals would be a bonus!). Can you help?

I'm planning a trip abroad this fall. How can I find an Internet connection to check my e-mail?

I've always heard that if you just show up at the airport and wait at the gate, you can get deep discounts on tickets. The airlines want those seats filled and are willing to drop prices at the last moment to do it. Is this for real, or is it just an urban legend? Will this plan still work for "peak" travel days?

I've had a hard time buying a travel alarm clock that is loud enough to wake me. Most modern ones emit a high-pitch, weak, beep that just doesn't break through my poor hearing. I prefer being self-sufficient to relying on wake-up calls. I suspect it's a "guy thing."

I've heard there are bus services in Europe that allow you to hop on and off in various cities for a fixed price. Where can I find out more?

I've heard there's a museum dedicated to bad art on the East Coast. Can you tell me where?

My husband and I recently returned from a 7 day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. On the first morning of the cruise, we were in a "freak" storm and our porthole blew into our room, causing some minor cuts on my face, hand and leg. We were given another room and some other "perks", but were not offered any type of reimbursement for that cruise or anything for any future cruise. The incident affected my whole cruise. I feel that we should have been offered something, but don't know where to start to follow up on this. Any help you could give would be appreciated.

Our family will be in Italy for three and a half months (Florence, Perugia, Venice) and needs access to the web and e-mail. Should we buy a service while there? Can we preplan?

Our granddaughter turns nine this summer and we'd love to take her on a special trip to celebrate, but don't really know where to start. Any ideas?

The family patriarch, who is 83 years old, wants to take the family on a cruise next summer. One family member is in a wheelchair. Can you recommend a line and a destination that serves the needs of the disabled and is as accessible as possible?

We are frequent flyers on American Airlines and have paid for coach fares to London in order to upgrade to business class. Yet the airline won't upgrade us at this time, even though I know there are still many unclaimed business seats on our flight. What can we do, and when is the best time to request an upgrade?

We're going to Paris for four days in April and are open to suggestions for restaurants, new or old.

We're headed to New York City for the Christmas holiday and want to know what restaurants will be open for Christmas dinner.

When is it best to use your frequent flyer miles instead of paying for a ticket?

When travelling to France, what kind of electrical charger will I need to keep a laptop computer happy?

You mentioned in your "What B&B Guidebooks Don't Tell You" article last month that some guidebooks charge B&Bs a fee to be listed. Which ones are those?