TRAVEL Q&A

Finding cheap airfare Q I am on a limited budget and am looking to take a trip with my girlfriend to Colorado in early May. She has friends out there so we have a place to stay so at this point we are just looking for a flight. Right now the flights to Colorado in early May are right around $180 after taxes according to numerous travel sites. Is this about as good of a deal as we're going to find or are we going to be better off waiting a few more weeks to see if prices drop?

A The price sounds good to me; I'd probably nab it. But spend a minute or two surfing the Web before you do. Southwest Airlines flies direct to Denver from here, but its flights do not show up on most travel aggregator sites such as kayak.com. Go to Southwest's site directly to see if they beat the price you've already found. You might want to visit FareCompare.com, because it provides up-to-the-minute information on fare sales. (Southwest, by the way, shows up on this site). You can also sign up for free e-mail alerts there so you can be one of the first to know when airlines drop prices. As always, the best way to know whether you've found a good deal is to understand what airlines generally charge for your destination, whether it's Denver or Dubai. So when you have a spot in mind, check airfares from time to time and you'll be ready to buy with confidence when a decent fare comes along.

Answers to travelers' questions appear in Travel weekly and at startribune.com/escapeartists; send your question by e-mail to travel@startribune.com.

KERRI WESTENBERG

New fee for carry-on bags Low-fare Spirit Airlines has announced that it will begin charging for carry-on bags placed in overhead bins. The fees will be $45 if paid at the gate, $30 if paid in advance, and take effect Aug. 1. Bags that fit under the seat in front of a passenger remain free. The Florida-based airline already charges $25 for the first checked bag if paid at the airport, $19 if paid online. It does not fly to the Twin Cities (most flights depart Fort Lauderdale). So what's the big deal for us? Major airlines will be watching to see how travelers respond to the latest in fees introduced for onboard services that were once free.

KERRI WESTENBERG

'Black Broadway' of D.C. "Here on U Street, African-Americans created their own businesses, their own theaters." So begins the narration of a new audio walking tour of one of Washington's most storied neighborhoods. Once known as "Black Broadway," the sophisticated -- if segregated -- street played host to musical greats Pearl Bailey, Jelly Roll Morton and Cab Calloway. Cultural Tourism DC has created two hourlong audio tours that take visitors through the neighborhood. (Information: 1-202-661-7581; www.audisseyguides.com/ustreet.)

Helping lost kids get found Temporary tattoos known as SafetyTats are much like adhesive bandages. They're made with a material that is peeled and sticks to the skin (after you clean the area with a wipe that is provided). Then you use the pen that comes with the kit to write a phone number. The tats are hypoallergenic and latex-free. SafetyTat says the tats can last up to two weeks. We tested one for a week on the shoulder of an adult, and it held up without even a hint of working its way loose. Peeling it off was painless, even for an adult with a hairy shoulder. (Cost starts at $9.99 for six tattoos or $19.95 for an 18-pack; available from www.SafetyTat.com.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Finding your inner monk Staying in an Italian monastery may sound divine, but how do you find one? Monasterystays.com can help, whether you are planning a pilgrimage or simply taking a vacation. Click on "accommodations" and browse by region or popular destinations. A recent search found monasteries in Siena and Cinque Terre offering single rooms from $76 a night. This isn't the Hotels.com of monasteries: Booking isn't instantaneous, and the site advises against trying to make last-minute plans. You submit your travel plan; MonasteryStays.com contacts the places to determine availability.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Ibsen's return to Lanesboro The 13th annual Ibsen Festival, celebrating Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, runs Friday through next Sunday in Lanesboro, Minn. The festival features Scandinavian artists' demonstrations, lectures and the Ibsen play "John Gabriel Borkman," a tale of an imprisoned man obsessed with regaining his prestige. The play will be performed at the Common Weal Theatre (through June 11). Information at 1-800-657-7025, ext. 206; www.commonwealtheatre.org.