Last week, Northwest Airlines launched an online gift registry that travelers can use to accrue WorldPerks miles for their future travels. You have to enroll (free) in the WorldPerks program to create a registry.

Ask George: I bought a package tour and I learned that the included airfare is a discounted “bulk” fare. Do these fares carry restrictions that regular fares don’t?

Answer: It depends. Some bulk fares, such as those sold by consolidators or as part of cruise line or tour package, do indeed come with restrictions that so-called public or “published” fares don’t have. For instance, let’s say you miss your flight. The airline might require that you forfeit your ticket and buy a new fare at the non-discounted “walk up” price. If the airline cancels your flight, you might have to wait for a seat to open up on your original airline’s next flight out rather than enjoy the option of flying on a competing airline’s next flight, as you might with a regular fare. And you might not get frequent flyer miles or advance seat selection. So it’s a good idea to ask if your fare is a bulk or non-published fare and if there are any special rules or restrictions to be aware of.

George Hobica is a travel writer living in New York City.

You may have noticed a helpful little post last week called Ask George. Well, we’re quite pleased to announce that Ask George, a column by travel writer and expert George Hobica, is now a regular feature on the TravelPost.com Insider. Each week, George will answer a pressing travel question with his years of expertise and experience in the biz. You’ll also be able to find all our Ask George columns archived in the Ask George category over on the right. We’re grateful to have George aboard the Insider and hope you be will, too!

Good news world travelers! The number of wi-fi hotspots is set to increase by 25 percent this year, according to a study from ABI Research.

Wi-Fi Hotspots to Increase by Nearly 25% in 2007

Men’s Vogue has a story out in this month’s issue about all the over-the-counter medicines you can get in Europe that aren’t available in the United States. Author Adam Sachs interviewed frequent travelers about their favorite remedies from UK and European pharmacies. Good info should you be traveling and find yourself enduring a splitting headache, heinous hangover or other such malady.

European Pharmacies Grant Easy Access to Drugs You Can’t Get at Home

Should you be yearning for a last-minute trip to Williamsburg or Jamestown, which is celebrating its 400th birthday this year, AirTran is offering a select number of non-stop, one-way tickets to Newport News/Williamsburg Airport for the laughably low price of $16.07. Note that you’ll still have to pay regular fares for the return leg of your trip. Other restrictions: you’ve got to book buy Monday, April 30, and fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday between May 8 and May 22, 2007.

AirTran Airways Celebrates Jamestown’s 400th Birthday with $16.07* Fares

Warmer months mean many travelers are stretching their legs, heading on hikes, preparing kids for summer camp and planning outdoor adventures. For those of us prone to poison ivy and poison oak, Buji Block may be a saving grace. The company claims its Buji Block with SPF 24 can prevent poison ivy while offering UVA/UVB sun protection. Another product called Buji Wash is soap that removes urushiol oil, the itch-inducing part of a poison ivy plant, from the surface of the skin after outdoor activity.

I haven’t tried either product yet, but I’ve already got some summer camping adventures lined up, so I’ll have plenty of chances to try it out this year. If you’ve tried this stuff, let us know how well it worked.

Got a little European travel news for you today. Starting June 10, travelers will be able to take a train from Paris to Suttgart, Germany in half the time it now takes to travel that route - and for less money. The new high-speed TGV train will depart Paris Est station (not hard to reach from the Paris Nord station’s Eurostar terminal, which means travelers from London can easily use this new service, too) and reach its destination in 3 hours, 39 minutes (now it takes about 6 hours, 15 minutes and involves multiple transfers). The one-way ticket price for the new high-speed train will run 95 GBP, while it now costs about 102 GBP for the longer route.

High-speed Trains to Link Paris with Two Key Business Cities in Germany

Hey, 10 percent isn’t a lot, but it’s more at the Breakers Palm Beach than at many resorts! Through December 17, 2007, the resort is offering 10 percent all rooms booked with the promotion code OCEAN to celebrate the $250 million the property has put into renovations over the last 15 years. You can also call 800-822-0800 to book.

The Breakers Palm Beach Ocean Promotion

Ask George: When is the best time of the week to find the lowest airfares? I’ve heard it’s on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

A: While it’s true that more seats are available at the lowest fares if you travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday (and sometimes on Saturdays), that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll save money if you purchase your fare on those days. Airlines can lower their fares at any given moment, seemingly on a whim. In fact, domestic airfares can change up to three times daily, and once a day on weekends, so it’s a good idea to check in the morning, around noon time, and after about 4 in the afternoon. Also, I’ve found that some of the most amazing unadvertised sales appear on Saturday mornings. Why? One theory is that because when one airline unleashes a “sneak” sale, since airfares are updated only once on Saturdays other airlines can’t respond immediately.

George Hobica is a travel writer living in New York City.