Q: My family and I go to the same beach for two weeks every summer. We usually get there early and get a good spot near the path from the parking lot. But as the day rolls on, we find people tend to box us in very closely -- like barely a foot from our blanket -- even though there's plenty of space farther down the beach.

Isn't it rude to cram your beach blanket in next to someone else's instead of walking to a less crowded part of the beach?

A: Sometimes crowding at the beach truly can't be helped -- if it's 95 degrees over a busy July 4 weekend and you go to a popular beach, you'd better expect close company.

But on a normal day, yes, if there are already plenty of people right at the beach entrance, but there's wide-open sand a short distance away, latecomers should walk to the open sand rather than setting up uncomfortably close to other people.

I know it's a drag (often literally) to carry beach gear from your car, but it won't kill anyone to tote it 30 feet farther. That's what other beachgoers should do -- but, sadly, I can't magically make them comply. If you always sit close to the entrance, you're always going to run the risk of people boxing you in.

What's more important, personal space or quick access to your car? If it's space, consider walking down the beach yourself when you arrive. On most days, I bet no one will come near you for hours.

Q: Is it OK to ask a taxi driver to put a particular sporting event on the radio?

A: Sure. It helps if you know what station it's on (you want your driver driving, not flipping channels to find an obscure World Cup match). And factor it in when you tip.

Q: I'd like to go to a fancy restaurant on my birthday -- just for dessert. Is that rude?

A: You have to think about the waitstaff. They're expecting each table to order a full meal and tip accordingly. So it wouldn't be nice to show up at 8 p.m. on a busy Saturday night and only get dessert, especially if you intend to linger.

I'd call and ask when would be a good time to stop in and try their amazing desserts. Most restaurants will say it's fine, especially later in the evening or on a slow day. It's just nice to ask in advance. Or, you could sit at the bar.

Q: Am I being a diva if I complain about really slow hotel Wi-Fi? A friend who travels a lot more than I do says it's pretty much the norm, but I think if a hotel advertises high-speed Wi-Fi, it ought to be faster than the 14.4 modem I had in college.

A: It's all in how you complain. Don't get mad at the hotel staff because your connection's slow -- that's like getting mad at them because the lobby furniture is ugly. Even if they agree with you, they can't do anything about it in time for you to benefit. But you can make your annoyance known. Mention it in an online review. E-mail the hotel's main customer-service address. If hotels realize travelers hate slow Wi-Fi, they'll upgrade. (Remember when only one hotel chain touted its special, extra-comfy bed? Now they all do. Let's hope that happens with fast Wi-Fi.)

Q: What do you do if you order something in a restaurant and it turns out to have an ingredient in it you don't expect? I despise onions, and I ordered a grilled-vegetable sandwich. The menu said nothing about onions -- just something like "the freshest veggies of the season." Yet those veggies were probably half onions. And it was covered in melted cheese, so it would've been impossible to pick them out. A friend who was dining with me saved the day by offering to switch sandwiches. (I was very grateful.) But if I'd been alone, would the unexpected onions have been cause to send something back? There was no way I could've eaten it -- onions make me want to throw up.

A: I think most restaurants would've taken it back, just to try to keep you happy. But really, if there's an ingredient you simply never eat because it disgusts you (or, more seriously, something you do not eat because you're allergic to it or because it's against your ethical or religious beliefs), it's up to you to ask questions before you order. Vague menu descriptions like "the freshest veggies of the season" should be an especially huge red flag, but if I were you, I'd get into the habit of asking about onions before you order.

Q: Can I bring my 5-year-old granddaughter to afternoon tea in a fancy hotel?

A: It depends on how well-behaved your granddaughter is. If she's used to eating in restaurants, she might be perfectly fine. (Some 5-year-olds have better manners than some 25-year-olds.) But if she can't make it through lunch at Olive Garden without getting loud or antsy, I'd wait till she's older.

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