"<i>however , some of you are really insulting and can take a hike. I think i'll just go back to the lonely planet forum -much friendlier.</i>"

Who was rude? They answered your question even though you posted it '<i>rudely</i>' in all caps. Despite what walkinaround said trying to stir up trouble - no one was rude to you.

"<i>OP could have done without the "What's with the caps?" But insulting?</i>"

Not in the least -- All caps is 1) very hard to read, and 2) considered very rude (just try posting in all caps on Lonely Planet)

walkigaround: "<i>here you have someone new to fodors asking a serious question and they are treated like dirt. . . . . fodors has a choice if they want buy-nothing regulars </i>"

The OP has been posting for years

well i am chagrined to once again agree with janis on this - after realizing how frequent a poster the OP is - initiating many threads and as far as i can see often not in CAPS.

that said i think the use of CAPS was still naive and not meant to be rude as some FodorGarchs automatically think.

And i just do not see any overt rudeness either to warrant the retort:

<however , some of you are really insulting and can take a hike. I think i'll just go back to the lonely planet forum -much friendlier>

Let's just say things were misunderstood and again do not throw the baby out with the bathwater - I'd put Fodor's advisors up with the much more IME less experienced posters on Lonely Planet's forums.