Sunday, February 17, 1991 - North Shore News - 35

Washington,

But FBI agents swarm the
place in daylight hours

HAVE YOU been following the reports

in business

publications about airline fare reductions to Europe?

Keep an eye on developments if
you’ve any plans for a European
vacation — changes are being
made almost daily. 1’m betting on
further reductions.

Travellers are voicing many
soncerns about European travel
due to the war in the Gulf. One of
the most frequent ones I hear is
the fear of terrorism.

Even before the war, terrorism
in airports and in the air was a
fact of life. For example, the Brit-
ish have been dealing with IRA
bombs for decades and the PLO
have been busy as well.

Airport security has been
beefed up all over the world,
especially in the United States and
Canada where an overhaul was
long overdue.

This has resulted in longer
delays for passengers but instead
of griping, give yourselves extra
time — arrive at check-in points
three hours before flight time for
overseas flights.

I hau a reader call to say that .

they had arrived at Heathrow
(London) airport two and a half
hours early and barely made it
aboard.

Planning a trip to Hong Kong?
If you’re staying on Hong Kong
Island and flying Cathay Pacific
Airlines, be aware that Cathay has
recently opened a check-in site in
the Park Place Shopping Mall.

It’s open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

_, and Cathay passengers can check
in there just as they would at Kai
Tak Airport, leaving bags, paying
departure tax and receiving a
boarding pass. Check-ins can be
done the day before or up to three
hours before flight time.

Anyone who has struggled
through the check-in zco at Kai
Tak will appreciate this service —
it’s called CityCheck.

I received a puzzling bit of news
from Reno. Anyone familiar with
the city might well be as curious
as lam
“In 1992, all four of Harrah's
Reno casinos, some separated by
alleys, will be unified to form a
69,000 square foot gaming area.”’
I wonder: what they plan to do
with <he major street that runs
right through tiie whole thing?

Hf you’re looking to stay close
to home, I’ve just heard about a
place on Mayne Island that
sounds good.

Called Oceanwood Country
Inn, it opened last year and got
a fine write-up in Edward
Carter’s Travels, a U.S. newslet-
ter.

Rooms go for $85 (off season)
to $150 and if you’re as curious as
I am, the address is 630 Dinnez
Bay Rd., Mayne Island, VON 2JO,
phone: (604) 539-5074; fax (604)
539-3002.

Now, about the previously men-
tioned newsletter: U‘ve been in the
travel writing business for 15 years
and I have to admit I’ve never be-
fore seen this publication.

I’m told that 5,000 subscribers
pay $96 a year to receive the mon-
thly edition.

The address of the publisher is
Townsend International Limited,
P.O. Box 887, Grand Cayman,
British West Indies.

But, before I go plunking down

TRAVEL

.C. has a dark side

Barbara
McCreadie

TRAVELWISE
$96 1 plan to check at the library!
eee

Washington, D.C. is a joy to
visit — 1 just wish 1’d known how
much it has to offer when our
kids were young — somehow I’d
have found a way for them to
visit Washington!

But, there’s a dark side to the
city — after dark, that is. During
the day, visirors are quite safe —
every other jogger on the street is
FBI! No, not in the interests of
public safety -— it’s part of an in-
ternal fitness program.

But when the sun goes down
visitors are advised not to wander
around the streets as the crime
rate is impressive. At one hotel I
had a doorman running after me
as I strolled outside for a breath
of air.

Nevertheless, if you get a
chance to go to Washington, GO,
and allow yourself severai days.
The Smithsonian Complex alone
can keep me occupied for a week
and I suggest you bring plenty of
handkerchiefs when you visit the
Vietnam War Memorial.

The Washington D.C. Conven-
tion and Visitors Association is
one of the most energetic in the

world. I got on their mailing list
and the most recent free publica-
tion that arrived is the current ac-
commodation guide for D.C.,
Maryland and Virginia.

What makes this publication
outstanding is that it includes Bed
and Breakfast spots, campgrounds
and hostels as well as hotels. The
hotels are grouped in price ranges
and each entry includes a com-
plete list of services. Maps, too.

It's free: write to Washington
D.C. Convention and _ Visitors
Association, ATTN: Tourist In-
formation, 1212 New York Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Because of limited space, it’s
difficult to print entire letters
from readers, but here’s a quick
answer for the reader who wanted
some guidance buying luggage.

The big bag is a poor choice —
you'll be sure to fill it and hate
carrying it.

Also, before buying any bag,
try carrying it up a flight of stairs
— a bag that’s too high for your
height will bang on every stair and
you'll curse it.

Buy a bag with permanent
wheels. Despite some reports of
having these torn off on conveyor
belts the new ones work fine. The
removable ones tend to remove

themselves and roll away until”

they can find a bus to hide under.

! hate zippers on suitcases!
They eat clothes and jam when
you’re running late.

Don’t get too excited about
locking devices -- most crooks
can open any lock ov they’H just
the lift the entire bag. Anyone
who carries valuables in a suitcase
is a dolt.

My bag is a dark brown tweed
and it still looks fine after eight
years of hard use. It is absurdly
small (23’? x 17°’ x 8°’) but is the
ONLY suitcase I own or need. |
occasionally carry the matching
shoulder satchel.

Bastion city
SEA A
LION

CRUISE

from Nanaimo

Wed. thru Sun.
1:30 PM

Adults $20

Over 65 518
Under 15 $11

Inc: coffee, goodies, GST,
free shuttle from

Nanaimo Ferry

information * 753-2852 |

We Know Cruises Best!
Best!

PRINCESS CRUISES PRESENTS:

“ALASKA
$899.00 U.S.

CARRIBEAN

2 for 1 from $1098 U.S.

7 Days Inside Passage j (ea. person, includes airfare} 7 Days

1823 Capilano Rd.

VIA RAIL’s

Conditions

accommodation.
to April 30, 1991.

vice versa.

Delbrook Plaza

Pdemrwetrd irademath 481A Hatt anata Te

1

cruisesiifipeenters

Attention Seniors!

FEB. 18 — APRIL 30/90
For Seniors 60 and over

Make that trip you've been thinking about. Visit family and friends.
If you're 60 or over, you can travel across Western Canada at 50%
off during VIA Rail’s Seniors Western Savings, February 14 to April
30. That's another 40% on top of the usual 10% Seniors discount.

And there's no better time. Seats are more available, and the scenery
is truly spectacular. Now you can enjoy all the comfort, freedoni and
convenience that only the train offers ~— at 50% off!

—— $$ $e

¢ Tickets must be purchased at least 7 days in
advance. Refund and exchange penalties apply.

© Discount not applicable on overnight

« Valid for travel any day of the week from February 14

* Applies to travel between Torcnio and Vancouver or

* 50% inctudes regular 10% Seniors discount.

Delbrook Travel

985-7447

0.

986-5391