could boost

26 - Sanday, April 16, 1989 ~ North Shore Mews

FOR ALL those people anxious for the annual cruise ship of rooms — it was raining a bit,
schedule in this column, be patient.

I'm told that it’s in the loving
hands of Canada Post and ought
to..reach me prior to the final
ship’s departure next October. I
suspect it might have been routed
by way of Leningrad.

weet

Speaking of cruise ships, we
could sure use a transfusion of
money by enticing those wealthy
passengers to businesses on the
North Shore.

If L had anything to do with the
tourist association I'd set up -a
booth i in the reception area and, as

the passengers disembarked, I’d
hand out free passes on the SeaBus
and as much literature about our
amenities as I could cram into their
hands.

These are the best kind of
tourists — well-heeled and on foot.
They could swarm into Lonsdale
Quay without adding to the al-
ready atrocious parking problems.

aanr

It’s a challenge to find the
perfect jewels among the B & B
offerings in Britain.

Over the years I’ve passed along
the names of numerous establish-
meats I’ve discovered that combine
comfort with a decent price.

Here’s another one to add to
your list:

Bucken Hotel

#3 Coates Garden

Edinburgh, 12

Tel: 031-337-1045 or 031-337-8047

The recommendation comes
from my friend, travel writer Ar-
thur Proudfoot who tells me it is
one of the finest he has en-
countered and he wouldn’t stay’
anywhere else when he visits the ci-
ty. On his last stay he paid about
20 pounds sterling, including
breakfast.

I know that hundreds from the
North Shore will be invading Bri-
tain this year, looking for the only
sensible alternative to high-priced
hotels — the famous ‘‘B & B.”
May I ask for your help?

If any of you discover another
“‘merfect jewel,’? please grab a
business card and jot the price per
night on the back.

If you'll pass the information to
me, I’ put it in the column and
keep a record. Think how much
help this would be the next time
you visit. By then we might have
enough listings to keep the whole
North Shore travelling in style.

It’s pleasant, tco, to bump into
fellow travellers from home and

OFFERING
MOTORHOME
RENTALS & SALES

Ali excellent late
model motorhomes
and vans

987-5288

1577 LLOYD AVE.
NORTH VANCOUVER

your chances would increase if we
all knew the quality spots.

On the flip-side, if you en-
counter anything truly awful, not
just mediocre, please share your
experience.

Probably the worst I ever sur-
vived was a dump in Blackpool —
can’t even remember the name of
it. The room had one tiny window

travel
wise

you see.

could see daylight through and a
“breakfast”? a starving dog would
pass up roucded out our one-night
stand. We were so desperate to get
out that my daughter had our bags
on the sidewalk by 7:30 a.m.

That was no easy achievement,
considering that the night. before
we had decided that the only way
we'd ever be able to sleep.in that
hell-bole was to pay a visit to the
“‘resident’s bar’’ where we downed
a@ staggering number of double
vodkas. .

It will give you some insight to
know that my daughter despises
vodka and it’s certainly. not my
*“beverage of choice.”

wen

Another hotel horror story was
passed on by a reader. Unfortu-
nately, she could only remember
the name of the hotel —- Poseidon

Guest Hotel, in Rome. You aren’t - s

going to want to stay there, any-
way. ‘
Upon arrival,

her husband

_ opened the old wood-framed glass

Barbara McCreadie
SECON
at ceiling level. The beds were
about as comfortable as a bagfui

of baseballs, and during the night
half the roof collapsed on one row

doors on to a tiny balcony and
stepped out.

It sagged about six inches, and
he quickly jumped back. As he
did, one of his feet went through
the carpet, through the floor and
about a foot into the ceiling below.
They packed and left.

Please avoid those shaky little

| OF A PACKAGE

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a The Lady Selkirk

a x Overnight Deluxe

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Ex Narrated whale cruise
through sheltered waters
a * Long Beach, Cathedral

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This has

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in business since 1924, offer a wide variety
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vary from 7-11 days, with many meals and
hotel accommodation included and offer
great value.

experience California. We ask you to call us
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ESCORTED
Return bus directs
§ from Vancouver

OnLy $99)

“per person
double
occupancy. one night
Pius, prizes galore!
SENIOR SPECIAL
$89. Mon. thru Thurs:
DRIVE OA

become a very popular way to

Cc

Special rates
now in effect.
Call toll free
for reservations:

1-800-663-7302

Fast relief for the

Now’s the time for a mid-week or weekend getaway to Surf Lodge,
the easy-fo-get-to resort that's been pampering guests since 1950.

Located on beautiful Gabriola Island (a 20-minute ferry ride from
Nanaimo), our seaside lodge accommodates you in lovely cabins or
rooms, all with private bath; a romantic seaside restaurant serving
fine dinners and hearty breakfasts (eggs benedict a specialty!):

a warm fireside lounge — even a pub for casual conversation.

Bring your golf clubs and challenge the course of the Gabriola Golf
and Country Club. Bring your bikes and tour the parks and beaches of
what most believe is the most scenic of the Gulf Islands. Bring your
scuba gear and enjoy the finest diving environment in Canada, or bring
your favorite fishing lures and take hone some fresh salmon...

Surf Lodge can make special arrangements for you fer guided scuba or
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For reservations & information
call 1-247-9231

ene

NORTH
SHORE

Orient

J wonder about the possibility of
Via Rail considering retaining our

Express.

lorth Shore tourism

balconies in substandard European
hotels. Your next stop might be
Ice-water showers, towels you atop a taxi on the street.

passenger rail system and making
it into an historic train ride, pat-
termed on the revival of the famous
Canada’s rail

See The
Page 27

VENTURE TRAE ‘|

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onour ? DAY CARIBBEAN CRUISE
ON BoARD THE CELEBRATION!

DEPART VANCOUVER ON DECEMBER 16TH

TOTAL PRICE can $1430

ppftwin

OUTSIDE CABIN / AIR FARE INCLUDED

Onl

8 cabins left at this

ial

rice!

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110 East 14th St fat Lonsdale)

Eee
OME OVER A ANDP PLAY

Whether it’s fishing, skiing, golfing, diving, hiking or just strolling

CALL US FOR DETAILS

on the beach there's always something to do nearby when you
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