32 - Sunday, January 12, 1992 -- North Shore News

TRAVEL

Making plans for the ‘impossible trip’

IMPOSSIBLE? THERE’S
an old cliche hanging
around — ‘‘Difficult, we
can handle; impossible just
takes a little longer.’’ Travel
is a lot like that.

So many put their dreams
away. ‘We can’t afford it.’ ‘‘I
can’t get time off.’’ ‘‘We’ve no
one to leave the kids with.’’ ‘I
can’t speak the language.”’ Hell,
I've used a couple of these myself
to get out of going somewhere I
didn’t wantto go! ,

If those are some of the excuses
being dished up by your partner,
consider the fact that. he/she may
truly -not want to ga. In that. case,
you may be on your own.

“How do you go about organiz-
. ing the “impossible’’ trip?. Start

’ by. looking very carefully at the

‘obstacles that make it ‘‘out.of the

:\ | Question.”’ List them, study them

’ and. begin planning to eliminate

them. -

The major obstacle most of us
face is cost. Coping with this is a
two-part problem. First, you must
get a realistic estimate of what the
bottom line will be. Get a

. notebook! Devote a page or two
-. to each of the following:

Aicfare: Fares within the destina-
tion area (rail passes, car rentals
or whatever other mode of trans-
portation appeals to you);
Acconimodation cost:
low-cost accommodation;
Food coasts: When I’m travelling
. “rock bottom,’’ | allow $15 per
"person per day! How?, read on;
Miscellaneous expenses: In this
. section, make note of any par-

Research

ticular sights you must see and
research the costs. Stage plays,
museums, galleries, bull fights —
all these cost money.

Now, the second part, you
begin your research. Start with
airfares. Check with every airline
that flies to your destination, in-
cluding American carriers. Keep
your eyes open for seat sales,
promotional packages and low-
season fares. Who says you must
travel to England in July? Go
off-season and save a_ bundle.
Besides, England can be as
miserably cold in July as Van-
couver was yesterday!

Next, consider accommodation.
If your plans include staying at
five-star hotels, your trip may
take a while to materialize.

Modest accommodation is rare-
ly booked by travel agents. The
tittle hotels and B&B homes can’t
afford to buy their way into the

computers. Find them by obtain-.

ing published lists from the towns,
from budget travel guides, from
other travellers or from columns
such as this one.

Don’t be afraid to book rooms
without ‘‘facilities. A private
bathroom is a luxury that can cost
the traveller $40-$50 more a
night. Hint: In the many Euro-
pean hotels. I’ve visited, using the
communal showers was never a

‘problem. In fact, I cannot recall

ever meeting another person wan-
ting to use the shower! Many of

these plain little hotels had a.
‘chambermaid who preceded me

into the room, presented me with
extra towels and generally steril-
ized the place.

Look into rooms in colleges and
universities — many rent rooms
during vacation periods. In-

‘extended period.
“much to place an ad in the local

Barbara
McCreadie

TRAVELWISE

vestigate house. exchanges. Con-
sider renting a private residence if
you intend to visit one area for an
It doesn’t cost
newspaper. Even offer to
housesit! .

Consider hostels. These no
longer.. come with. the prefix
‘youth’’ but accept all ages, cou-
ples and families. Most insist on a
membership. Check with the Ca-
nadian Hostelling’ Association
(224-7111); they have all the in-
formation you need.

I can hear someone asking,

“OK, PIl buy all that stuff, but.

what about eating for $15 a day?’’
Here’s how:

@ In most of the budget places I
stay, breakfast is part of the deal.
I don’t care how stale the rolls are
or how ugly. the coffee, it's food.
If it’s good, I eat like it’s my last
meal on earth. I also swallow a

multi-vitamin, just in case I don’t
see too many of the real things.

@ Picnics play a large part in
economy travel. I pack a string
bag (useful for shopping, too), a
knife, bottle opener and cor-
kscrew, a plastic cup or two and
wads of tissues and wash-and-dry
towels. It becomes second-nature
to watch for delis and bakeries,
especially those in working-class
areas of town.

@ Sf | want to go to a restaurant, |

1 ask the hired help in my hotel. I
keep my eyes open for cafes that
cater to the workers in nearby of-
fices.. Remember, your meals
don’t have to be all ‘‘skimp-city.”’
As long as you average $15 a day,
you’re OK.

Here are a few other money-
saving tips:
@ Check with the pu’lic transit
for flat-rate passes.
@ Travel light — if your baggage
is small you can use loval busses,
tubes and milk. trains. Big bags,
big cab fares.
@ Look for local laundromats
and bring your own soap in zip
bags. Those little dispenser
packages cost the earth. ~
@ Check locally for inexpensive
tours —. walking tours are gener-

ally cheap and wonderful value. -

Check, too, for tours sponsored
by local societies — museums,

galleries and. parks often have

these. Winery. tours and the like
are often free, and they throw in
samples ‘Plus snacks.

@ Get in touch with the foreign
branch of any club you belong to,
international branches of your of-
fice ‘or any organization that

focuses on any of your hobbies — -
bridge clubs, sports organizations.

— they all have members. You

Good value found in London theatre packages.

THEATRE LOVERS know
..the place to be in winter is
London, where West End
playhouses have everything
from Shakespeare to Cats.

By Judi Lees
Contriduting Writer

For first-timers or those in a
hurry,’ the show tour packages
from. British Airways and Air
Canada are good value.

BA’s includes six nights’ hotel
and two tickets to a choice of
shows. Air Canada has two
nights’ hotel and a ticket to Miss
Saigon or Les Miscrables.

Early booking discount
expires Jan. 31/92
CALL NOW!

For more details calt
985-7447 (SHIP)
1823 Capilano Rd.

SOURNEY TO THE LANDS OF
BONNIE PRIMCE CHARLIE
oR MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.
SPECIAL DISCOURITS FOR MAY & JUNE
T JOURNEYS INCLU
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO.
SMALL GROUPS » RELAXED PACE * 2 WEEKS
FREE SLIDE PRESENTATION
SCOTTISH CULTURAL CENTRE,
8886 HUDSON ST., VANCOUVER -
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 7:30 P.M.
PLEASE R.S.V.P. ~ 980-322 2
14-4124 LONSDALE AVE., NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C YIM ot11
CANADA ep (604) Fan-3807 FAX: (608) ss

Fra; =@® ™ THE UNTOUR TOUR!
Connection

COMPANY
Personal service since 1986

Some tips and terms: In British
theatres, the main floor is the
stalls; the balcony is the dress cir-
cle.

In front of you when you sit
down will be a small pair of bin-
oculars that can be released from
their holder for 20p, to let. you
view the stage close up.

Drinks for the interval (inter-
mission) can be ordered and paid
for prior to the show; they'll be

waiting in the bar on a piece of
paper with your name on it.

For more information: British
Tourist Authority, 94 Cumberland
St., Suite 600, Toronto, Ont.
M5R 3N3. Tel.: (416) 961-8124.

THE COMING year will be a
good one to visit Singapore,

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the |

Splendors of Spain

May 7-26, 1992 (20 days) . B

Combine learning with pleasure guided by
experienced leaders Karin & George Storey

Via London to Madrid, Avila, Segovia, Toledo, Cordoba, Granada,
Malaga, Gibraltar, Jerez and Expo ‘92 in Seville!

$4582 based on group of 30

Offered by North Shore Continuing Education

{all inclusive — including most meals)
possible tax deduction

For more information cafl 922-0639 F

Special 11 Days Caribbean-Bermuda Cruise or

50% off Second Passenger
7 Days Caribbean Cruise
Very limited availability — CALL NOW!
Over 120 Stores In The World

CRUISE
HOTLINE

1325 Marine Drive
North Vancouver

984-6122

" Dec. 31,

Philippines, or Thailand as those
countries are offering 20% to
50% discounts on air fares be-
tween any three of them. ‘(The
discounts don’t apply to getting
there.)

No. minimum stay is required,
but travel must be completed by
1992.. The six par-
ticipating carriers include
Singapore Airlines, which flies
twice weekly Vancouver-
Singapore.

For more information:
Singapore Tourist Promotion
Board, 175 Block St. E., Suite
1112, Toronto, Ont. M4W 3R8.
Tel: (416) 323-9139.

_ SCOTLAND :

Fraser
Connection

you are invited to a.
presentation by Andy
Fraser on his
personally escorted

JOURNEYS Of DISCOVERY
to the
HOMELAND of the CLANS

Monday, Jan. 27, 7:30pm
Park Royai Hotel
540 Clyde Ave.
West Vancouver

RSVP 926-4344
1: ROSEWAY TRAVEL.

never know what might come of it
— a pleasant evening of ‘cards, an
invitation to meet a family — who
knows?

@ Get quickly familiar with the
local currency. Bring a tiny
calculator if your arithmetic needs
help. Check and re-check prices
— in some places you'll be
cheated.

And how do you save for your
big trip? Positively! Here are a
few crutches that help:
© Sign up for payroll deductions.
@ Clip coupons and set your sav-
ings aside.

e@ Dump your change into a jar.

every night.

@ Open a non-chequing ~ savings
account and deposit your savings
religiously.

@ Look for additional sources of
income — mooitlight if you must.
Babysit, housesit, walk dogs, pick

- up beer cans — do any job that

needs doing.

@ Cut down your household exe.”

penses — make soup, use up lef-
tovers, turn down the heat and
wear extra sweaters. You may

* pick up some good habits that will

last the rest of your life:

@ Join the library and quit, buy...

ing paperbacks.

@ Learn to live with your existing .
wardrobe — go through it: cand -

repair, re-trim and re-use.

© Cut down.on the use of your.
car:— plan your trips so that one - ..
trip takes care of many errands: :

Walk. instead. of ride, for short

* runs.

Pil bet you'll be « on your “way

. before you know it — if only so

you can quit being “so ‘damned
cheap!

“NORTH SHORE

VENTURE TRAVEL |

"& CRUISES.

| SPRING COASTAL |

CRUISES -

st Gaertner a te ene yee ha mere a Cyr ee 5

LOS ANGELES |

Fly te Los Angoles~
Cruise to Vancouver

PRINCESS CRUISES |
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HOLLAND AMERICA

Selected Salling in May/June. ~

frem Cdn. $639°S, pidbl.

- Precruise packages to

Las.Vegas & Disneyland avallable . '

| SAN FRANCISCO |

Fly to San Francisco
Cruise to Yancouver

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE |

May 20 to 23 |

from Cen. $599 ppldbl..”

Pre-cruise package to -
San Francisco & Reno available

ACAPULCO
Grulae te vancouy

HOLLAND AMERI
May 11-19 or May 15-23

from Cdn, $4,299 Sarco.

Extra nights in Acapulco available ;

HAWAII

Fly to Hawaii
Cruise to Vancouver

| PRINCESS CRUISES |

May 7-19 or May 14-26 - .

from Cdn. $ 1 1995 Soran.

Extra nights in Hawaii available

110 East 14th St.
(at Lonsdale)
& North Vancouver §

986-1377 f

oo
LINE

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