TRAVEL

Sunday, Nov. 8, 1992 - North Shore News - 39

Weather plays havec with Christmas travel

ANYONE WHO intends to
travel this Christmas has
probably made his or her
arrangements.

Barbara
McCreadie

TRAVEL WISE

If not, it may be too late —
airlines, resorts and cruises can be
overcrowded during the holidays.

Many others are planning to
pile the kids in the car and head
for distant relatives’ homes.

We've dore most of those
things and have learned quite a bit
about easing the process. You
wouldn’t believe some of the
challenges!

You are travelling at onc of the

most difficult times of the year.
The weather is one of the biggest
_problems, either flying or driving.
*” If flying, airport congestion can
be incredible. If there are flight
delzys, imagine thousands of
disgruntled “passengers piled in
“heaps. |

Here are a few of the things

‘I’ve learned, many through
“‘interesting”’ experiences.

Flying:

Keep a close watch on the
weather, a day or so in advance.
Also,..keep in touch with the

. airline in the half-day preceding
the flight.

Allow extra time to get to the
airport, especially if there is-saow
or black ice. 1 know a family who
missed their flight thanks io a
fender-bender en route. ue

Checking in can be chaos: —

Woslate Conter
e

Seattle

Ant Museum

e
Bike Phase Market
e

Misterfront Shops
e

Suk Avenue

Seth Lower

imagine every flight fully booked
and everyone with extra baggage
— skis, surfboards, golf clubs —
for all I know, even pogo sticks.

{t's amazing what people haul
around. On top of the sporting
gear there are Christmas presents.
Arrive at the airport extra early.

Do not wrap gifts! Security will
often make you unwrap them at
the gate. Instead, risk boxing the
unbreakable ones and sending
them through as checked baggage.

Carry breakabies through in a
satchel and make the kids turn
their backs as security gocs
through them.

It makes sense to me to buy lit-
tle things -— diamond earrings
come to mind.

Be prepared for unexpected
delays at the airport. Dress com-
fortably in clothes you wear sit-
ting on the floor. You didn't
think you’d get a seat, did you?

If you are heading for some sun
spot, try to get someone to drive
you to the airport, shuck your
winter coats and boots at the door
and send them home.

But wear something warm
enough that you can be warm sit-
ting in an unheated plane on the
tunway while it’s being de-iced.
Ask me how | know about that!

Driving:

Every road you take, you will
probably run into some sort of
snow or ice. Get your car fully
winterized, including winter tires
and chains. Pack an emergency kit
including flares.

Put ‘some candies in the glove
box —~ one candle can heat a
vehicle for an amazing time.

Even in the best of weather, we
never travel without thermal jugs
of water and coffee. These can be
life-saving for stranded travellers.

Everyone must have winter
clothing —- warm boots, jackets
and hats. It’s surprising how
many people from our ‘‘banana
belt’? forget that it gets a lot col-
der elsewhere.

You likely won't starve to death
if you’re stranded on the road for
a few hours, but a few sandwiches
‘and cookies may heip your
disposition.

If you get stuck, set out your
flares and turn on your flashers.
If possible, get as far off the road

Spuce Needle
e

F Magnin

Seattle Center e

Theatre °

e
Bon Marte

Morsral °

YOu ARE HERE.

Eihort Bay Books

e Poonver Square

aAlyuariamn
e °

Norditnwn

and on to the shoulder as you
can.

Stay out of the ditch unless
you're already in it. Do not leave
your vehicle unless you can see a
lighted house less than half a
block away.

If you run your engine for heat,
do it sparingly. Before you do,
clear your exhaust pipe for packed
snow,

Now, just a few hints and
observations about resorts:
@ If you have chosen a condo in
Hawaii, be prepared to furnish
your own Christmas dinner. Many

keep the whole the
move.

@ If you're travelling, Christmas
gifts for kids can be a problem.

One solution is to bring stock-
ing stuffers and an envelope with
a picture of any larger gift.

Get a kind friend to set up big
things in the living room at home
while you’re gone. It may cure the
**1 don’t wanna go home’’ howls.
@ If Christmas holds sad con-
notations for you, I've been told
that there are many wonderful
resorts in the south eastern United
States geared to people of other
faiths. They carry on as if it were
July and you'll be spared
Rudolph.

family on

64 Please confirm and re-confirm
every reservation. Overbooking can
happen but at Christmas it can be a

major disaster. This includes
accommodation! #9

restaurants close to give their staff
a break.

The ones that stay open, if you
find one, are fikely booked.
Hotels save their seats for guests.

Here’s how | did it — I bought
my turkey at a smallish super-
market and the butcher kept it for
me until Christmas Eve.

I brought my seasonings from
home and used packaged stuffing
crumbs. For the gravy, I used in-
stant blending flour in a shaker.

I put a notice on the bulletin
board in the condo, inviting any-
one who cared to join us for
potluck and two couples did,
bringing the vegetables.

The mince tarts came from a

bakery. It was a breeze.
@ I've been told that Mexivo is a
wonderful place to dine out at
Christmas. For the Mexican peo-
ple, Christmas is primarily a
religious celebration — their big
fest is New Year’s.

“@iIf you're a single parent,

perhaps a father who gets custody
on alternate holidays, speciaity
resorts such as ski, tennis, ranches
and the like, draw many others.

You don’t have to worry about
the food, and the activities will

Jag Alley

° Volumteer Park

Paramount Caputol Lilt
Theatre e
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The Improv
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*

Underground

Tow

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° Espresso Gan
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Porat enervations eeauired Not ahd with othee offers Raster wahyect to losal eaves Expurs 92i2ves Subst to anvulabilty

Mexico, Spain and Italy are also
good choices as the weather: in
both Spain and Italy is fairly
lousy in December, you'll proba-

bly get a booking (if you can get -|

out of Canada!).

© A word of caution: Please con-
firm and re-confirm every reser-
vation. Overbooking can happen
but at Christmas it can be a major
disaster. This includes accom-
modation!

As a pareat, I know-how anx-

ious 1 become in the weeks before
Christmas. For families intending
to travel over Christmas, tension
can be thick in the air.

Parents get cranky, kids get
hyper and tempers fly. What
should be a happy occasion turns
into chaos.

Take time out. Keep lists and
check them off, Keep packing as
simply as you can.

Prepare weeks in advance for
the care of the family pets.

Get travel insurance in piace.
Get any medications you may
need organized and packaged in
hand baggage.

Do your shopping early and
Keep the items as small as possi-

le.

Don't invite trouble — lying
awake at night worrying about
Johnny's cough won't help — get
the kid to the doctor.

Remember, this is going to be
fun!

HUT TO HUT

© dD romiartable buts in the Cartan
Mtns. of Wells Gray Park

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