Travel light, travel smart, learn from mistakes|

IF I have learned anything in my travels, it’s about
streamlining. It’s about finding the holes in the boat and
plugging them. I want every (rip I take to de trouble-free,

In my dreams!

The first step to avoiding trou-
ble is recognizing potential prob-
lems before they occur, What can
go wrong? How can | avoid it?

Here is a collection of hints I’ve
picked up, many coming from
disasters we've had to deal with.

Preliminary precautions

@ If you're a frequent traveller,
consider a yearly travel i insurance
poiley.

Brian and 1 buy ours from the
agent that handles all our other
insurance.

One of the hazards in buying
individual trip packages is a clause
about ‘‘pre-existing conditions.”

For example, if you have been
treated for, say, gallstones, within
the past year, an attack on vaca-
tion may not be covered.

Our policy covers us all the
time, even on a little day-trip for
lunch in) Bellingham.

How many of you hop in the
car to go over the border ona
whim? B.C. Medical is next to
useless if you run into trouble.

@ When your travel agent is

drawing up your flight plan, do

you ask questions? Do you know
’ the difference between a ‘‘direct’’
- flight and a ‘‘non-stop'’?

A direct flight means you do
not have to change planes, but the
flight may have numerous stops.

Every stop has a delay of about
45 minutes so the fewer the better,
* Another tip: If you’re flying in
the winter to someplace southeast

_ (Florida, South America, etc.), the
best route is usually one that
. avoids the blizzard belt.

I'd rather head for Los Angeles
first, rather than Chicago or
Toronto. Less chance of getting

- grounded. '

Packing

@ Weall make lists! But you'll .
find your list is more efficient if
you tape or'pin it near your suit-
case and check off each item as
you pack it.

Then, when your. bagi is packed,
pin the list inside. That way you' li

“be able to re-pack everything,

PT

THE FOLLOWING is a selection
of :volunteer opportunities avail-
able through North Shore Com-
munity Services (NSCS). :

INSTRUCTORS are needed to

_ assist -with. teaching crafts and
cooking classes to people with
disabilities. The . volunteers are
needed far two hours a week and
for a period of four months.
Training and orientation will be

provided,

SHOPPERS are needed once a

Christmas / ;
Greetings \

to our clients and
friends from

Gus, John, Evelyn,
Sue and Lou Ann

1126 Lonsdale Ave.,

987-5244

NS

‘needed at

Jarbara
MeGreadie

TRAVELWISE

even the nightgown you've left
hanging on the back of the
bathroom door.

@ Paste your name and home ad- -

dress firmiy on the inside of your
vase, For outside ID use your
business card — why advertise
your home address when you're
obviously not there? .

@ If your bag is old, strap it with |
a baggage belt. Old clasps can
pop, strewing your underwear all
over YVR.

@ You'll easily recognize your old
bag but if you get a new one for
Christmas, stick some bright tape
over a corner.

Forget attaching flowered
pom-poms; you look like a nerd
and they usually get ripped off
anyway.

In transit

@ If your bag gets lost or your
flight is delayed or cancelled, ask
about compensations. These vary
but you may be entitled to a cash
compensation (to buy necessities
until your bag is fourd), a meal
ticket or free accommodation.
None of these may be offered,
but may be available if you ask.
@ For long flights, I pack a
roomy silk caftan in my handbag.
Atrack suit works equally well,
As soon as the flight gets off

’ the ground, [ change and hang up -

my good clothes. I also carry a

Fe

week to get groceries for home-
bound seniors or chronically ill

_ people. Information and support

will be provided.

PARTICIPANTS are needed to
take part in a 24-week develop-
ment program to learn about vol-
unteering. The volunteers must be
immigrant women with a good
understanding of English.

CLERICAL volunteers are
an environmental
education and resource centre.

R VOLUNTE

little pair of slippers,

It's wonderful to get off the
flight unwrinkled. I sleep a fot
better en route, too,

@ [ finct it impossible ta concen-
trate on a novel when I'm flying,
Instead, | buy trash! The National
Enquirer is good for a laugh,

When Brian and { travel we
pack a couple of games to case the
monotony. When | travel alone, |
take needlework.

As long as my hands are busy |
can temporarily forget how much
I'd like a cigarette,
® Another must-iake is an in-
flating neck pillow. Lf you find it
hard to sleep on long flights these
are simply great.

In general

@ Ifall your family and Friends
‘are expecting postcards, type up
stick-on address‘labels.::

® Various sizes of zip-lock plastic
pags are handy. I pack my
make-up in one. it’s better than a
regular bag as vott can see inside.

These bags are great for laun-
dry, shoes and damp bathing
‘suits,

@ I've gota couple of string bags .

~-~ $1.49 or so at a novelty shop.
‘They scrunch up to nothing in
your bag but hold a lot of shop-
ping or lunch,

@ it’s a bulky nuisance but we
often bring along our coffee
maker. Naturally, we don’t bother’
with it where the electric current is
different but it always comes
along to Arizona or Hawaii.

We bouglit a cheap eight-cup
Mr. Coffee and it has its own
canvas sack, with room enough
for two mugs, coffee i in zip-lock —
and creamer.

. © If we're going to be staying in
a condo or apartment with kitch-
en, I intend te cook. I pack a few
tiny bags with my favorite herbs
and spices and a good knife.

@ Get a BC Tel ‘‘calling card’’! It

-makes phoning home a breeze,
especially from overseas.

. If you must place your calls -
from a hote! switchboard and pay
for them when you check out,
you’re apt to be hit with all sorts
of service charges. With a credit
card you can bypass the desk.

The trick is to get the number
for the Canadian overseas opera-
tor — that’s usually toll-free.

‘S

Some possible duties include an-
swering phones, providing infor-
mation on waste reduction, filing,
photocopying, phoning and
fundraising.

PIANO PLAYERS are needed
to entertain the residents of an
adult day centre during afternoon
sing-alongs. The sessions are held
every day from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

If you are interested in volun-
tecring call 985-7138. NSCS.is a

member agency of the United Way.

ROSEWAY’S team is growing.
We are pleased to announce
the newest member...
JOEL MASOTT!
loel has 10 years experience as
a senior travel consultant serv-
ing cruise, vacation, and busi-
ness travellers. His latest posi-
tion was supervisor with Air
Canada Vacations. Drop in -

enjoy Joel's pleasant manner |

and benefit from his extensive
knowlecige and experience.

The hotel will charge you about
50¢ for the call but tie fong-
distance charges will be charged to
your credit card.

Ta give you an idea of the cost,
I placed four overseas calls from
England to North Van in October
and the average cost was $1.10 a
minute.

From most places in the States,
you can dial direct, simply pun-
ching in your credit card number
or reciting it when asked. Again,
you're saving surcharges.

@ It’s a small thing but so handy
—carrya highlighting pen! I use
mine on my maps, in guidebooks
(my own!), in pamphlets and
newspapers.

@® Carry a small pair of scissors.
Mine get frequent use clipping out

parts of pamphlets — even recipes .

from newspapers.

I keep a big paper clip on the
back cover of my notebook and
shove the little pieces under it.

Another smart trick: glue a

manilla envelope to the back cover
— great for collecting stuff like
business cards.

© Speaking of business cards,
take yours along. As soon as you
get out of North America
everyone you meet hands you one
and expects one in ceturn,

If you don’t have a business,
some tame and address cards are
handy. Christmas is still a few
days away; they make a good

’ stocking stuffer,

@ Another small Badget I “never .
-leaye home without’’ is a tiny
‘flashlight. It has had the damnedest
“uses.
’ In one hotel I found myself
"* sleeping i inabed on araised .
platform. Knowing I'd likely
break my neck if I forgot about
the step and got up in the dark, I
lit the little light and set it on the”
edge.

The bottorn line: travel fight, .
travel smart and learn from your
mistakes. Merry Christmas!

January to Aprii Departures
Cali Now for other Super ( Cruise Specials! Open 7 days a week!

y wednesday

*Blacks Cameras

> friday

*Real Estate Weekly / *Woolco
*Sears Catalogues / *Gem Jewellers
Watch for our Real Estate Home Section

sunday

*IGA Plus /*Sears / *Buy Low Foods
*Real Canadian Superstore
*Pacific Linens / *Woolco

Shoppers Drug Mart

Save-On-Foods

It you miss any ot these
flyers call North Shore News
Oistribution 986-4337
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