40 - Sunday, October 2, 1988 — North Shore News OUR READERS RESPOND A potpourri of travel tips TODAY’S COLUMN has been written for me — at least, the majority of the information included comes from helpful readers. One reader called me with a cau- tion. She had been asked to join a friend and two other women (strangers) to drive to California for a music festival. She agreed. One of the other women. had decided that she would take her car and do all the driving. The problem arose when it came to sharing expenses. In effect, the driver expected to have her portion of the trip paid for by the other three. They eventually came to some agreemert, but not one that my reader felt was completely fair. - Her warning is simple — have all the details of the expenses worked out to everyone’s satisfac- tion before you leave. I’ve found it convenient when travelling with a friend on a cost- sharing basis to put a set amount of money aside in a kitty. We pay everything - — meals, cabs, admis- ‘sions — from it,” adding money whenever necessary. * This: would probably not work as well for:four, especially if some of the group are strangers. : tee This next is a restaurant tip from a reader: Dear Barbara: Just recently I visited Bellis Fair Mall ‘and was really impressed — * however, did not eat there except the See’s Candy sample -— fabu- lous. Drove downtown and Junched at a super restaurant — yes, in . downtown Bellingham! _Quaint outside courtyard, brick building, obliging staff and inter- ested chef took care of us with good, real food. The chef said they make great . dinner specials, Next time, I’m go- ing for dinner — you should check . this place for yourself: The Metro: 1332 Commercial Bellingham (206) 734-1407 . wank The government of the Bahamas recently mailed me .two Bahamas Discovery Cards, good for quite a collection of discounts in commer- cial outlets on the islands. (Unfor- tunately, they didn’t include return airfare so 1 doubt if I'll be using them!) They noted that not all agencies have been supplied with these cards so if you’re booking a tour to the Bahamas mention the travel ‘wise Barbara McCreadie availability of the cards and be sure he gets one for you. I was slightly offended at a remark in the brochure — these. discount cards were available last year, but only to residents of On- tario. , It reminds me a bit of those joke posters where the map of Canada is distorted to show one province as being nearly the entire country with the othe:s clinging like tiny fingers to the edges. European tourism is mostly back to normal after the tetrorist scare a couple of years ago. Oddly, though, Switzerland’s figures must be giving their tourism people col- lective fits. Overnight stays in the country have dropped 2.1 per cent, but what is even more mysterious is ’ that West Germans owning vaca- tion property in Switzerland have stayed home — a 3.8 per cent drop. ’ Switzerland isn’t a country targeted by frequent terrorist at- tacks, either. wee Back to more local news. Like to wine-taste? Curious about grape- stomping contests? Want to sam- ple all sorts of gourmet foods? Head for the Interior! From Sept. 30 to Oct. 9 the Okanagan- Similkameen Valley area is hosting all sorts of events related to their wine industry. Thirteen estate wineries are stag- ing regular wine tasting sessions. Vernon held a ‘‘Suds ’n Cider’’ tasting Oct. 1, including a food fair with free samples of local products such as cheese and cider. Oct. 2 (Kelowna) and Oct. 8 (Penticton) are. the dates for grape-stomping contests. CTV will be covering the Kelowna event. It sounds like a lot of fun, especially if you’re a camper or rec-vehicle owner — motel ac- commodations might be dicey. Another letter from a reader: ’ Dear Barbara: My wife and I own a small! motel — not part of any chain. We don’t have the huge buying power of the “biggies” and therefore feel the pinch when our supplies go miss- ing. You wouldn’t believe the number of towels, sheets, pillow cases -—- even the pillows — ashtrays, glasses and lamps we have lost to light-fingered guests. Everyone complains about the high cost of accommodation, but we have to keep raising prices to cover our losses. Did you know that many big chains have stopped printing: a logo on their ashtrays? Guests | were under the mistaken belief that the hotel.encouraged the theft of these as a form of advertising. Theft is theft, Barb. Believe me, if I caught someone lifting some- thing from my rooms I'd blow the whistle. Answer: A few years ago, I got together with a number of hotel managers to discuss the same pro- L Everything yc you ever r wanted for your . Retirement Years : is here at this unique residence In beautiful White Rock at the corner of Russell Avenue and Foster Street. Come and Visit us! our information centre is across the street #80 - 1480 Foster Street 538-1319 blem. Think you’ve got a pro- blem? Consider one famous hotel that lost its grand piano to a cou- ple of thieves in coveralls. They simply marched in with a dolly and drove it away. Another manager caught some guests lowering furniture out of a third-storey window to some cohorts waiting in the alley. I’m afraid the problem is un- solvable. I know of perfectly honest people (ordinary) who take “‘souvenirs’’. What’s worse, they do it in front of their kids who grow up to do exactly the same thing. I’ve also heard of hotels that send bills to guests who check out with more than they checked in with. Risky, though. The thief might not be the guest. Le a as sed KENYA SPECTACULAR SAFARIS Escorted by former Kenyan resident Barbara Sutherland, 26 day luxury tour - all inclusive safasi. Jargoy®, 0,9\a9 February 14, 1989 -a few spaces lett! $4995 Discover Kenya - camping and beach vacation. December. 17, ‘88 January 31, '89 83995 - Call Barbara Sutherland now at: Leisure vey Tours Travelogue film narrated in person by STEVE GONSER "NINE FILMS FOR THE PRICE OF ST * GREECE * HUNZA * APPALACHIA * Fil and.the GREAT BARRIER REEF * AMADEUS, a traveller in ITALY i BRAZIL % PORTRAITS of the GREAT FAR EAST % GREAT BRITAIN . — TWO LOCATIONS — North Van. Centennial Theatre _ Thu., Oct. 6, 6:00 & 8:30pm (2 shows} Sgls. $10.50, Stu. $7.00 Sea. $60.50, Stu. $41.25 VAN. ‘ORPHEUM Wed, Oct. 5 — 6:00pm Sol. $11.00 9.75, 9.25, Stu. $7.50 Sea, $65.00, 59.50, 54,50, Stu, $45.75 ” Price includes Theatre improvement Project Fee TKTS: at 630 Hamitton VIC/CBO Outlets Chargeline ph: 280-4444 Subscribers are eligible to WIN A TRIP for * two to EUROPE courtesy AIR CANADA (FLYER SCI Now you can plan your # shopping ahead, and | save more in the you miss any of call the North Shore’ Nowe Distribution Departmer:t * Delivered to selected areas only "986-1337 q FIRST IN FLYERS ON THE NORTH SHORE ch a eo aha einen Potten enn 2 biases a, 7 A ot : “ aA ten tim th rte ene 2mm Ah hee Ae cm ape nN ao AE BENE ak CE tei wee ce ae eat earl needed ae tne el en oe oot vonae nati Ran eet ee mene ttt te, ween sae Leona vatene senhoab retest