. resemble = a

IT’S REASSURING to receive travel questions

.C14 - Sunday, September 11, 1983 - North Shore News

from young people. At least it proves that some of
our kids are gainfully employed and are moved to

_ travel.

QUESTION:I am planning
to go to Europe next spring
and I was wondering if it
would be wise to take my car
over there. ['m staying for

+ - one month. I just love to

drive and this way | could
get around a lot faster.

I was thinking of taking a
small tent and staying in
camp grounds. Are they
open after Easter? Are they
easy to find? How much
would it cost to get my car
over there and back?
Camaro.

I'm 24, single, male.

ANSWER: Are you ready
for this? The cost of shipping
your car there and back is
roughly $3500. How about
forgetting it! Aside from the
high cost of shipping the car,
have you thought about:

1. The time it takes it to
arrive at both destinations?
You'd be B.C. Hydro’s best
customer for quite a time
(26-31 days each way.)

2. The cost of gas’ in
Europe? Horrendous! And
Camaro’s’ fuel tanks
teen-ager’s
appetite. Hungry.

3. Parking is a_ real
problem in Europe. Also,
the majority of the cars are
compacts and minis and the
stalls, what there are of
them, are scaled to size.

4. Your car stands 500%
better chance of being
damaged, bent or broken
over there. Not to mention
vandalized or whatever. If
you treasure your Camaro
like my daughter treasures
hers ...

5. It may be extremely
difficult to get repairs done
to an American-style car.
Not to mention expensive.

Aside from that, what
else? You like to drive.
Consider either renting a car
for short periods of time,
relying on railways to get
you over long distances.

Or, buy a motorbike or
scooter. Sell it or ship it
home when you're finished
with it. The nice thing about
a bike is that you can park it
easily and if necessary sleep
with it beside you in a small
tent. Once you've ex-
perienced European traffic
you'll understand the
popularity of bikes. Cost to
ship — approximately $450.

Campgrounds are very
accessible in Europe and
detailed maps are available

through the Motor
Association. Some may still
be closed. after Easter but
you will find plenty open.
Another, and _ possibly
more sensible approach is
using hostels. Join the
Canadian Hostel Association
(see previous columns for

travel-

b y Barbara
McCreadie

details or call the local office
at 736-7116). The advantage
of hostels is that the weather
is better inside than out, and
most have arrangements for
food — either cafs or
cooking facilities. Also,
hostels are very popular with
travelling young = people
while campgrounds may be a
bit more family omentated.

QUESTION: I've heard
about an organization that
provides recreational
vehicle campsites all) over
the United States for singles
only. Can you find any in-
formation about this for me?
ANSWER: I've been sitting

Careers in Travel
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ior YOU!

DAY & EVENING COURSES

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TRAVEL COUNSELLING

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TRAVEL
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Ste 2-1583 Pemberton Ave,
North Vancouver 986-2221

on your question for months!
I, too, have heard about the
organization — in fact, |
clipped a travel} article out of
an American publication —
probably the L.A. Times —
and lost the damn thing.
Since then Ive tried almost
every source I could think of
to get the information you
wanted, including Travel
USA, the Motor Association
and recreational vehicle
rental agencies. And drawn
a blank. Does anyone know
about this outfit? Please rush
details — if we wait much
longer this reader may not
be single any more.
QUESTION: I've picked out
and bought my travelling
wardrobe and now my
daughter is giving me hell.
She says that no grand-
mother should be caught
dead in a pair of jeans and a
jean jacket in Europe. She
says I'll look like a fool and
be uncomfortable besides.
Should I wear them or chuck
them?
ANSWER: I'm with = your
daughter. But that doesn’t
mean you should chuck
them — all it means is that
you won't find too many
Grannies in blue jeans in
Europe. If that doesn't
bother you. go for it. You
didn’t say what size those
jeans were, either. If they're
a size nine, you'll probably
look a lot better than if
they're quite a bit larger.
Jeans aren't comfortable
for travel. .They “grab”, shall
we say. Jean jackets usually
look lke hell, provide little
warmth and are heavy when
wet.

QUESTION: I've been
offered a job in Europe as an
au-pair for a family. My
Parents are enthusiastic
about the opportunity but
I'm not so sure. First of all,
what protection do I have if I
hate the job?

Do they provide me the
ticket to get home?

What happens if 1 pet
sick? Vve got asthma and 1
usually kicks up under
stress

I don’t know the family

although friends of my
parents do and they say that
they're “nice”.

The contract is for one

year with an option on both
sides to renew under a
higher salary and more
benefits.
ANSWER: I understand
your concern, perhaps more
than most people. When my
children were very small we
had a series of live-in sitters
to help me out. Lord knows I
needed the help with three
kids under five!

Some of the girls were
marvellous and several are
close friends today — fifteen
years later. Others were, to
be polite, the pits. What
made the difference?

Basically, the best girls
were bright, easy-going and
made an effort to judge what
jobs drove me up a wall and
they did them before I had to
ask. They kept their rooms
decently and were gentle
with my kids. I never ex-
pected them to wait on me,
nor did I have to wait on
them. If a job looked like it

needed to be done, first
there, did it. And we
laughed a lot.

Au-pair is a tradition in
Europe. If you get a good
Situation youll learn the
language, live comfortably

WAIKIKI

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8 Days, 7 Nights Air & Hotel

LAS VEGAS *289

5 Days, 4 Nights. Air & Hotel

RENO *255

5 Days, 4 Nights. Air & Hotel

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Departures starting Sept. 9

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~ TRAVEL

736-3555

Reg. Agent 157.3

be a marvellous experience.
At worst, it can be hell. But

and have ample time off to
sight-see and meet other
young people in the same

be prepared to get out
field. immediately if you don’t like
You spoke about a_ the looksof things.
contract. It would be well

advised for you (as a parent,
I'd be the first to do it!) to let
a lawyer have a look at it.
Many of these contracts are
written with a three-month
trial period for both sides,
including the basic air-fare
home for the girl if things
don’t work out. If things are
really terrible, you have the
right to cut and run at your
own expense at any time.
That implies that you have
the funds to buy a one-way
ticket. Be sure you have.

Make sure the contract
spells out free time, duties
and _ responsibilities. I’ve
heard of situations where the
new au-pair was greeted by
two departing parents who
expected her to run the show
for a month while they
vacationed in Spain. Strange
house, strange kids, strange
country. HELP!

Good luck. At best it can

DELBROOK TRAVEL

presents an evening of cruise films
Wed. Sept. 14— 8pm
Tamarack Room, Delbrook Community Centre
600 W. Queens Rd., North Vancouver
Free Admission
For information cali 986-5391

Wis RED

Adventure Tours

the River Rhine

TRAVEL FILM
narrated in person by ERIC PAVEL

Tues. Sept. 20th

MATINEE 2 p.m.

also 6 pm-8:30 pm
North Van Centennial

Res. $6 - Students $4
+756 a.b.f.

Tickets at all VTC/CBO outlets Eatons, Woodwards. info s centers
ph 687 1818 and charge them Eaton's chg Visa, Mastercard
or 1 fr before show at the door

THIS WINTER

Let us make your
hotel/condoreservations.
e offer a unique
computerized search
and booking service.
For your added
convenience, we have
an office on Maui.

CALL 682-5586
Office hours 8:30 - 4:30

Coftee Door Prizes

The Travel People at Sears
Princess Cruises
& Nordic Tours
presents a

CRUISE FILM NIGHT

September 12th, 7:00 PM
At the Robson Square Media Centre
Tickets $2 OO at Sears Travel or at the door

Togme tr svertbirn; te, Were Ce hr ce

special group departures
retreshments
- door prizes

Travel
Service

Pee yor Ente sD Cate at foo oye arid

Prerecrtts whet te a bP nD create

Hhobats aga to

ne ley ere Tee eT de 0

925-1212

PRIME TRAVEL

Suite 210 Hollyburn Plaza
iN 1760 Marine Drive, West Van.
Seed Member of NITA

Capilano Mall
985-6194

______922.9650 |
844 Park Royal North, West Van. _