C5 - Sunday, August 5, 1984 - North Shore News ME travel | ea) il Single travellers pay for the privilege F YOU'RE single I and want to travel you’ve probably run head first into a lit- tle catch phrase - ‘single supplement’’ That means that if you want to have a room or cabin to yourself you’ll have to pay for the privilege. In some cases the single supplement raises your fare almost to the rate paid by two people sharing. Other companies — and Princess Cruises is a fine ex- ample — try to keep the single supplement as low as possible. Princess has been a favorite of single travellers for years, charging just 10 per cent extra for singles on North American cruises. Some companies, such as Club Med, provide you with a roommate of the same sex. Because of the nature of Club Med (non-stop activities!) it attracts a lively group of singles more likely to be in their 20s and 30s than older. Having a stranger for a roommate is a lot easier to adapt to when you’re crashing out for a couple of hours between volleyball and boogeying. Many tour companies flat- ly refuse to match up singles and I can hardly blame them. Some of the problems involv- ed can be impossible to deal with, especially after a tour is underway. Age is a big factor too. I know that I was far more adaptablé when I was 21 than I am now. At 21 I could sleep through an earthquake, but years of listening for crying infants and late-arriving teenagers have changed all that. The best friend a single traveller can have is a con- sciencious travel agent. Com- parison shopping for tours can save you hundreds of dollars. Also, it is essential to book early. Single accom- modation, especially on cruise ships, is limited. You may have.to change your plans to.get the accommoda- tion you want but you’!l have the best chance. if you begin months in advance. eet This reader has solved the **single supplement’’ pro- blem but‘is preparing for a few other problems that may crop up. DEAR BARBARA: I decid- ed that I didn’t want to travel by myself but none of my friends. were available to travel with me. I’m a widow in my 60s and have plenty of free time and, fortunately, enough money so that I can go wherever | want. After | made up my mind, I put an ad in a senior’s publication for a travel com- travel-wise panion believe and you wouldn’t the replies! Even though 1 specified that I wanted a lady companion about the same age I even had replies from a number of gentlemen — one old coot in his eighties assured me that- he was sstill ‘‘romantically inclined!”’ Anyway, | sorted through the letters and picked out six of the ladies that sounded like my kind of people. | in- vited all of them to my house for coffee and we discussed our ideas. In the end, four of us have made arrangements to travel together to Europe this fall. Since none of us have ever travelled in a group before we'd like to get some ideas on how to manage everything from money to manners. Also, none of us has ever been overseas before and we’d like to know about tipping. ANSWER: I’ve met a couple of groups such as yours travelling together and have picked up a few hints that may help. Since you'll be sharing cabs, tips,.meals and admis- sions it helps if you establish Fitness holiday fits EVER COME back from a holiday feeling as if you need a holiday? Sports I[n- ternational has a new fitness holhday package that will return) you to Vancouver feeling slim, rested and tin shape for anything Accommodations are at the Mountain Side | odge in Whistler, and packages are for ether two or five days Wardair’s Hawaii reduced (arrfare only) departures from Sept. | $439 December Sale *399 Coe doen ot epanhures telurn Dy tree 2 Expert travel planning at no extra Cast to vou TA. NITA aware North Shore Independent Travel Agent Loo Crossie Trave! 130 West 15th St. N.V. 980-6561 incentive Travel Horseshoe Bay and nights, inclusive All meals are included, and vacationers can participate in activiies ranging from acrobic and weight traming classes to canoeing, hiking, tennis, bicycle tiding, swim- ming or relaxing in a private jacuzzi Horse back riding, golf, wind surfing, heli-hiking and hell skiing are also available Cost is $399 for five days and $199 for two days. For more information or reserva- tions, phone 683 6803 TRSULATED PICNIC. TRAVELIGHT Otterrs bags tor duty insulation That wall temperatures longe: ed strengtit Jippecs are years of trouble fae use tage are double greater ducabitly and sleoangtt and baght teachy calor PRICED FROM every uber All Dage feats rrvaneetenter Cit wc OL veeentra thin bh heavy and cold The fheariies are tiveted for add ricp fats cuyteres tov a Muti Peed ty snag Ves UF qprevaat Sass $995 1 45 Park Royal North | Richmond Centre Mall 922-9650 276-2606 by Barbara McCreadie a ‘‘kitty.’’ If each of you throws in about $30 for a Start, One person can pay for each fare as required. Don’t stick one person with the job but rotate. Meals can be your major problem - if you’re all eating and drinking about the same amount kitty should take care of it. If one of you is less hungry, you’d better divide the check accordingly and pay separately. In even the happiest of foursomes, everyone needs some time to themselves. Agree at the start to be flexi- ble and split up from time to time. If something is bothering you, discuss it and don’t brood about it. If you can’t do anything about it, tolerate it with good grace. Tipping is quite easy. The key is watching your bills — in hotels and restaurants a 15 per cent service charge is often added automatically. If so, you needn’t tip anything CHECK YOUR CEL more. For porters and bell boys, the equivalent of 50¢ a bag is adequate unless it’s an ex- tremely long haul. If you’re in doubt, ask the hall porter about the rate. For example, in Venice all baggage is handled by special porters who walk tourists between the hotels and the docks. The rates vary with the distance and the number of bags. Taxis expect about 10 per cent. The wise tourist asks the hall porter in the hotel what the approximate fare should be especially in coun- tries where you can’t speak the language. The fare may vary quite a bit from what is shown on the meter but remember there is extra tack- ed on for additional passengers and baggage. As long as you’re charged something close to what you’ve been told beforehand Careers in Travel We can open the door to ihe enc world of travel © YOU DAY & EVENING COURSES TRAVEL COUNSELLING TOUR ESCORTING - SALES & MARKETING COMPUTER TERMINAL TRAVEL TRAINING CENTRE Ste.2-1583 Pemberton Ave. .- “North Vancouver’ 986-2221 you’re OK. [| must admit I’ve been gypped a few times and there’s not a helluva lot you can do about it. Never get in- to a cab without a meter unless you agree On the fare first. Pm glad that your in- itiative in placing the ad has worked out so well for you. Hope you have a= great holiday. NOTE: .A_ typo in the ‘Vacation at Home?’ story, Printed last Sunday should have read a ‘‘fee package’’ at the Planetarium, NOT a “free package.’”’ (604) 980-0321 HAWAL om $379.00 TORONTO... $299.00 FRANKFURT $819.00 THE BIG APPLE $499.00 NEW ZEALAND $1210.00 Wir. sprecken... Puhumme Deutsch. 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