C4-Sunday News, Febmary 10, 1980 One of the mixed blessings of returning from a holiday is discovering a stack of mail - and realizing that some of your answers will arrive too late to do somebody any good! One of my messages came from a woman who had bought a “time-share” program. Was she upset! Her call to me arrived mid- January while | was basking in the sun in Maui. By the time I returned to the office, on the following Friday, she was a resident of “Panic City”! , trayel- wise by Barbara McCreadie She admitted to being a “real fool”. She and her husband had attended a time-share sales program and had been overwheimed by some smooth talking salesmen. As a result, they had put down a deposit of THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS and were leaving for Mexico on Monday for a look-see. As far as I could judge, their visit was free providing they bought into the program. However, the cancellation clause insisted that they pay all flight ex- penses (over $800) should they reconsider the package Saturday is a hell of a day to try and find a lawyer. especially if you don't have one on call! | suggested that she find one FAST and have all the documents checked before she found = her husband and self on a flight to Mexico What WOPrrvitig was was ocven more fact that they were flying all that way for ONE WEEK and had to make a snap decision about the in July that will give us high surf, warm oceans, hot weather guaranteed and reasonably priced. We've previously been to the Bahamas and Florida. Hawali is logical but too expensive. The surf in Florida is too quiet. is California cheap to stay in? Where is best: San Diego or L.A.? Is the water in California very cold? Any Caribbean islands with surf? Mexico? Answer: July is “off season” in Hawaii so you may find some bargains there. You might get lucky by placing an ad in. one of the Vancouver papers for accommodation in Maui during July because many of the condominiums there are owned by Western Canadians. Hawan is the best place for surf and sun - especially in the winter. x July leaves a few more opuons. California water is about the same (temperature as Hawaun at that time of year, not as warm as the Camnb- bean, ever, but fine for surfing. San Diego will likely give you better access and cheaper prices. Mexico cheapest. should — be Try Acapulco. Beware of the drinking water, ice cubes and fresh food. Acapulco, however has unfnendly httle beashes called sharks and so does Califorma! If you want to save a bundle of money, try a home exchange with a family in’ Cahforma who would like to spend July in the Toronto area. There really are people who want to brave Toronto's heat in July! Spend a few dollars and place an ad in one of the California publications, the especially a teachers Magazine of a university bulletin. I can't be too much help because I cant swim Although [ve trotted) my way over beaches from Hawan to Tunisia, heaven help me if some of your “big surf” decides to knock me off my feet How [ envy all those surfers who ride the waves off Kaanapali! Dear Barbara: Clipped and fost your column last year on Hawail. You mentioned a place to stay called the “Pioneer Motel”. You also mentioned dining places where you had plenty to cat at reasonable (75-85 F.). The worst weather comes during December - February, when they can have storms and monsoon rains. (Wouldn't you guess? Just when most Canadians want to gel away to the sun!) Naturally, their “slack” seasons fall in our Summer months. The early part of January is the least crowded of their winter months (not that prices are any lower but at least there are fewer people). You can shop around for - cut-rate hotels during May, June, July and August. I must recommend Arthur Frommer's guide “Hawaii on ? Dollars a Day”. The ? is because I haven't seen the latest edition and the price may have gone up. The place I quoted last year was the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina. At that time you could rent a double, air- conditioned room for about $30. 1 didn’t enquire about the prices this year - simply because we were there during the worst storm since World War II - and the staff was going mad. This hotel as still oa reasonable place to eat - good food and low prices. However, check out Lani's Pancake Cottage at’ the Wharf for good lower-cost breakfasts and lunches One reader called me recom- mending “Blackbeards” - also in the Wharf for ex- cellent prime nbs at $8.95. complete. The Wharf ts on Front St. in Lahaina, opposite the rear of the Pioneer Inn. I'm convinced that the best way to visit Hawaii is to find some sort of apartment condominiums with a kit- chen. The closer to the beach, the more money you ll pay. Certain areas are more elite than others - for example. the Kaanapali area of Maui is more expensive than the Kehei area Molokar and Kahu are cheaper than Maui. and from all reports, yust as nice Try cooking a lot of your own meals ino your condo and go gut from time to time for dinner Fhe pmees in the grocery stores wall bogyle your mind, especially {fresh vegetables As for far as Spring Break In Portugal $1199 Can Ma 27 Apr 10) Fully Esc orted I'm concerned, no tomato is worth 89¢! The special “sweet Maui onions” go for $1.29 a pound so I settled for the ordinary cooking variety for 39¢. Remember, all these prices are in American dollars - currently 17¢ more than ours. When I paid $1.79 fora four-roll pack of toilet tissue, I nearly cried. So LOUNGI NG AT POOLSIDE or the beach bs per person for three days - including transportation, accommodation and a couple of free meals! You can't stay home for that price! Of course, there's a problem - finding the right travel company. Priority will probably be given to American citizens who know quite what they appear on the surface. Dear Barbara: We will be in Los Angeles next month and would like to go to Las Vegas for a couple of days. Are tours expensive and hard to come by? Should we book in advance? Would it be cheaper to take a plane ora bus from L.A. to Vegas? Answer: Probably buses will be cheaper, especially if you can get on one of the tours that leave L.A. every day. These include your ac- commodation and the prices are so cheap they border on the mdiculous One that I had quoted to me was $50 the right agent. Check out the travel section of the Los Angeles papers and hope for the best You may also find a cut- rate airline price in the same secuion. If you decide to go this way. rent a car at the airport and go shopping for moderate lodgings. I spotted all sorts of ordinary motels TRAVEL INFORMATION GORDON HANNA $87-9501 24 HOURS FREE TRANS to termina: a great experience at any time of the year in virtually any warm country, but Barbara warns about some scams that are not along the “strip” and I can't imagine a problem during the winter months. A Car is a good investment al any time since cab fares are high. Parking is easy. Buses are a pain in the -- neck, especially if you have to wait around in the middle of the day, with wind knocking your off your feet! HAWAII $299 Alr onty WAIKIKI $469 8 Days. 7 Nights, A & Hotei WAIKIKI $579 15 Days, 14 Nights, Al & Hote: LAS VEGAS $189 5 Days, 4 Nights. Ak & Hote! RENO $239 & Days. 7 Night, Ak & Hote! RENO $189 5 Days, 4 Nights, Ar & Hote! {CENTA Tours 1666 Robson Street 10507 K. Geo. Hwy. Surrey 689-7117 Reg. Travei Agent No. 157-3 Europe this Summer? AIR CANADA Frames Cosmos Glenton CP AIR British and European Tours Eurosavers WARDAIR Trataigar s PHOENIX TRAVEL ADVISORS LTD 3739 DELBROOK AVENUE IN THE DEL BROOK PLAZA 986 5.391 he uae wants es roseway travel 4 rvght Sox of their 9 arrival It the ghts in Lisbon DOWNPAYMENT wa Could you recommead a by wghts tr ans capoear tr riesnit 4 Woo tmapine the ry certain time of year for low te EP vee Algarve , . ' rices and good weather”? stalHime nis 4 EUROPEAN CAMPING Sorvmghts ar fF steoett Answer HOLIDAYS Ga Dive sand at betore and will . FOR T . 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