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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

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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

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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

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