34 ~ Sunday, October 23, 1988 - North Shore News

WORLD-WIDE TRAVEL TIPS assport office efficiency tested

PVE ALWAYS admired the efficiency of the Canadian lar mailing of their publications. passport office. They can process a passport, provided you hand them the right documents, in three working days.

I’ve also prided myself on keep~

ing my passport current — no last minute rush for this travel writer. 1 seem to need a current passport so often that it is essential to renew promptly. ‘

Guess what? I got a chance to test the efficiency of Canada pass- ports this week.

I accepted an invitation to join a group going to Scandinavia — leaving in less than a week — and discovered my passport had laps- ed

I assembled the documents, had my picture taken and raced downtown on Friday.

They promised the passport first thing Wednesday morning, and since I leave first thing Thursday morming let’s hope the system doesn’t glitch!

The price of a passport is. now $25 — a very slight increase. Con- sidering that this is the only piece of I.D. accepted everywhere in the world, it’s a bargain.

ae

.A few weeks ago, I printed a reader’s recommendation about a restaurant in downtown Bell- ingham — the Metro at 1322 Commercial St. -

I was quite surprised to get a call from the owner — it seems the North Shore residents have been mobbing the place.

That’s not the item, though. We've received a compliment that I must pass on: ‘‘What a wonder- ful group of people they are!’’ she declared, ‘‘So cordial and sophisticated.”’

No telling what might happen if our reputation continues to shine like this. -

went

Not long ago I received a call from a reader who was arranging 4 tour for her mother through an ad she read in a medical publication.

She wanted té6 know if I knew

anything about the tour company, but unfortunately I didn’t.

I suggested she check with the Better Business Bureau and also run some comparisons with tours being conducted through our local universities.

1 have received a brochure that would interest anyone looking for a “‘special interest’? tour and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recom- mend. What could be more stable than the Smithsonian Institution?

Their tours are unusual — how about a Happy New Year in the Falkland Islands and the Antarc-

-tic, visiting the research stations

and abandoned whaling stations?

travel wise Barbara McCreadie

They have tours offered to exot- ic locations all over the world but each with a basic study theme.

If you're interested in receiving their brochure, write: Smithsonian Associates Travel Program, Smithsonian Institution, 1100 Jef- ferson Dr., S.W., Room 3045, Washington, D.C. 20560 -

Judging from the brochure, one has to become a ‘‘Contributing Member”? of the Smithsonian ($60 a year) to participate in the travel, but there are fringe benefits such as free theatre tickets, behind-the- scenes museum passes and a regu-

Don’t Miss the Boat!

| Canberra Cruises‘ IWORLD CRUISE 1989

Four special fly and ‘cruise itineraries availabie.

New Orlears - San Francisco. . San Francisco - Aucklamd..........

Sam Francisco - Sydney...

San Francisco - Hong tong.....

Wet,

. from CDN. $2359 . from CDN $3039 o+e---. from CDN $3469 from CDN $4999

The prices include airfare and first class hotel at embarkation and

disembarkation.

Make new friends at poolside while you soak up the sun - Live enter- tainment ~ Lectures - Gourmet meals - Deck sports and more.

Lae

WEST VANCOUVER 320-1425 Marine Drive '

925-3304

What a unique Xmas present this could be - Gift certificates avallable.

olds: HOUSE the travel people

“new location _ NORTH VANCOUVER 221-1433 Lonsdale

980-8004

Very little information is given about the exact cost of the indi- vidual tours.

I suspect they might be pricey but you wouldn’t expect to stay in the Cockroach Arms with the Smithsonian, would you?

wink

Statistics are generally boring but from all the inquiries I receive from singles wanting to take a cruise this next bit might be good news.

Since 1986, the number of

singles cruising has almost doubi- ed. - Single travellers are wise to shop around before choosing a cruise — some fines offer single accom- modation for as little as 15 per cent supplement. _

Others are willing to pair-up singles (sorry, only the same sex), but if they fail to find you a part- ner, you pay only the regular fare with no supplement -——- and you get a cabin to yourself.

Other lines are providing male escorts on board to act as dance partners cr to play tennis or bridge. As a matter of fact, I’ve been introduced to one of these gentlemen — a retired army officer who takes a couple of cruises a year and works his passage by be- ing charming. Good at it, too.

Single supplements may vary on any one line depending on the time of year.

Naturally, they will be the highest at high season — look for the lowest rates at the beginning and end of a cruise season or on a relocation cruise — Alaska to the Caribbean for example.

eak

I received a long letter from a reader which I’ve had to sum- marize but the incident is worth bringing to your attention.

On a China Airlines flight, he

WOODWARDS

wR Ar We Be Be

and Carnival Cruise Lines

present

A Fun Ship Evening Tuesday, October 25 7:30 p.m.

Lonsdale Quay Hotel (Next to Loops Restaurant)

| Come join us for an evening of “fun”

e Speaker « Crulse Film » Deck Games » Door Prize e Refreshments

$2.00 per person

SPACE LIMITED! CALL TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS

found a wallet under the seat.

The owner was not aboard the plane, and the reader was deeply concerned that the loser might be detained at the border with no money or credit cards.

He was also concerned about keeping the wallet and trying to find the lady himself. Would the authorities in China take a dim

view of his possessing someone else’s wallet?

Eventually, recording the name and address of the owner, he turn- ed the wallet over to the flight crew, stressing the urgency of returning it immediately.

When he got home he contacted

Sea Passenger Pags 36

HASTINGS TRAE

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS - WORLDWIDE

Ps

744 W. HASTINGS VANCOUVER, B.C. V6C 1A5

catt: 688-0461 —

FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE * Prompt — Personalized — Multilingual Service

VERENA FURRER j — Owner —

Only a few cabins left 15 days on the brand new

CROWN ODYSSEY

Departs San Diego Feb. 27, air fare included

Canadian dollars at par

926-4344

OSEWA

106-100 Park Royal South, West Vancouver

HELP STAMP OUT EMPTYHEADEDNESS

(as in “Bring on the empty horses!") When my niece and nephews recently visited from B.C. | couldn't let them depart ‘empty headed’, so | presented each with a Tilley Hat. Meghan Haley (10) and Benjamin, Cameron and Matthew (14) hail from the coastal town of Sechelt. (Empty headed they are not! For instance, when Meghan was carelessly asked “Are you the girl with three identical twin brothers?”, she replied

“No, That would make six.")

The Not-Yet-Famous Tilley Hat is perhaps the world’s most ‘presented’ hat. It was the V.LP, Gift at the Ontario Pavilion at Expo ‘86, and the tradition has flourished. - Besides being comfortable and locking smashing on most people, the Tilley ($39) floats, ties on, repels rain, and won't shrink, It comes in every possible adult size and with a four-page Owner's Manual - and a lifetime (yours, mine or its) free replacement guarantee. With wisdom beyond their years, my nephews purchased two more Tilley Hats for

friends.

Drop in, Phone or Write

Alex Tilley

Barbaza Tilley 1537 West Broadway

Vancouver, B.C. V6d 1W6

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-5:36

Ph. 732-4287 or SEA-HATS