Rundown for the week of November 21, 1998
Norfolk
Most of us have memories of family vacations with our parents - many
of them probably very happy. But could you cope with them on your
travels now that you're an adult? That's the challenge Martin Stott
set for himself - and just to make it even harder he took them to
Norfolk on England's east coast - recently billed by the English press
as the most boring place in Britain.
Q & A I -- Unusual Thanksgiving
Rudy talks to listeners about out-of-the ordinary places they've spent
Thanksgiving
Interview: John Grant
Here's a place you might not have considered bunking down; how
about spending the night at a lighthouse? I'm sure you've noticed that
lighthouses can evoke a powerful emotional response. To a sailor,
they're a comforting sight--a beacon of light illuminating dark skies,
guiding ships safely into the harbor. Solitary and beautiful, we often
associate lighthouses with romance and intrigue. Producer and author
John Grant understands their allure and he's shared his
fascination with these coastal beacons in a six- part travel series on
PBS called Legendary Lighthouses.
Deal of the Week
$12 a night is what it costs you per person to check into the hostel
in Glenwood Springs, about 40 miles outside of Aspen. There's
transportation to the Aspen slopes available, and the hostel can even
get you a discount on your lift tickets. The $12 rate is for dorm
accommodations, but you can book a private room for two for only $26.
There are similar deals at hostels in Breckenridge, Crested Butte, and
elsewhere. The hostel in Taos, New Mexico's charges $11 for a night's
stay. In Ludlow, Vermont, near Killington, it's $17 a night.
Q & A II -- General Questions
Rudy takes listeners' general questions about travel. He mentions:
Affordable Hotels in Santa Monica
- The Comfort Inn in Santa Monica offers single rooms with
refrigerators and free coffee for between $69 and $79. Phone:
310-828-5517.
- Just a five-minute drive from Santa Monica is the Mansion Inn, in
Venice. Rooms range from $85 to $95 and include a refrigerator.
Phone: 800-828-0688.
Whale Watching
- Sea Kayak adventures offers special family trips and other whale
watching opportunities. Phone: 800-616-1943
- Also try www.specialtytravel.com and use "whale watching" as a
keyword.
Hotel Gratuities
- Chip Kamper, president of the Washington-area Concierge Association,
says tipping extra is usually not necessary because hotels normally
have added in a 15 percent gratuity to your room.
- He says to always tip housekeeping services $1 per day for keeping
hotel rooms clean. If you're not sure who's cleaning your room,
gratuities may be left on the night table or in any obvious place.
Sheepcamps
Sun Valley, Idaho is one of America's great ski resorts and celebrity
hide-outs. But around this time of the year the area welcomes a
different set of visitors--sheep. You see, earlier this century, the
region exported more lamb than anywhere else in America. So in an
effort to connect the area with it's historical roots, every year it
hosts the "Trailing of the Sheep". The Open Road's Hal Cannon and
Teresa Jordan take us to this two-day festival and introduce us to
sheepherders who travel the back roads of the American West. One of
the oldest professions in the world, little has changed for
sheepherders since Biblical times. Until that is, the old West and the
new West come face to face.
Giddyup Elephant Postcard
In today's final destination...a parent's nightmare. One father faces
the struggle of getting his kid to come along for the ride...with the
rest of the tour group.
Next Week on The Savvy Traveler
Baked iguana....or reindeer or caterpillars...we're taking your calls
about the strangest foods you've faced while traveling. Plus
author Peter Mayle talks about the place he calls home...Provence in
France, where food is the center of everything.
Clip: "There's a recurring question I get asked. How can you possibly
eat a four course lunch or a four course dinner and not be the size of
a house."
Where Peter Mayle eats and writes in next week's journey with
The Savvy Traveler. We're heading back out into the Open Road to
explore the culture and cuisine of Astoria, Oregon. And we hear a
postcard that remembers...and gives thanks for the people you meet
along the way. That and more so please come along for the ride in next
week's edition of The Savvy Traveler.
For tapes of the show
If you want your very own copy of The Savvy Traveler, order an audio
cassette. It's easy. Just call 303-823-8000. The price is $15. As Rudy
says, it's a steal.
The Savvy Traveler Newsletter
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call toll-free, 888-SAV-TRAV (888-728-8728), extension 3, or e-mail mail@savvytraveler.org.
