Rundown for the week of December 12, 1998
Madeline Island
Way north in Wisconsin, on the south shore of Lake Superior, is an
unlikely paradise: Madeline Island. It's not especially luxurious. And
there aren't a ton of entertainment options. But The Savvy Traveler's
John Rabe says Madeline Island attracts thousands of visitors every
year for two reasons: the lake and character of the islanders.
Q & A I -- Unlikely Holiday Destinations
Rudy talks to listeners about unusual places they've spent the
holidays.
Pilgrimage Interview
For thousands of years, the need for meaningful travel has been met
through pilgrimage. With the millennium quickly approaching
it's estimated that, in the year ahead, more people will journey in
search of sacred inspiration than in any other time in history. The
Vatican is expecting nearly thirteen million celebrants for the year
2000, and another three to four million travelers will make their way
to the Holy Land. Phil Cousineau is author of the book, The Art of
Pilgrimage: The Seeker's Guide to Making Travel Sacred. When Phil
stopped by recently, I asked him to explain the difference between a
pilgrimage and a vacation.
The Open Road: Mormon Missionaries
Even though you don't have to be religious to make a
pilgrimage, for young members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints, travel is a religious calling. Nearly 60,000 of
them are now journeying to 132 countries with the intention of
converting people to their faith. The Open Road's Hal Cannon recently
visited the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah where these
young people prepare for the big unknown.
Deal of the Week: Deals in Weird Places
Buy a $4.99 pack of specially marked Gillette Atra or Trac II razors
and you get a certificate good for $50 off certain American Airline
tickets. Until the end of this month, you can pick up a loaf of
Natures Own read, and find a coupon good for $100 off a Delta Airlines
ski package for two...glam spots like Taos, Jackson Hole, and Lake
Tahoe.
Pick up a copy of Walt Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" and you'll find a
coupon that gives kids two to 15 free train travel to 500 Amtrak
destinations. Or how about this: pay $59.95 to join the Pet Care
Savings Club -- it's offers advice and discounts for pet owners, but
you don't have to own a pet to join. Sign up and you'll receive $160
worth of coupons for discounted travel with American Airlines as well
as Avis, National, and Alamo rental cars.
Q & A II -- General Questions
Rudy takes listeners' general questions about travel. He mentions:
The Cyclades Islands in Greece
- Multi-island tickets. One ticket can take you from Piraeus on the
mainland to several of the most interesting Cycladic Islands,
including Naxos and Santorini.
- Naxos is where mythical Theseus abandoned Ariadne after she helped
him slay the Minotaur on Crete. It has the archipelago's tallest peak,
Mt. Zeus, the Temple of Apollo and an impressive archaeological
museum.
- Santorini is said to be the most spectacular of the islands. The
capital, Fira, teeters on the edge of a huge caldera left by what was
probably the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history.
- For ferry information to design your own tour, ferry schedules and
rates are available at http://www.gtpnet.com. The main ferry
lines are Minoan and Cycladic.
- Homeric Tours: Seven nights and nine-day tours start at $1099
including airfare and a four-day island cruise. Call 800-223-5570.
- The Greek National Tourist Organization can also provide information
about tours. Call 212-421-5777.
Reunion in Vancouver
- In Vancouver, the Sunset Inn Apartment Hotel on Burnaby Street
offers condo suites starting at $128 per night total for a suite that
sleeps six. Within walking distance of Stanley Park and English Bay,
you'll be in a quite residential area but close to the city's
nightlife. Phone: 604-688-2474.
- If you're going before January, you'll be there in the low or
regular season. But if you wait until early February, you'll be in
high season and prices will go up quite a bit.
- Prices range from $494 for a four-bedroom condo at The Gables that
sleeps 8, to $1500 for a one-bedroom at the Pan-Pacific Lodge. At the
Pan-Pacific, you can get a two-bedroom condo for $550 a night -- in
January.
- Whistler resorts
has a central reservation line that will give
you information and rates for all the condos in the area:
800-944-7853.
L.A. Dodgers Baseball Fantasy Camp
- Week-long camps are held in Vero Beach, Florida twice a year, once
in November and once in February.
- The next session is scheduled for February 11, 1999.
- One week costs $3995 (but it is a once-in-a lifetime thing).
- For more information, call 800-334-7529, or e-mail dodgers@dennismc.com.
- For more information about baseball fantasy camps, visit
www.hihard1.com/index.shtml.
Rudolph's Last Stand
It's never easy, trying a new culture on for size. But that's the
thing about being a traveler; out of curiosity and respect you try to
do as the natives. For some of us that means sampling the local
cuisine or taking the city bus instead of an organized tour. And then
there are people like Doug Lansky who enjoy pushing the boundaries of
"fitting in." Doug's our vagabond traveler, exploring the world and
taking odd jobs here and there to see what it's like to live as a
local. Only, every once in a while, Doug finds himself in quite a
cultural dilemma.
Next Week on The Savvy Traveler
We're two-steppin' out into the Open Road towards Anson Texas, where
cowboys gather for their annual Christmas Ball.
"The women make their own costumes and clothes, the men still wear
string ties and frock coats and when you come here, it's a family
reunion of friends."
We'll have holiday gift suggestions for your favorite traveler. And
humorist Dave Barry stops by to talk about the place he's always
thought worthy of a few laughs.
"You have all these cultures, the tropical weather,, giant toads that
can kill you if you lick them. There's just this air of weirdness in
Miami and I think it encourages fiction."
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
The Savvy Traveler newsletter is now available. For more information, call
toll-free, 888-SAV-TRAV (888-728-8728), extension 3, or e-mail mail@savvytraveler.org.
