travel in europe wednesday november 9 1983 md3 bus tours are hectic but have advantages by dennis smith news editor question what has 42 beads and four wheels crosses one or more borders per day and stops for coffee in liechtenstein answer a european bus tour a variety of itineraries are offered by numerous companies in this field excur sions of four or five days are available- as are longer treks such as a 35day 12- country bus tour which takes travellers from london to amersterdam to athens and points in between busmotorcoach trips through europe are a good option for firsttimers and solo travellers seeking company plus those who want to minimis fuss and maximize sightseeing but many of the sights are seen from inside the bus only if you do go take plen ty of patience and gravol for motion sick ness with you remember also that youll be part of a large group and that your food drink en tertainment and destinations are frequent ly typical tourist fare divide time a good strategy is to spend part of the european vacation on a bus trip and the remainder on your own i chose this com promise taking an 11day tour out of four weeks overall the bits trip covered eight countries altogether and passed through seven of them including liechenstein in a twoday stretch such tours usually start and finish in london but there is some flexibility i was able to join in brussels and leave it in paris for a slight fare reduction tours which cross continental europe by bus and return by air to london are also avail able we took a circular route through coun- bus trips do have their good points at left is a valley in the austrian alps near innsbruck where tour members stayed for two nights above the writer dennis smith relaxes by a monument in lucerne switzerland tryside in belgium and france- moun tainous regions in austria and switzer land and the seaside in italy free days were spent at our stops near innsbruck austria lucerne switzer land venice and paris except for the lat ter our hotels were located well outside these cities- y but thats part of the bus tour comprom ise outlying hotels are cheaper and set tings are often excellent our accommoda tion in an austrian mountain valley was tremendous however there were usually long rides into town for sightseeing or en tertainment buffet breakfasts hotels particularly those in the alps were good while meals were adequate but generally not unique most memorable were a couple of buffet breakfasts provided where a variety of breads meats and cheeses included n it was a pleasant surprise to find others besides canadians americans and bri tons on our tour those i met included a bombay man who owned a ballpoint pen factory and my roommate for the tour a new zealand farmer most on our trip ranged in age from 35 to 60 although people of virtually all ages including children were permitted voung adults who prefer travelling with their peers should join tours for 18 to 35-year- olds special sightseeing and entertainment on tour was plentiful but some of it was at extra cost evening trips in venice and paris for the cancan variety show were very worthwhile being part of an organized group was definitely an advan tage in both cases theres no need to get carried away with excursions however spontaneous events like a visit to a pastry shop or spirited game of billiards in the hotel are frequently more memorable than the organized ones my roommate had a memorable experi ence early on when our group stopped at a coffee shop in the french countryside there was a shortage of room there and we quickly reboarded the bus and con tinued onward it was several minutes before we real ized the new zealander was missing and turned the bus around it was an experi ence although embarrassing that hell re member well our tour part of the march to november series offered cost 425 canadian 1983 rate for 11 days with slight increases for high season tours and reductions for join ing and leaving on continental europe for solo travellers a guaranteed room share is available winter tours are also available through firms like contiki which caters to those aged 1835 trips included are regular bushotel packages 1983 prices were from 1210 for 20 days and from 1676 for 30 days or nine to 21day ski tours in the austrian alps bus tours through the british isles east ern european countries including the soviet union and the middle east are also available many such trips can be packaged with transatlantic flights and discount rates are available at hotels before or after the bus tour doctor blanca zimmerman and doctor victor sterling wish to announce the opening of their office for the practice of family dentistry formerly serviced by dr harold mason who has recently retired markham mall 191 wellington st e unit 12 markham 2946383 2941855 the wallpaper centres buy cne getone estee lauder presents first things rrsf a special gift offer for you now at sears rrst things first for your youll receive tender creme cleanser 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