Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-04
COST OF EUROPEAN TRAVEL.

And all on earth she wanted was a marriage
man.
COST OF EUROPEAN TRAVEL.
What is the lowest cost at which a
European trip can be made ?" is a cues.
tion that myriad of guide-books and so.
called travellers companions have re.
Gently attempted to answer, with the re.
suit of widely varying estimates being
given. Some, acting on TIE principle Of
sparing no expense, insist that nothing
less than 81 900 will cover a few weeks
trip. Others, more thrifty, claim that
half that amount is sufficient, while one
authority, descending the scale, asserts
that fifty cents per day should provide for
all expenses.
The nearest approach to a correct esti-
mate was probably that given by the author
ola tourists guide, published in New York
a short time since. This writer gave $3.50
as the cost of visiting London and Paris
{including all expenses and return), and
his arrangement allowed the tourist to re-
main week in each city. He confessed,
however, that he had never made the ex-
cursion in the manner suggested, which
certainly proved that he was wise in his
generation, for its main feature was a
steerage passage to and from Europe.
Since the publication of the work last
referred to the cost of ocean transit has
been greatly reduced, thus materially
diminishing an important item of travel
ing expense. Indeed, SO great has become
the competition between various
TRANSATLANTIC steamship companies in
the matter of rates that saloon passage
now amounts to less than third class
railroad fare for an equal distance. 1t
may be well for those Of us who are con-
sidering pleasant as well as profitable
vacation to keep some of these hints in
mind and plan to carry out cheap trip
abroad. 1t was owing to the possession Of
such knowledge that friend of the writer
was enabled recently to make five weeks
tour which embraced not only London and
Paris, but Brussels and Antwerp, and per-
mitted passing glance at many places Of
interest while in transit, the total expense
occasioned being just S10O.
The first and most important matter,
when considering an European tour, is, of
course, the selection of steamship in order
to cross the Atlantic. This for the
untraveled is a difficult task. So numer-
Gus are the "lines," and all offer such ex-
cellent accommodations at such moderate
rates, that to choose most advantageously,
with regard to both economy and comfort,
can only result from practical experience.
The greatest inducements are offered by
the White Star, Inman and National
Lines. The boats of the aforementioned,
although slow, are considered very safe,
and by them saloon passage can be OBJ
tanned as low as S40-a great point to be
remembered when deciding. The wooth-
ers mentioned are so we'll known that
comment concerning them is unnecessary.
1t is sufficient to say that their
for saloon and second
class passengers are beyond criticism.
The cost of second-class passage by one
of these company's boats is the same in
either case-S30, according to location of
state-room. If passage is engaged at least
a week before the date of sailing, very
good quarters can be obtained for this rate.
Very little, if any, saving can be effected
by taking a round-trip ticket, and it is
therefore not recommended.
A second-class passage was taken by my
friend, the vessel selected being the White
Star liner Republic. The trip-a most
enjoyable one, in consequence of good
weather-was made in eight days, and the
tourist landed in Liverpool well satisfied
with the commencement of his journey.
With the exception of the magnificent
docks, attractive only to those interested
in shipping. there is not much worth
spending much time over in Liverpool.
No halt was therefore made in that city,
but
THE JOURNEY TO LONDON
Made by the next train of the Midland
Railway. This route was chosen for the
reason that it passes through the most at
tractiye English scenery, including the
celebrated Derbyshire Peak District. A
third-class ticket, costing 81, was taken.
and no possible criticism found regarding
the accommodation, which is as good as
that furnished for best paying travellers by
continental railways.
While en- route for London a copy of the
Daily Telegraph of that city was procured.
This newspaper, it should be explained, is
the great advertising medium of the Eng
lish metropolis, and among its principal
advertisers are the keepers of hotels and
the renters of apartments. Having been
advised to adopt the latter means of living
while in London, and to select as a resi-
dence quarter the neighborhood of either
West Kensington or Hammersmith, suita-
oIx to Al
localities were selected, which, when the
journey was ended, were easily reached by
means of the underground railroad. Quest
was then made for the advertisers and the
first visited having what was required, ar
rangements were forthwith made. The
cost of partial board"-i. e. we'll fur
nished room, with breakfast and late din
to but 81 per day, while
omnibus fare to and from down town was
s cents daily. In this way was avoided
the extortion Of British hotel-keepers and
the numerous seekers of "backsheesh" who
lie in wait for Americans at London hos.
telries.
The day following the arrival in Lon
don was devoted to the accomplishment of
the first part of the programme which had
been devised previous to leaving New York.
This arranged list Of places to be seen
each day, and SO grouped as TO cover as
little unnecessary ground as possible. The
irst and succeeding days experience am
ply proved the wisdom of this forethought,
for it enabled the visitor to see in six days
what many tourist had not seen in
month.
Westminster Abbey was chosen as the
starting point on account of its close prox-
unity to many other points of interest.
After viewing the interior OF this noble
edifce, Westminster Hall and the House
Of Parliament were visited. From there
q walk along Parliament street to Charing
Cross afforded an opportunity for seeing
the various Government Offices, also Down
ing street" and the "Horse Guards"
Trafalgar Square, with its numerous mon
uments, was next in order, followed by a
visit to the National Gallery. st. PauPs
reached by way of the Strand
and historic Fleet street, came next, after
which stroll down Cheapside-ta taking in
Guildhall en- route-brought the visitor to
he heart of the city, where is situated the
Royal Exchange, Bank of England and
Mansion House. In spite of the number
ss places then visited sufficient time yet
remained for inspecting the Tower of
Lon3on.