Evening star., 1947-10-31
Readers Clearing House
TRAVELLING EXPENSES.

fFron, Mrs. J. w. H., Bethesda.)
In response to the query of M. p,
Arlington, about travelling expenses,
perhaps I can offer some sugges-
tions, as my husband and I and our
two small boys, age 2 and 4, have
just returned from q three-and-one-
half week automobile trip to
Phoenix, AriZ., and feel we did not
do too badly in the way of securing
accommodations.
With the children, we found it
much more convenient to make our
overnight stops in auto courts or
~motels," most. of which have
private shower, good beds, and in
my opinion are cleaner and better
kept than any except the very best
hotels. The cost of these varied
from $3.50 In the Blue Ridge Noun
tair1s to So in the Far West. The So
cottages included a kitchen and sit
ting room with radio, steam heat,
fans, etc. We found our average cost
TO be around IS per night and for
couple without children it could be
less, as we had double" (two full
sized beds, sometimes in separate
bedrooms) cabins to accommodate
our family. Single cabins are 81 to
$1.50 less as a rule. There is no tip
ping in auto courts. Our only I'M
favorable experience on this trip was
our overnight stay at hotel on one
of the main streets of New Orleans
The room contained two beds, but it.
was necessary for us to call the
manager to have the sheets
changed; the place smelled of liquor,
and obviously had not been cleaned
recently. For this we paid So and
were not particularly happy about it.
Possibly in Florida the rates would
be higher than the SIS average I
mention, as you would be going
there during the height of the tour
tst season.
As for food, which is consider
able item these days, we took with
us a portable iceboX We cooked two
pounds of prunes and made couple
quarts of applesauce and carried
this, together with large can or
two of pineapple juice and grape
fruit juice, in the icebox, which kept
1t reasonably cold. Paper cups and
spoons eliminated the bother of
dishes; a hole punched in the top
of the Juice cans enabled us to drink
the Juice with a straw without dam
ger of spilling. We also had with
us q small hot plate (electric) and
made our coffee with the instant
type, corn fakes, Shredded Wheat
and other dry cereals were easy to
serve; even soft-boiled eggs were
easy with hot plate). We also car
ried cheese and crackers and those
delicious little Norwegian sardines,
which are very nourishing. We tried
to get one good hot meal day,
usually in the evening and found
that we could get along very we'll
by fixing our own breakfasts and
lunches. In this way we had nour-
ishing and economical meals and no
tips here either. The little icebox
served also to keep milk and cokes
cold, as we'll as fruit which we bought
and ate en- route. Apple juice was
also a favorite with the children.
Prices on restaurant meals have
indeed scared, and we found break
fasts cost 80 cents (for hot cakes) to
IS cents (for eggs and bacon);
lunches rs cents for the most inex-
pensive and a good dinner $3.50 to
s225 Cor even higher, depending on
where you have it).
If you are trying to stay under SIS
q day, you can see this, wouldn't
leave very much for sightseeing
trips, souvenirs, etc.
Other foods you can carry with
you are pretzels, corn chips and SIM
liar items containing salt, which do
not make one as thirsty as you
would suppose, but are quite salts
flying.
hope these ideas may be of some
help and wish Mrs. M. P. the best
of luck on her trip.
y
BABY'S PRINTS.
(Fron1 J. E. P, Washington
To Mrs. A. p, Washington: For
making your baby's finger prints
e~d foof y,riy,fs WI, chp1I1I hove