Evening star., 1955-05-29
BY JACQUES FUTRELLE, Jr.
The Star'S Travel Editor

The Stars Travel Editor
AS a rate-cutting gimmick to
attract patronage, some Florida
motels last winter offered to re-
fund some gasoline costs to ar
irving guests. The same offer is
now being made by a resort at
South Lee, Mass, in the Berk-
shires. Oak n Spruce has sent
out news that it will pay round
trip transportation within a
radius of $50 miles for guests
staying a full week between now
and June 26. 1t applies to rail,
bus and private automobile trans
portation. Each member of the
motoring party, according to the
management Of Oak n Spruce,
will be reimbursed at the rate of
8 cents a mile. The cash dis
count for two couples, travelling
the round-trip maximum Of 800
miles, thus would total $36.
The worlds worst tippers are
American women. according to
Thomas j. Donovan. who has
been in the travel business long
enough to speak as an expert.
Mr.. Donovan, now president of
the American Society of Travel
Agents, made the observation
before q group Of advertising
women. He said women "either
fiagrantly under-tip or pass out
money so generously that they
look ridiculous. In a hotel,
for instance, they'll give the bell
boy so cents and the chamber
maid nothing. yet the maid does
more to make their stay pleasant
than anyone else in the hotel"
He recommends that every vaca-
ton budget include an allowance
Of $3.50 per day for tips. Among
his recommendations are Is
cents night to the maid to in
sure swift cleaning of quarters,
rs cents per day or night to the
porter for coach travellers and 81
for a day and overnight tip to
the Pullman porter. He also sug-
gested Is per cent of a restau-
rant check. and 20 per cent of
night club bills, exclusive of
taxes.
New Hotel for Lisbon
Expected to open next year is
the new Grande Hotel de Lisboa.
Plans include a veranda for each
Of the 300 rooms, a solarium,
swimming pool, game rooms,
terrace gardens and lounges.
A sightseeing tour plan for
small-fry visitors to Hawaii has
been developed. with teachers or
registered nurses as guides Kei-
XII Wonderland Tours (keiki is,
Hawaiian for children) developed
the idea to allow parents more
time for their own pursuits, at
the same time entertaining the
children with others Of the same
age. Youngsters range from S
to Is years of age. A supervisor
accompanies each group of
eight. Luncheons at the
best restaurants are dietetically
planned. Tours cover Honolulu
and the island of Oahu, with
such diversions as this: A visit
to the Royal Palace, a glass-bot-
tom boat trip over coral gardens,
a day Of swimming and picnick-
ing, a visit to the aquarium and
zoo. a souvenir hunt and tour
OF a pineapple cannery. There
are other features that keep
the child interested through
Today tour, which costs $50.
One or two day tours are offered
at $3.50 day; three or five day
trips at $3.50 a day. One of the
outstanding attractions is a spe-
cial children's luau. or native
feast, at the Queens Surf Gar
den. The luau includes a hula
show and an exhibit of fishnet
throwing and coconut tree
climbing.
New Ship Due in 1856
The keel of a new Swedish
American liner, the Gripsholm.
has been laid at the Ansaldo
Shipyards at Genoa, Italy, and
Is to be delivered in late 1856.
It is a bit larger than the
Kungsholm, which began serv-
ice in 1853 and has become a
favorise cruise ship. The new
Gripsholm will have space for
about $40 passengers in two
classes, first and tourist.
\ y 4 X
The Princess Helene. which
makes the 43-mile Bay of Fundy
crossing between st. John, New
Brunswick. and Digby. Nova
Scotia. in three hours, has be-