European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                From Page 6 Miles South of Albertville which boasts a new ski jumping stadium also has rooms available a but they Are expensive easily running you about 1,000 francs about $200 a Day pc Yronne said. Meribel has no hotel rooms left but apartments can be rented on a weekly basis according to tourist officials there. Be Yronne also said that its possible to stay As far away As Annecy or Geneva where there arc Many More rooms available and it is less expensive. There is no train from Annecy to Albertville but there is a Good Highway. Camping for those who like to rough it there is Winter camping in the area. Sites include i camping la Foret Montvale Zan in la Rosier Telephone 33-79-06-86-21 la Oustalet in Chatel 33-50-73-21-97 la Chamois 33-79-08-71-54 and la parc is cretan 33-79-08-73-11. Lodging prices a people arc free to charge a million francs for a room if they want. But you wont see any of that a said Fabienne Benoit a spokeswoman for the olympic organizing committee. Tourist officials say unofficial pressure comes from olympic organizers to keep prices Down. But you can expect rates about 10 to 50 percent above High season rates. As a Benchmark for pricing rooms the room rates for accredited olympic visitors officials athletes and press Are 890 francs a about $160 a per night for one person for one room. The official rate is considered expensive by Basic two Star hotel standards but about right for a three Star or four Star hotel during the games according to Benoit. Two Star hotels and some three stars Are planning to charge about 500 francs per person per Day with breakfast. If you go with a tour group the lodging Price is generally much lower. For comparison Normal High season rates december through april for a three Star hotel in tines and Albertville Are about 430 francs for one person. In Cou Cheval a three Star hotel costs a Little More a about 640 francs per person. Language English speaking travellers can experience problems in this part of the world where most people prefer to speak French. Although some tourist offices have literature in English most done to. Resorts such As tines which caters to younger crowds have More people who speak English. Meribel a resort started by a British Man knows your language. The tourist boards in Val disere. La Plagne Centre and Albertville had no information printed in English at the counters. David Tarrant Sis Kan Georga bleachers Are on the Rise in  heats up for summer game by Brent Stinski staff writer with buildings sprouting on its Mediterranean Bayside and construction Sites spattering its streets Barcelona is Rushing to ready itself for the 1992 summer olympics which run from july 25 to aug. 9. Construction machinery has gutted the City a once Grassy grand Square la Plaza do Cataluna leaving the Parks White statues standing above a Well of dirt. By the Shore two identical towers a one to be a hotel the other an office building a finish their construction next to a squat half finished olympic Village building. Streets throughout the City have been ripped open to be strengthened for the olympic crush. But the primping is merely the finishing touch. Atop a Steep Hill beside the City the finished olympic stadium and Pavilion await Competition. A sky Tram stretching across the City and above Barcelona a Bay totes sightseers daily. Although gift shops swell with olympic rings and images of Cobi the pyrenees dog Mascot of the games much of life in Barcelona a City of 3 million residents seems unruffled. Except in the tourist quarters of this longtime vacation City prices on food and goods remain reasonable. But prices of olympic souvenirs and such traditional Spanish gifts As hand fans or jewelry Are As always bloated. In addition to the olympics Spain is also hosting expo 92, a worlds fair in Seville. Next year is also the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus voyage and the moors defeat in Granada a the event that crowned Spain a emergence As an Independent european nation. Needless to say these events will draw crowds. The now reasonable hotel prices should accelerate steeply As the olympics near. Private Homes for temporary rent abound. Droves of Barcelona residents will Retreat to summer Homes away from the town when the games begin entrusting their City houses and apartments to agencies that link olympic fans to the Homes. Christina Martin of olympic advisers one such Agency that deals Only with luxury Homes said 60 to 80 Barcelona residents Call every Day to offer their Homes for rent. A we done to want More we have so Many Quot said Ligia Ros representative of a similar company search. But private Homes command olympian prices. Through olympic advisers a Barcelona entered luxury Home with air conditioning and maid service costs about 1 million pesetas $100,000 per bedroom for the 17-Day olympic period. Search which ranges from luxury to Economy houses Bottoms out at 15,000 pesetas $1,500 per Day for two people houses and 12,000 $1,200 per Day for one person houses outside of Barcelona. The following offices can be consulted for More information on the olympics and lodging in Barcelona a Spanish National tourist office Maria de Molina 50 e-28006 Madrid Telephone 0034-1-4114336 a Spanish tourist office Mylius Strasse 14 6000 Frankfurt 1 Telephone 069-725033/725038/725084. Note the office has irregular hours a information office of the olympic committee Telephone 0034-3-490-19-92, ask for International representative Mcdina Bons a Barcelona tourist office Telephone 0034-3-490-3781. Ask for Anna a a a companies that find and rent houses Alo Barno 0034-3-414-66-79 Barcelona relocation service 0034-3-415-49-07 olympic advisers 0034-3-414-40-00 search 0034-3-415-38-33 Barcelona a olympic stadium will be the Center of the worlds attention july 25 to aug. 9.october 20, 1991 sunday a Page 7