European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I rim i irs when is a Day not a Day when you re trav Lingby Barbara Shea new Day a Friend dropped by my desk the other Day with an intriguing question about a tour she had spotted. The and said Quot Vienna interlude $575, 5 Days and 3 nights including airfare Quot a which seemed like a great value. There was just one thing she could t figure out How a trip starting with a night flight in new York and crossing six time zones can last five Days but Only three nights. Neither could i. As we were busily counting flight hours on our fingers and trying to guess at the itinerary a colleague leaned k Over and matter of Farlly offered an answer the departure Date a which for most travellers would entail a morning of last minute shopping an afternoon of packing an evening drive to the Airport and a restless night dozing in an airline seat a was considered the first Quot Day Quot of the trip. Incredulous i called austrian airlines to find out the details. Sure enough this is How the tour is structured travellers leave the United states at 6 15 . On a thursday and spend the night aloft. That s Day 1. They arrive in Vienna at 8 15 . Friday Day 2. Friday night is night 1. Saturday is Day 3, night 2. Sunday is Day 4, night 3. Monday with an 11 45 . Departure from Vienna is Day 5. Voila. Five Days three nights. Quot it s always done that Way Quot said Helmut Narz tour development manager for austrian airlines. Well not exactly. Most package Tours i see Are stated in terms of a certain number of nights which gives travellers a clearer idea of How much vacation time they re getting for their Money. If you also get a few hours of Daylight on either Side of the specified number of nights it s a Bonus. Tour operators whether in the United states or in Europe who want to stretch the illusion of More trip per Dollar quote packages in terms of Days a few quote both Days and nights but where they do the Norm for weekend trips is four Days three nights. You can be sure that these companies allot part of one Day to travel time but at East they Call a Day a Day and a night a night. On austrian airlines Vienna interlude itinerary not one minute of the first Quot Day Quot of the trip which also starts after dark is spent in Austria. While such creative interpretations May give new meaning to the term Quot Long weekend Quot they Are not illegal a no government regulations define when a Quot Day Quot begins or ends. But travellers should know How much time they re buying when comparison shopping Tours a especially when trying to make every vacation minute count on a weekend trip or Short journey to some place you want to see and do As much As possible. Therefore it is a Good idea to carefully read Between the lines when you re shopping and ask the right follow up questions. Most ads Are careful to Point out a albeit often in Small print a whether such necessities As airfare hotels taxes service single supplements and Airport transfers Are included in the Price but do not assume anything. Note too that the advertised rate usually is Only the Low Point in a Price Range that can go Well beyond your budget and lowest rate rooms naturally sell out  trouble for touring singles a British charter group Waits to Check in at the Airport in Faro Portugal. Croup travel packages usually include Check in and flight time in the Day count. Sas file by Cheryl Blackerby Cox news service the travel Industry operates according to the Noah s Ark Rule of tourism customers must travel by twos. Cruise lines and hotel prices Are generally Quot per person double  that Means you get that Price Only if you happen to be part of a twosome. If you re travelling alone you have to pay Steep Quot single supplements Quot which Are often nearly or the same Price As for two people. On cruises single passengers generally pay at least 150 percent of the per Porson double occupancy rate. If the cruise is $1,000 per person double occupancy a single pays $1,500. On prime itineraries the single pays 200 percent a $2,000. Singles Are penalized so much on cruises and tour Par Kages that Many Solo travellers can t afford to go. Quot it gets to be very Clear that the travel Industry has been built or people travelling in twos. If single travellers want  y they re obviously going to pay a very stiff Price for it Quot says de Perkins editor of consumer reports travel i Otter. Quot it s certainly unfortunate that More hotels and c raise lint s Don t have affordable a it Nemm ovations for  iras Al agents Are caught in the Middle having to explain to single clients that they will have to pay much More than what they see in advertisements says David l Ove spokesman for the american society of travel agents. Quot a lot of times it comes Down to two can travel As cheaply or almost As t cheaply As one. That s just the Way the Industry  in Spile of increasing numbers of single travellers most experts say the travel Industry will continue at least in the near future to operate Tor couples Quot the Industry is very much a mind Sot of Well give them what we want to give them not what they want it s a convenience matter says Perkins. Quot they can build All rooms or Cabins the same Way in a Given Price class so they will never have to turn away a couple because they Only have single  love is slightly Mure optimistic. Quot the Industry is becoming aware of the singles Market but everything moves slowly. They the hotels tour companies and cruise lines can t give a half Price but they Are seeing an increasing amount of Young people staying single and the situation for singles will definitely change. There s always Power in  Diane Samuelsen spokeswoman for cruise lines International association an organization with 35 member cruise lines explains the situation simply a Cabin that accommodates two people is priced for two. Quot a single person staying in a room for two must pay for two or at least a fare that s close Quot she says. Potential passengers can get around the supplements she says by choosing a ship that has single Cabins or by asking cruise lines to match them with another single. The problem with single Cabins is that they often Are nearly or the same Price As a double Cabin. Once again tire single is paying nearly the same As two. As for asking the ship to match them with other singles most travellers Don t want to do it. It s a real Gamble agreeing to share a room with someone you Don t know. Still there Are ways for single people to Cut travel costs. Here Are a few suggestions a seek out ships with single Cabins then try to get discounts. Cunard s Saga fjord and Holland America line s Rotterdam both have single Cabins that Are fairly priced and available for those who Book Early. A set up an appointment with a travel agent and announce that you Are single and want to travel As economically As possible. Quot if they Don t seem very knowledgeable look for another agent Quot love says. A singles organizations that also find roommates abound. Two of them in the United states Are the travel companion Exchange 516 454-0880, and single world 800 223-6490. They May be Able to give leads on similar groups elsewhere. A look for special interest Tours arranged by Art and science museums clubs or local travel agents. The group rate May Cut the Cost for singles and if not you re Likely to find someone with similar interests to share a room with. 12 stripes Magazine june 4, 1992