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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Don’t Leaf Anything To Chance On Foliage Tour

Jean Allen Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Q. We are planning a vacation trip to the Northeast this summer or fall. We would like to have some information on the best time of year for the fall color foliage and on accommodations and best points of interest. J.C., Woodville, Ala.

A. Most New England states have toll-free numbers for tourist information, and all six - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont - will update callers on the autumn leaf situation. They give “guesstimates” on when the leaves will be at their best, but it varies from year to year, depending on weather, such as when the first frost hits and amount of rainfall.

It’s usually late September through October. The most crowded time throughout New England is always over Columbus Day weekend.

The New England states offer free literature, usually including shopping, accommodations, bed-and-breakfast and hotel-motel listings and detailed sightseeing information. Call their tourist offices at: Connecticut 1-800-282-6863; Maine 1-800-533-9595; Massachusetts 1-800-447-6277; New Hampshire 1-800-386-4664; Rhode Island, 1-800-556-2484 Vermont 1-802-828-3236.

I’d advise you to phone soon for the estimated dates and make reservations well in advance of the planned trip, at least for weekends. Then hope the dates are correct, because if you wait too long you might find there’s no room at the inn(s). Weekdays are less crowded so you might find rooms then without making reservations.

Many places in New England have a combination of colorful leaves, interesting shops, museums and such, and some of my favorite places are associated with famous writers and artists.

The Michelin Green Guide, New England, is the best guidebook for motorists. It is available at bookstores.

Q. I would like to subscribe to a home exchange magazine for the United States and perhaps Europe. - G.L., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A. Home exchange services are operated by several well-established companies that publish catalogs available to subscribers who pay an annual fee.

As you probably know, the would-be swapper chooses likely looking homes from the catalog and from then on, it’s up to both sides to arrange their own exchange.

Vacation Exchange Club, Box 650, Key West, Fla. 33041, 1-800-638-3841, perhaps the biggest and oldest of the companies, charges $70 annually and puts out five catalogs a year with the subscriber’s home listed in one.

The Invented City, 1-800-788-CITY, is a domestic and international home exchange service that charges $50 a year and provides three catalogs with your listing in one, and $10 for each additional listing. The Invented City is at 41 Sutter St., Suite 1090, San Francisco Calif. 94104.

Hideaways International, 1-800-843-4433, charges $99 a year, which includes two annual directories and four newsletters. An extra fee is levied to be listed in a directory, the amount depending on photo option, size of the listing and other variables. Hideaways’ address is 767 Islington St., Portsmouth, N.H. 03801.

Worldwide Home Exchange Club, 806 Brantford Ave., Silver Spring, Md. 20904, 1-301-680-8950, also has a London office, offers both exchanges and rentals, and claims to list about 1,500 homes. For a $31 fee, prospective swappers get one directory, issued in January, plus a supplement, issued in April, plus a listing in one of those. For publications only, no listing, it’s $29. In addition to trading a home or renting one, there’s the option of a “hospitality exchange” in which members host a visit by another member who in turn hosts them on a future stay.

Loan-A-Home handles both exchanges and rentals, and specializes in long-term rentals, often to teachers on sabbatical leaves, transferred business people and retirees. Loan-a-Home has a London office and many rentals are in that area. To get the current directory and a supplement, the price is $40; for two directories and two supplements, it’s $50. There is no charge for having your own home or apartment listed. Loan-A-Home is at 7 McGregor Road, Woods Hole, Mass. 02543; phone 1-508-548-4032.

Q. We’re planning to take Amtrak to visit Washington, D.C. this year. Any ideas about moderate-cost motels? - A.C., Hallandale, Fla.

A. Try the Phoenix Park Hotel, on Capitol Hill across the street from Union Station where your train will arrive. The hotel has summer rates starting at $88 per room plus tax, now through Aug. 29. Its location is an easy walk from the Smithsonian museums around the National Mall, the Capitol and the White House. The Metro, D.C.’s good subway, stops at Union Station.

Not all rooms are available at this rate, so phone ahead for reservations at 1-800-824-5419. Or call a central reservation number, 1-800-535-3336, that handles reservations for a wide range of hotels and motels in and near the District of Columbia.

I’ve always had good luck with that central number. Unless you plan to rent a car (you really don’t need one in greater Washington) you might want to specify that your hotel-motel be on or near a Metro or bus line.