Q and A
LEAD:  Sources on Freighter Travel
Sources on Freighter Travel
Q. Can you assist me in getting information on freighter travel? I no longer see it advertised. - L. D., New York, N.Y.
A. There are fewer freighters that take passengers than in previous years and those that do rarely take more than 12, so it hardly pays for the freighter lines to advertise. These are publications that list passenger-carrying freighters:
Freighter Space Advisory is published twice a month by Freighter World Cruises (180 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, Calif. 91101; 818-449-3106), the passenger agent for about a dozen freighter lines. The newsletter is $27 for the first year, including $25 credit toward cruises booked through Freighter World Cruises, and $18 for subsequent years. The newsletter reports on available space, new sailings and discounts on the lines the agency represents.
TravLtips (Post Office Box 218, Flushing, N.Y. 11358; 800-872-8584 or 718-939-2400), a travel agency specializing in freighter travel, issues a booklet six times a year that is sent to members, who pay a $15 annual fee. Each booklet includes articles, mainly on freighter travel, and listings of available freighter space.
Ford's Freighter Travel is published twice a year. The directory, published by Ford's Travel Guides (19448 Londelius Street, Northridge, Calif. 91324), lists freighters and their itineraries by departure point and includes a section on river and canal travel. The directory also lists travel agencies that specialize in booking freighter travel. It costs $8.95 for a single copy and $15 for both annual issues.  Skiing in Megeve
Q. Can you give me information on the ski resort of Megeve, France? - A. M., Canton Ohio
A. Megeve is on southwest face of the Mont d'Arbois in the Alps, 372 miles from Paris, 47 miles from Geneva and 13 miles from Chamonix. A trip from Paris by T.G.V. to Bellegarde or Sallanches with a bus connection to Megeve takes about five hours. From the Geneva airport buses take about an hour and 45 minutes.
The ski area, established in 1933, is one of the oldest in France. It attracts a fashionable crowd, offering accordingly fashionable shops and restaurants, and is particularly popular with Parisians. Its charm derives largely from the traditional Savoyard architecture, with small wood-and-stone chalets, rather than the taller buildings in newer ski resorts. Horse-drawn sleighs transport people around town.
Skiing at Megeve can be combined with that of the neighboring resorts of St. Gervais, St.-Nicolas and Combloux. These areas are not as high as other areas in the French Alps, and thus the snowfall is less reliable. The runs are weighted toward beginning and intermediate skiers.
There are about 55 hotels in Megeve, ranging from the Parc des Loges (telephone 50.93.05.03) and the Mont-d'Arbois (50.21.25.03), which charge about $267 a night in high season for a double room with two meals, to Les Primeveres (50.21.23.09) and the Sevigne (50.21.23.09) at $40. There is a central lodging information and reservation service, Megeve Reservations (50.21.29.52; fax 50.93.03.09), part of the town's Office of Tourism, 74120 Megeve, France; 50.21.27.28.  Passion Play Tickets
Q. I am interested in attending the Passion Play in Oberammergau, West Germany. Do you know of any tours? - S. H., Irvine, Calif.
A. The Oberammergau Passion Play, the daylong pageant depicting the Easter story, is presented every 10 years in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau. It next takes place between May 21 and Sept. 28, 1990, with performances on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Except for Saturdays, those who attend performances must have accommodations in the village, so attending as part of a tour package is wise. Saturday performances are open to visitors without accommodations (ticket price about $59), but those tickets are reportedly very difficult to get.
These are some operators whose tours include a performance of the Passion Play. The prices, given for double occupancy, include hotel, bus transportation and some meals.
Hapag-Lloyd Tours (1640 Hampstead Turnpike, East Meadow, N.Y. 11554; 800-334-2724 or 516-794-1253) offers three tour packages that include tickets. Two of them are eight-night tours, one of Germany, with the land price $1,339, the other of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, $1,444. The third is a 14-night Germany tour at $2,336. The company has a limited number of unescorted three- or four-night arrangments, with prices including transfers from Munich, one or two nights in Munich and one or two nights in Oberammergau, some meals, and Passion Play tickets. Prices range from $387 for three nights in tourist-class hotels, to $597 for four nights in first-class hotels.
Pleasure Break Travel (1350 East Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines, Ill. 60018; 800-777-1566 or 708-298-8700) has some tickets plus stays in private homes in the village. Two nights is $403 and one night is $370, including meals.
Travelink Tours International (401 South Milwaukee Avenue, Suite 230, Wheeling, Ill. 60090; 800-323-0164) has six programs including the Passion Play, some geared to religious interests. Among them are a 10-day tour of Reformation sites for $1,998, including round-trip air from New York.
These two companies prefer that tours be booked through travel agents: Trafalgar Tours (21 East 26th Street, New York, N.Y. 10010) runs European tours that include Oberammergau. Land costs range from $1,384 for 14 days to $2,384 for 27 days. Unitours (8 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill.) has eight European tours. Land prices range from $819 for 6 days to $2,110 for 22 days.  Anguillan Currency
Q. I will be traveling in Anguilla and have gotten mixed opinions on whether I should convert money or use American dollars. - W. R. C., Doylestown, Pa.
A. Anguilla's official currency is the East Caribbean dollar, trading at about 2.7 to the United States dollar. However, United States currency is accepted throughout the island, save for a very few small shops. Given that a fee is generally charged for exchanging currency, your money is worth more if you do not exchange it. And at journey's end, you may find yourself with E.C. dollars that banks will not buy back or stores will not accept. If you find that you do need E.C. currency, an Anguillan bank will exchange American money or traveler's checks.