Seniors in Europe

Three of us seniors spent a strenuous but gratifying 10 weeks in Europe this fall. Using The Times Travel section as before, and various travel books, I arranged by mail for all our economical hotels. Staying for the second time with the incomparable Olivia Gannon, 93 Cowley Hill, Borehamwood, Herts., England, at the beginning and during the final three weeks gave us a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Borehamwood is 20 minutes from London from King’s Cross Midland BritRail Station, and Mrs. Gannon is asking 7 a night ($8.40) for bed and breakfast.

In Milan I learned that an experienced traveler can be a victim. Don’t be in a crowd, don’t get too tired and don’t relax your vigilance. The Times had warned: carry copies of your passport and extra photos, and within two hours the next day I had a new passport.

Places I would stay again: Pilgrims’ Guest House, 18 the Friars, Canterbury, Kent, England (hosts a caring couple); Pensione Rigatti, Lungarno Diaz 2, Florence (a real palace), and Hotel Bologna, Lepetit 27, Milan.

The highlight of our trip was a special showing of Dunrobin Castle at Golspie, Scotland, inspired by a story in The Times last year. The custodian, Rex Riley, and Lord Strathnaver couldn’t have been kinder. FRANCES HARDING Sepulveda What’s the Cost? Your letters from Travel readers are always interesting. However, unless the writers tell you the cost of the hotel, trip, or whatever it is, it doesn’t help would-be travelers. Please try to get people to give you this information. Japan for Seniors I want to thank Sharon Dirlam for an item in her Tours and Cruises column on Aug. 19, Japan for Seniors. We were fortunate enough to be able to join this group and it proved to be one of the best, most interesting trips we have ever made. Our Japanese host families were warm and welcoming, and we feel that we have an extended family in Japan. We plan to host a family in May. Anyone interested in being a host family may contact the director of Seniors Abroad, Evelyn Zivetz, 12533 Pacato Circle North, San Diego 92128. MRS. JOE YABLON Sun City, Calif. MADELINE DITMARS Santa Ana LAX Shuttle Upon my mother’s recommendation (she has used the service several times, with much satisfaction), I recently made a reservation for a Supershuttle van to convey two of us from Rancho Palos Verdes to LAX. The driver arrived 10 minutes before scheduled. He did not honk or hurry us in any way, and as we began taking out our luggage he was very quick to help us. The van appeared to be new and was spotlessly clean. The fare from Palos Verdes Peninsula to LAX was $15 for the first person, $5 for each additional person. The bright-blue vans can be caught when arriving at LAX, and one can learn more information by courtesy phones at the airport. The Supershuttle free phone is (800) 554-0279. I strongly recommend this service for the reasonableness of the fare and the high quality of the service. MAUREEN SMITH Rancho Palos Verdes Beautiful B&B; I was delighted to read William Tomicki’s story about Roseholm in the Ojai Valley (Dec. 16). I spent a long weekend there in October to celebrate my anniversary and found it to be everything Tomicki says it is, and more. The article brought back all the specialness of this beautiful bed-and-breakfast inn and was accurate in every respect. ROSEMARY CARSTENS La Jolla William Tomicki’s beautiful story about Roseholm was right on target. Roseholm is a terrific place and Tomicki’s facts were presented accurately. MARK RABKIN Valencia Copper Canyon Muchas gracias to Sharon Dirlam for the beautiful article on Mexico’s Copper Canyon (Dec. 9). Absolutely wonderful and much enjoyed. Her mention of Global Adventures at the conclusion brought about 70 letters and phone calls. As a result of the activity I’m planning another tour on April 8. ROBERT HORNSTEIN Global Adventures Encinitas Seniors Discounts I was appalled when I read Peter Greenberg’s article, “Seniors Get Up and Go” (Dec. 16), intimating that with Eastern Airlines’ “Passport” fares for senior citizens he was going to be plagued with too-frequent visits from his mother. Ho ho ho. Is this Greenberg’s idea of humor? It appears that the youngster doesn’t appreciate what discount fares mean to senior citizens, nor understand the thinking of our generation. . . . Information about specials for seniors needs to come from someone of my generation. LA VADA WEIR Redondo Beach With his heavy-handed attempt at wit, Greenberg sends very mixed signals. Does he want us to see the inviting prospects of Eastern’s “Passport,” or 45 million sons and daughters dreading the visits that it will bring. With advocates such as Greenberg, Eastern’s program certainly doesn’t need any detractors. JANET MOHLE Manhattan Beach The Way to Scotland For years, being a single woman and an avid traveler, I stayed in endless impersonal hotels, herded on and off coaches. In 1984 on one of your readers’ recommendations I traveled through U.K. Scottish Connections Homebase Holidays (1 Durham Terr., Edinburgh EH15 1QJ, Scotland). I was met and presented with a bouquet of flowers, taken to my Homebase family where I was warmly greeted.

During my one-week stay in Edinburgh I really never felt obliged to do anything I didn’t want to do. Now I’ve seen the country and the people and made lifelong friends. The cost for B&B; is about $130 a week, dinner B&B; about $187 a week. This holiday is highly recommended for the independent traveler like myself, and I would urge parents sending their teen-age family to travel through this agency with safety and security. Thank you for printing the reader letter in 1983. C.R. BRESLIN St. Louis, Mo.