If you’re free to run off on...

If you’re free to run off on short notice, you can save big bucks with The Last Minute Cruise Club. Up to 50% reductions on sailings. Means being prepared to leave anywhere from two weeks to three months before the deadline. The only requirements: a valid passport and your bag packed and ready to go. Contact Village Travel Service, 870 9th St., San Pedro 90731. Other discounts on cruises offered by Spur of the Moment Tours and Cruises, 4309 Overland Ave., Culver City 90230. Telephone (213) 838-9329.

European Hotels

A group of 543 hotels in Europe share a common rate, $43 a day (this for two persons). Includes breakfast, taxes, service. A go-as-you-please program. Each hotelier books your ongoing reservations on your departure. Sets you free to travel as you please. Details from Salt & Pepper Tours, 7 West 36th St., New York 10018, or telephone toll-free (800) 223-7733.

The Gingerbread Mansion

Have had nice comments about The Gingerbread Mansion in Ferndale. This is a B&B; in Humboldt County. About 15 miles south of Eureka. Only four guest rooms. Lots of antiques. Rates $45/$65 for a double. Continental breakfast, afternoon tea, bicycles (boots and umbrellas if it rains). Innkeepers Wendy Hatfield and Ken Torbert claim Ferndale is unchanged since the 1800s. “Straight out of a storybook,” they chorus. I’m going up for a firsthand look. Write to The Gingerbread Mansion, 400 Berding St., Ferndale, Calif. 95536, or telephone (707) 786-4000.

Spanish Language

New classes begin every two weeks at Mazatlan’s Mexican language school. Six students (maximum) to a class. Beginner, intermediate, advanced levels. You live with local families. Room, board, lessons (four hours per day) for two weeks figures out to $460. Write to Centro de Idiomas S.A., Belisario Dominguez 1908, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico.

For Disabled

Travelers with physical disabilities will be given up to $100 in foreign currency when booking early reservations with Whole Person Tours, P.O. Box 1084, Bayonne, N.J. 07002-1084. Season begins June 29. Departures to Scandinavia, Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland. To qualify for the $100, travelers must sign up 120 days in advance. (Persons booking 90 days before departure will be given $50 worth of the currency.)

Open House/Hawaii

Vacationers will get a chance to eavesdrop at a famous home in Hawaii next month. The Judd Estate (2490 Makiki Drive) will host visitors, March 9-24. An open house sponsored by the Honolulu Symphony and the Hawaii chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. Art displays, fashion shows, wine tasting, flower arrangement demonstrations. Pay $5 at the door or $4 in advance. Contact the Symphony Box Office, Blaisdell Center, Symphony Showhouse, 1000 Bishop St., Suite 901, Honolulu 96813.

Reader Recommendations

France--Michelle A. Brendel, Seal Beach: “Stayed at International Hotel et de la Gare, 74400 Haute Savoie, Chamonix, France. Telephone (50) 53-00-60. Paid less than $4 a person per night. Ski equipment was equally cheap. Paid $6 for a day and a half rental.”

Napa Valley--Adam Bleibtreu, Van Nuys: “Sharon Dellamonica (operates a business named Concierge) found us a beautiful cottage behind a small winery in the Napa Valley. Stocked it with our favorite foods, wines, booked us reservations at a wonderful restaurant. Had great suggestions for sightseeing. Write to Concierge, P.O. Box 2527, Yountville, Calif. 94599, or telephone (707) 944-1250.

Jamaica--Ellen Alderman, Los Angeles: “Mrs. Craig’s Guest House, 26 Church St. (telephone 95-22461). In the heart of Montego Bay, close to beach, restaurants, transportation, shopping. Only $15, double occupancy.”

England--J.R. Ruddell, San Pedro: “An attractive B&B;, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, 60 miles north of London. Called the Vaga House. Telephone 63024. Outstanding food. Single about $11.”

England--Stan and Shirley Head: “Spent several days at the Masons Arms (a 13th-Century thatched inn), Knowstone, South Molton, North Devon EX3 6RY, England. Telephone Anstey Mills (03) 984-231. The inn is tucked away in the foothills of remote Exmoor. Only half an hour from the M-5. Easy access to the North Devon coast and such places as Exeter and Taunton. Bed and breakfast per person 13.50 ($15.25). Dinner, bed and breakfast, 20 ($22.60). Food is absolutely superb.”

Greece--Teresa Thompson, Desert Hot Springs: “Enjoyed Hotel Cyclades, Karterados, Santorini, Greece. Telephone 22948-22144. Approximately $26 for our triple room. Included breakfast. Cleanest and most comfortable of all our hotel accommodations in Greece.”

Belgium--Marie F. Evans, Redondo Beach: “Recommend restaurant Le Clos d’Ottre in the village of Bihain near Vielsalm and Lierneux in the province of Luxembourg. Phone 080-41-85-65.”

England--Robert Dean, Los Angeles: “Enjoyed the Duckpit farmhouse restaurant, Duckpit Lane, Petham, Canterbury, England. Phone (02) 27-70-326. A restored 14th-Century house. Five miles from Canterbury. A perfect stop between London and Dover. Dinner about $14. Bed and breakfast about $11. Reservations essential.”

France--Jeff Bliss: “A charming restaurant in the Loire Valley named La Licorne, Route N147, Fontevraud L’Abbaye 49590, France. Telephone (011) 41-51-72-49. A romantic garden patio. Nouvelle cuisine. “

New Zealand--Anita R. Van Petten, Los Angeles: “On our three-week holiday in New Zealand, one of the highlights was a farm stay (2,500 acres) with John and Felicity Thornton (Farm Thornton Awanui, Station RD11, Hastings, N.Z.). This was on the North Island. Rambling old farmhouse. Delicious home cooking. Six wonderful children. (Lest your readers be frightened by the thought of six children, we can only say that their presence is what made the time extra special.) Telephone 89360.”

Readers: Your recommendations should contain the addresses of hotels, inns, restaurants, as well as prices whenever possible. (Please print or type.)