Alice Reynolds of Duarte wants a hotel...

Alice Reynolds of Duarte wants a hotel “near the opera in San Francisco.” Best bet is the Inn at the Opera. Close to the opera house itself, the Ballet Assn., Davies Symphony Hall, Museum of Modern Art, Herbst Theater. This is a small luxury hotel. Only 48 rooms, suites. Queen-size beds, refrigerators, microwave ovens. A complimentary bottle of wine on check-in, morning newspapers, parking at the Performing Arts Garage. Dine in the hotel’s Act IV Lounge (service till 2 a.m.). This hotel was built in 1927. Catered to artists performing at the San Francisco Opera Company. This is a nice property. And expensive. Rates $115/$175. But if you’re looking for a little luxury and a convenient location for the opera, this should do. Address, 333 Fulton St., San Francisco 94102. Telephone (415) 863-8400.

Discount Club

Tim Robbins of Sherman Oaks asks for the address of the Airline Discount Club we wrote about several months ago: P.O. Box 616, Parker, Colo. 80134. Club members obtain cut-rate fares on scheduled airlines, discounts on cruises, rates at dozens of resorts worldwide. Lodges in Alaska, condos in Arizona, beach houses in Baja, cabins in Colorado, apartments in Hawaii, villas in the Caribbean. Magazines and newsletters are part of the deal. Tells members about the latest discounted trips. One titled “London on Your Own” sells for as little as $10 per night, double occupancy. Other listings: Paris on $15, Rome on $24. The Airline Discount Club is operated by Dick Bodner, a pilot for United Airlines.

Australian Resort

I hear good things about a new vacation destination, Hamilton Island Resort in Australia. Just off the Great Barrier Reef. A couple of hours’ flying time from Sydney, about 90 minutes from Brisbane. Smack in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands. A choice of beach-front suites, Polynesian bures, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Or you can book cabins aboard a new floating hotel, the Coral Cat. Snorkeling, yachting, windsurfing, scuba diving, fishing. Cruises and helicopter trips to other islands, the Outer Reef. Great for beach/water/sun worshipers. Contact Tobin Associates/Australia, 800, 881 Alma Real Drive, Pacific Palisades, Calif. 90272 or telephone (213) 459-2691 or toll-free (800) 833-3374. Outside California call (800) 445-5055.

Condo Vacations

Condominium pools keep on growing. Here’s another company dealing with rentals, Reservations International. Computerized information on 30 destinations from Hilton Head Island in South Carolina to Cancun in Mexico. Even ski areas. All units feature full kitchens, multi-bedrooms. One phone call provides the answers on prices, amenities. Telephone toll-free (800) 643-1000 for descriptions, reservations. (Same company produces a directory listing dozens of properties.)

Business Travelers/Japan

For years Japan Air Lines has put out a handy guide for business travelers. The latest edition is ready for the mails. Contains general information on hotels, transportation, postal/emergency services. Describes the most common problems facing business travelers, offers suggested solutions. This is a pocket-size guide. Useful, inexpensive. Sells for $1.50, including tax and handling. Order through the JAL Literature Distribution Center, Box 7712, Woodside, N.Y. 11377.

Hawaii for Actives

A note from Bill Sommers of Altadena: “Need information on adventure fun in Hawaii.” Your best bet is Island Odysseys (I’ve mentioned this company here before). These people are the leaders in the field. They’ll send you off to hidden valleys, deserted beaches. Specialists in scuba diving, sailing, rafting, windsurfing, riding, biking (wonderful rides down the slopes of Haleakala), helicopter trips. They’ll even lead you to volcanoes that are still huffing and puffing. For a brochure write to Island Odysseys, 677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 801, Honolulu 96813 or call toll-free (800) 367-5696.

Reader Recommendations

Wales--Mr.and Mrs. F. Home, Rosemead: Enjoyed Llwyn Guest House, 15 Cadnant Park, Conwy, Gwynedd LL32 8PR, Wales. “About 7.50 a day. Also, B&B; operated by Mrs. Meave Cameron, 149 Bethume Road, Amherst Park, London, 12 to 15 per room.”

England--Mrs. K. C. Gibson, San Pedro: “We have just finished a three-week trip to the U.K. and found a lovely B&B; run by Dr. and Mrs. I. A. Wilkinson at the Woodleys, Toddington, Cheltenham GL54 5BY. Phone (02) 426-9313. The Wilkinsons are very knowledgeable, assist guests in planning tours and offer chauffeured trips. The accommodations are clean and in a quiet rural setting two hours from London. Open May until September. Rates 8 to 10 per person per night.”

England--Margaret Davis, Los Osos: “Recommend Pound Farm, North Bradley, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England BA14 OTN. Phone (02) 214-4214. A picturesque old stone farmhouse, working farm and delightful B&B.; Proprietress Jill Awdry serves a fantastic breakfast and gives helpful directions to nearby attractions. Guests have use of living and dining rooms, with bedroom and bath upstairs. Cost 8.”

England--William J. Sinclair, Arcadia: Recommend a couple of B&Bs;: Brook House, Ingramgate, Thirsk (North Yorkshire) Y07 1DD, 10, and Grey Friar Lodge, Brathay, Ambleside, Cumbria, 12. “Our finest dinner was at the Cul de Sac, 43 Brompton Road, London SW1. Meals priced between 2.5 and 5.”

England--Lena David, Reseda: “A private car tour of the Cotswolds. Driver was Basil H. Burrows of Meon Car Hire, 45 Meon Road, Mickleton, Chipping Campden, Glos. The charge was 50 (9:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.) split with my friend. I highly recommend Basil’s tour.”

Germany/Switzerland/Holland--Fred and Greta Jakobs, Camarillo: “Just returned from a 99-day stay in Europe at Romantik Hotels Group. All these hotels are over 100 years old and in the same family almost as long. Exteriors are old and beautiful, rooms have all the modern conveniences. The Romantik Hotel Adler Post, 7820 Titisee-Neustadt, West Germany. Phone (07) 651-5066 is $46.66 for two per night. Magnificent breakfast buffet. Another Romantik Hotel is Gasthof Sternen, CH4566 Kriegstetten, Switzerland for $53.57 for two per night with a wonderful breakfast. Two more good and very inexpensive suggestions (not Romantik) are the Hotel Brauneck, Muenstener Str. 25, Lenggries, Germany (in Bavaria) for $51.64 for two with breakfast and dinner, and the Motel Akersloot, Gesterweg 1A, Akersloot, Holland, where we paid $138.26 for two persons for five nights including breakfast.”

Pennsylvania--Joseph L. Wilson, Newbury Park: “A delightful B&B;, the Old Appleford Inn, over 100 years old, a block from Gettysburg College. Nancie and Del Gudmestad have furnished the inn with collectibles and period furniture. There are nine bedrooms, a few with fireplaces. Prices from $40 to $65 per room, each bright, cheery and comfortable. Sumptuous breakfast, homemade bread and muffins. The Old Appleford Inn, 218 Carlisle St., Gettysburg, Penn. 17325. Phone (717) 337-1711.”

San Francisco--Irving Paster, San Diego: The Adelaide Inn, 5 Adelaide Place, San Francisco 94102. Rates $20/$26 single, $24/$34 double. “Two blocks from Union Square.”

Davenport, Calif.--Barbara B. Thompson, Palm Desert: New Davenport Bed & Breakfast Inn, 31 Davenport Ave., Davenport, Calif. 95017. Rates, $50/$85 double.

Italy--Anne Marie Weber, Rolling Hills Estates: Hotel Duomo, Lago di Barda, 25087 Salo, Italy. “Double room overlooking lake with delicious breakfast, about $50. Owners speak English.”

France--Barney Markowitz, Laguna Beach: “For the gastronome’s delight, highly recommend Hotel Scholly in Seorae-en-Perigord in the Dordogne region where routes D50 and D703 meet. Phone (53) 28-60-02. Far removed from freeways and city life. About $55 for two, including breakfast and dinner.”

Readers: Contributions to this column MUST contain prices and addresses.