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It’s called the “San Francisco Book” and...

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Times Travel Editor

It’s called the “San Francisco Book” and it’s packed with information. Lists hotels, motels, B&Bs;, shopping, sightseeing (Alcatraz to the zoo). Details on side trips to the wine country, coming events. Names more than 275 restaurants--everything from Armenian to Vietnamese. A total of 80 pages. A second guide lists lodgings alphabetically. Hundreds of accommodations in San Francisco and surrounding counties. All price categories. Order both copies by sending $1 to the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, Department VP, Box 6977, San Francisco 94101.

Meanwhile, if you’re planning a trip to San Francisco soon, put April 19 on your calendar. This is when the 19th annual Cherry Blossom Festival gets under way at Japan Town (sushi bars, temples, teahouses, taiko drum concerts, judo contests, koto recitals). For details send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the Visitor Information Center, P.O. Box 6977, San Francisco 94101.

Maui

“Maui on $25 a day” is the pitch being made by a lodging company that calls itself The Maui Connection. You can arrange for a condominium/car rental deal for under $25 per person a day, double occupancy. The rate for a week in a studio figures out to $335 per couple, including the car. Additional adults, $55. Kids under 16 pay nothing. Other rates run to $372 for a one-bedroom condo to $444 for two bedrooms. More than 400 units between Wailea and Maalaea. For other details telephone (800) 628-4776.

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New Zealand

This note from Rita Connally of New Zealand: “Lived in Los Angeles for a number of years. Now living in New Zealand. Would like to offer my services to your readers. For anyone contemplating a trip to New Zealand I would be only too pleased to assist them. I meet people on arrival and drive them to their hotel or motel. I can make hotel, motel or bed-and-breakfast reservations. I conduct tours of Auckland and visit places tourists don’t usually get to see. I can arrange a rental car for them or plan their itinerary (group tour if they prefer). Also do special outings such as golfing, trout and deep-sea fishing, skiing, skin diving, scuba diving, sailing, nature walks, white-water rafting, etc.” For details write to Connally, 2/10 Ursula Place, Bucklands Beach, Auckland, New Zealand. Promises to reply to all inquiries.

Sweden

Tennis star Bjorn Borg does the introduction to a new 60-page booklet titled “Sweden.” Details on air, sea and rail travel, tour packages, car rentals, hotels, youth hostels, cottages, camping, boating, discounts, shopping, currency. Another 80-page booklet lists hundreds of hotels throughout Sweden. For free copies write to the Swedish Tourist Board, 655 3rd. Ave., New York 10017.

Oregon B&Bs;

Connie Meyers of Buena Park asks for the name of a B&B; in Ashland, Ore. (the town that’s famous for its Shakespearean festival). A brochure describes 17 B&Bs.; Everything from a 100-year-old Victorian to a Cape Cod-style inn surrounded by pines with a great view of the valley. Others with hot tubs, old-fashioned verandas, rag rugs, queen-size beds, antique furnishings. The last time I was in Ashland, Jim and Nancy Beaver were opening their Chanticleer B&B;, 120 Gresham St. (seven bedrooms with private baths, air conditioning, antiques, fresh flowers, comforters for the beds, a parlor with a fireplace). For the brochure listing all 17 properties, send $1 to the Ashland Bed & Breakfast Assn., P.O. Box 3159, Ashland, Ore. 97520.

Language Study Vacations

More and more Americans are traveling overseas to learn a language. Here are four opportunities:

--Andree Penney will give lessons in her 17th-Century French country house near Avignon this summer. Outings to geological sights, chateaux, museums, festivals in Aix-en-Provence, Orange, Nimes, Arles, Avignon. Meals are part of the package. Contact Penney, 18 Mandrake Way, Irvine, Calif. 92715. Telephone (714) 786-7701.

--Jacques Pauwels of Claremont will emphasize conversational French and grammar at a French university in Valbonne near Cannes this summer. The program includes an 11-day tour to Heidelberg, Frankfurt, the Black Forest, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Venice, Lugano, Lucerne and Paris. Contact Prof. Pauwels, 1175 W. Baseline, Claremont, Calif. 91711, or telephone (714) 626-0219.

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--Spanish, German and Italian (plus civilization courses) will be taught at the Pontifical University of Salamanca in Spain, the University of Bergamo in Italy and the University of Dresden in East Germany this summer. Contact Prof. Rodrigo Palacios, 17624 Harvest Ave., Cerritos, Calif. 90701. Telephone (213) 860-1841. Excursions are part of the program. “Lots of honest-to-goodness fun” as well as study, the professor tells us. Enrollment is limited. (Students will board with families or else at the school dorms.)

--University of Tours in France is scheduling French studies in cooperation with Inside Europe, 110 East 9th St., Suite C449, Los Angeles 90079. Telephone (213) 473-5681. Students will live with families. Courses for beginners, intermediates, advanced levels. Excursions to Mont St. Michel, Chartres, the Loire Valley chateaux. Inside Europe is sponsoring other programs in Bristol, England. Call Inside Europe or Annette Grob at (213) 473-5681 or Marianne Heilig at (213) 459-2162.

Reader Recommendations

England--Kenneth Frotland, Arcadia: Recommends tours by Peter Wilford, 35 Robin Lane, Hilldale, Parbold, Lancashire WN8 7BE, England. “Peter has a service that includes being chauffeured in a classic Rolls-Royce throughout the rural areas and small towns of England, Scotland and Wales. He is well versed in the history of the area. The price is $115 per person a day, which includes use of the Rolls-Royce all day, meals and evening lodging.”

England--Gilbert M. Pontillo, Arleta: Recommends a cottage in East Molesay, England. “Only 30 minutes from central London. Available from mid-July to September. Rent is $800 a month. Call Brenda Irvedale in Los Angeles at (213) 454-7316.”

England--Mae F. Olinger, Los Angeles: “A terrific travel bargain. The residents of Ewelm and Oxfordshire have a church that is badly in need of repair. To gain funds to refurbish it they are hosting travelers who will be met at Heathrow Airport and accommodated in private houses in the village, fed, entertained and conducted on sightseeing outings daily to such places as Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Stratford-on-Avon, the Cotswolds. The cost for lodging, food, transportation, theater, sightseeing will be 500 per person for a week.”

Britain--Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hansen, Los Angeles: “Your readers who would like extremely inexpensive bed-and-breakfast accommodations should write to Mrs. Manning, 5 Rozel Terrace, Mt. Durand, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. An elegant, smartly dressed, smiling hostess who showed us to a large, newly furnished room with a window overlooking St. Peter Port. Fed us handsomely, took a great deal of interest in our comfort. Even insisted on taking us to the hydrofoil dock herself when we inquired about a taxi. And all for 14 a day.”

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Ireland--Margaret and Bill Cudmore, Huntington Beach: Jacques restaurant, 9 Phoenix St., Cork, Ireland. “We are confident your readers will thoroughly enjoy this restaurant.”

Kauai--Lisa and Steve White, North Hollywood: “Discovered an invaluable guide called “Kauai Underground Guide 1986-87.” Brims with information on unspoiled beaches, off the beaten tourist track restaurants, shopping, hiking, travel tips geared toward the family traveling on a budget. We ordered copies from Papaloa Press, 813 Aster Blvd., Rockville, Md. 20850. Paid $5.95.”

France--Tom and Dorothy Fitzgerald, Rossmoor: Enjoyed Ermitage Hotel, 24 Rue Lamarck, 75018 Paris, France. “A very small, very French hotel half a block from Sacre Coeur. Paid 265 francs per night for a room with private bath for two including breakfast.” The Fitzgeralds also recommend Restaurant La Michardiere, 12 Rue Lamarck--”right down the street from our hotel. Fixed-price dinner for 60 francs.”

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