If you haven’t decided where to travel...

If you haven’t decided where to travel this summer, here’s an idea: One- and two-bedroom casas are renting for $75/$115 a night in a guarded compound six miles south of Ensenada. On the beach. These are American-owned homes. The late Ben Hunter described them in his book, “The Baja Feeling.” His widow lives there year-round. A total of 33 homes. Equipped with stereos, TVs, microwave ovens, fireplaces. You need to take only towels and a beach chair, says Nancy Murray, who handles reservations. Contact her at Box 970, Del Mar, Calif. 92014 or telephone (619) 481-6099.

French Connection

Campus Holidays tells about opportunities to move in with a French family in places such as Paris, Cannes, the Loire Valley, Grenoble, the Atlantic Coast. A total of 12 selections. Figure on about $130 per week per person. This isn’t the B&B; routine. You become a member of the family during your visit. Meals. A chance to brush up on your French. Transportation from the local rail station or airport is provided by the hosts. Contact Campus Holidays, 242 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair, N.J. 07043.

An Eye on Rio

If you’re going to Rio, Bonnie Gardner offers to book you into a private apartment near Copacabana Beach. Prices start at $60 a day (special monthly rates). Fully equipped kitchens, living/dining room, color TVs, maid service. Fresh flowers and wine provided on arrival. Gardner will also arrange air transportation, transfers, sightseeing. Contact her c/o Rio Properties, 9911 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles 90035 or telephone (213) 272-2162.

Ireland

A note from Dorothy Kane of Oceanside. Says two of her sons operate a hotel in Ireland, the Vienna Woods. Sixteen rooms. Each with private bath. Rates about $20 per person per night. Includes one of those huge Irish breakfasts, Kane tells us. Golf nearby. Grounds overlook Cork Harbor. Write for reservations to Hotel Vienna Woods, Glanmire, County Cork. The hotel is on the road to Dublin. Cork Airport is about 20 minutes away. Only eight miles from Blarney Castle.

British Concorde

The Concorde is coming to the U.S. West Coast. Arrival is due July 7 in Phoenix. Passengers will fly to London where they’ll spend six nights (theater, tours, etc.). Later they’ll sail on the QE2 for New York where they’ll return by air to the West Coast. The all-inclusive price comes to $3,985. Or you can do the program in reverse--sailing from New York to Southampton on the QE2 June 20 and returning on the Concorde. Several options, prices. Contact your travel agent or Fifth Avenue Travel, 7007 5th Ave., Scottsdale, Ariz. 85251.

Meanwhile, Toluca Tours of North Hollywood is putting together a package featuring an inaugural flight on the Concorde, California to London, with a return on the QE2 to New York. The Concorde will leave Ontario Airport Sept. 22, arriving in London the same day. The group will attend the theater, go sightseeing in London, ride the Orient Express to Leeds Castle near Maidstone in Kent. Before boarding the QE2 they’ll be feted at a farewell gala in London. Arrival back in Los Angeles is set for Oct. 1. Contact Michael Fitzgerald, Toluca Tours, 10133 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood 91602 or telephone (818) 877-9801. Fitzgerald describes the trip as “super-deluxe--5 1/2 stars all the way.”

Expo

Homeowners in British Columbia are offering hookups for RV owners taking in Expo 86. This is in the municipality of Surrey. About 20 miles from the Expo grounds. More than 1,500 sites available through Oct. 13. Prices range from $17 to $19 per day. Contact Park-n-Share, P.O. Box 1187, Station A, Surrey, B.C. V3S 4P6 Canada or telephone (800) 663-4173.

Apartment rentals in Vancouver during Expo are available for $452.50/$542.50 per week (one or two bedrooms) plus $25 security deposit and a 7% tax. Fully furnished. Kitchens, TVs, linen, etc. Details from Van-Can Apartments Lease Holds, 203-365 East 2nd St., North Vancouver, B.C. V7L 1C6 or telephone (604) 987-4220.

For motorists traveling to Expo and the Pacific Northwest, a group of innkeepers in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Northern California have produced a guide/map pinpointing their properties. Most are within easy reach of Interstate 5 or U.S. 101. (Eight are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.) For a free copy write to Unique Northwest Country Inns, P.O. Box 2326, Salem, Ore. 97308.

Reader Recommendations

Bishop, Calif.--Joan Plamondon, Granada Hills: Enjoyed a new restaurant at 2206 N. Sierra Highway in Bishop. “Called Firehouse Grill. An old house, carefully restored. Service was excellent. Steaks, chicken, seafood. Deserts would do justice to a Parisian patisserie.”

Louisiana--Dorothy S. Mull: Recommend for a personalized tour of New Orleans and environs highly intelligent young woman named Isabelle, P.O. Box 740535, New Orleans, La. 70174. “Also, for a well-located, moderately-priced hotel with a friendly staff, I nominate the Quality Inn Maison St. Charles, 1319 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, La. 70130. Rooms quiet, about $65 for a double.”

Georgia--Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Phipps, Anaheim: “Highly recommend a restaurant called Plain & Fancy, 2360 Washington Road, Augusta, Ga. Open Monday through Thursday, noon to 3 p.m., Fridays 6 to 9 p.m. Buffet style. A huge selection.”

Hawaii--Mrs. Joyce Nugent, Los Angeles: For skiers going to Hawaii, recommend Ski Safari Inc., P.O. Box 10M, Waialae-Kahala Station, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816. “Enjoyed a ski party. A great time.”

Australia--Lavonne Tosh, Bermuda Dunes: “In Sydney, Australia we stayed a week in a lovely harbor-side apartment for U.S. $250 a week. A five-minute ferryboat ride to the Opera House. Contact Blues Point Real Estate, P.O. Box 247, North Sydney, N.S.W. 2060, Australia.”

New York--Francis Richard Nichols, Newport Beach: Enjoyed Taughannock Farms Inn, Route 89, Taughannock Falls, Trumansburg, N.Y. 14886. “A delightful restaurant and B&B; with a great view of Cayuga Lake near Ithaca, N.Y.”

Sutter Creek, Calif.--Frank and Simone Dessayer, Glendale: “We want to recommend Harrower’s Sutter Creek Cafe, Sutter Creek, Calif. This is a Victorian house, uncluttered by what the region’s merchants call ‘antiques.’ Paid $28 for two excellent dinners, a bottle of wine, taxes and a 15% tip. You can’t beat that nowadays!”

Washington--Marilyn Bunyak, Huntington Beach: Praise for Genie’s Bed & Breakfast, 3498 W. Blaine, Seattle, Wash. 98199. “Paid $42.50 per night for a delicious breakfast each day plus the room. The view from the kitchen is of a Japanese garden patio on the one side and the bay on the other.”

Oregon--Lani Schneider, Glendale: Raves about a restaurant called the Plymale Cottage, 180 N. Oregon, Jacksonville, Ore. 97530. “Charming turn-of-the-century cottage. While staying in nearby Medford I made daily trips just for these fabulous luncheons.”

Louisiana--Kathryn E. Magloff, Los Angeles: Tells of a “restored antebellum plantation home, situated directly on Bayou Teche with overnight lodging and breakfast: 1400 E. Main St., New Iberia, La. 70560. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Surrounded by lovely grounds. Authentic Louisiana antique furniture. Refreshingly, no TV. We were treated to a historical tour of the plantation by a very knowledgeable guide. I cannot recommend a lodging more highly than I do Mintmere. Mintmere charges $100 per night, breakfast included for a party of two.”

Jamaica--Julie Schneider, Valencia: “In Jamaica, marvelous one- and two-bedroom villas start at $135 a night and come with a maid and a cook if you wish. Contact Vagabond Villas, P.O. Box 188, Port Antonio, Jamaica, or Vacation Network, 835 W. Webster, Chicago, Ill. 60614.”

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