Where to Look for Specialized Tours

In lieu of a regular column this week, we use the space to reply to many readers who have asked for a listing of the many tour companies, travel agencies, clubs and associations that offer tours for the mature and senior market.

Available from travel agents:

Amity Tours, mostly Eastern Europe tours specializing in spa and health-oriented vacations and trips. If not available from your agent, write 2710 El Camino Real, Redwood City, Calif. 94063. Phone (800) 227-6928 in California, (800) 523-8406 outside California.

ATTB (Golden Heart Tours), chiefly Europe. If not available from your agent, write Suite 1660, 1440 Broadway, New York 10018; (800) FOR-ATTB.

Holidair Inc., European “stay-put” vacations and tours. If not available, phone (305) 538-5380.

Insight International, Europe and the Middle East. If not available: 17310 Redhill Ave., No. 330, Irvine, Calif. 92713; (714) 261-5373.

Love Holidays, mostly Eastern European tours and cruises. If not available: 5530 Corbin Ave., Tarzana, Calif. 91356; (818) 345-7741 or (800) 382-3358 in California, (800) 423-5458 outside California.

Passages Unlimited, Europe, Israel. If not available: 48 Union St., Stamford, Conn. 06906; (800) 472-7729.

SeniorWorld Cruises, mostly cruises. If not available: Gramercy Travel System, 444 Madison Ave., New York 10022; (800) 223-6490.

TWA Getaway Club Vacations, 27 European, Middle East Tours. Available only through travel agents.

Yugotours, Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe tours and cruises. If not available: 3440 Wilshire Blvd., No. 1206, Los Angeles 90010; (213) 383-2438.

Some Don’t Use Agents

Two of the largest tour companies specializing in the mature audience do not sell their products through travel agents. You must contact them directly:

Grand Circle Travel, worldwide tours and cruises, 555 Madison Ave., New York 10022. Phone (800) 847-4240.

Saga Holidays, mostly Europe, U.S. tours, 120 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. 02116. Phone (800) 762-3413.

Many mature and senior travel offerings are through the major senior organizations that provide other services in addition to travel for a nominal membership fee. You should be a member of the respective organization before requesting travel information. The top organizations and their offerings are:

American Assn. of Retired Persons (AARP), a comprehensive program of worldwide tours, trips and cruises. AARP Travel Service, Dept. 105, P.O. Box 92964, Los Angeles 90009 for a complete digest of the AARP travel program.

Catholic Golden Age, small program of worldwide tours and pilgrimages. Scranton, Penn. 18503; (800) 233-4697.

National Assn. of Mature People (NAMP), small but growing program of tours and cruises, 2212 Northwest 50th St., P.O. Box 26792, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73126; (800) 262-0123.

National Senior Citizen Assn., modest worldwide program, 6282 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33309; (305) 493-9888.

Sears Mature Outlook, growing worldwide program administered by Ask Mr. Foster, P.O. Box 1205, Glenview, Ill. 60025. Phone (800) 233-3902 or (312) 291-7800.

Other Good Groups

Three other good organizations featuring tours for the mature traveler (among other age groups) are:

American Youth Hostels, contact local chapter, 1502 Palos Verdes Drive North, Harbor City, Calif. 90110. (213) 831-8846.

Elderhostel, wide program of package trips with accent on a learning experience, 100 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. 02116; (617) 426-8046.

Interhostel, series of two-week travel/study programs in Europe, University of New Hampshire, Dept. of Continuing Education, 24 Rosemark Lane, Durham, N.H. 03824; (603) 862-1147.

Among the many local travel agencies and tour companies that have shown special interest or offer planned tours and packages for the mature traveler are:

Blake Travel Inc., (Good Times Travel Club), 4013 Hardwick St., Lakewood 90712; (213) 602-1722.

Golden Tours, Box 1070, Alhambra 91801; (818) 289-6271.

Poole Tours, P.O. Box 990, Temple City 91780; (818) 285-9775.

Regal Travel Service, 9100 S. Sepulveda, No. 119, Los Angeles 90045; (213) 215-9909.

SITA World Travel (Bird of Passage Ltd.), 3932 Wilshire Blvd., No. 307, Los Angeles 90010; (213) 389-9420.

SST Tours, 18195 McDurmont, No. H, Irvine 92714; (714) 863-7042.

Tours of Great Britain, 9160 Santa Monica Blvd., No. 102, Los Angeles 90069; (213) 859-0304 or (800) 634-8687.

Worldwide Travel, 4605 Barranca Parkway, No. 103, Irvine 92714; (714) 552-0836.

Motor Coach Trips

There are also motor coach and tour companies specializing in arranging group tours for mature or senior travelers, some of which take individual bookings on some tours.

California Native, individual or group motor coach trips of the local area, 6701 West 87th Place, Los Angeles 90045; (213) 642-1140.

Corliss Tours, motor coach tours for groups, United States and Canada; (818) 359-5358 or (800) 448-5717.

Cultural Adventures, specializing in unusual group tours; (818) 848-8700.

Discover America Tours, local and U.S. motor coach tours for groups; (714) 593-1190.

Golden Spike Rail Tours, specializing in domestic rail tours for groups; (714) 680-5090.

Great Western Travel, local and extended motor coach tours of United States, Mexico, Canada, some individual but mostly group tours; (818) 578-1161 or (800) 344-7090.

Las Vegas Unlimited/Marathon Tours, specializing in gaming trips plus domestic motor coach tours for groups; (818) 953-7777, (213) 953-7900, (800) 228-6468.

Main Street Tours, one-day and overnight motor coach tours for groups; (213) 540-6737 or (800) 231-7412.

P.S. Tours & Travel, domestic motor coach tours for groups; (818) 994-8135.

Trieloff Tours & Travel, group tour planning for United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe; (800) 432-7125 in California, (800) 248-6877 outside California.