Here summer is barely ending and already...

Here summer is barely ending and already Rae Foster is talking about Christmas. She’s opened a Maps to Anywhere Travel Shoppe at 1514 N. Hillhurst Ave. (second floor), Hollywood 90027. Figures a map would make a fine Christmas gift. Foster also handles atlases, money belts, dual voltage travel irons/hair dryers, conversion calculators, luggage, language tapes. Store stocks 1,200 travel guides in addition to the inventory of 10,000 maps. You get a free map (worth $3.95 to $6.95) with each $20 purchase. Telephone (213) 660-2101 Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m.

Wine Maps

The ranks of wine buffs keep growing. For dyed-in-the-wool grape lovers, there’s a handy booklet that’s filled with maps of the California wine country. Besides maps, the magazine-size booklet tells about restaurants, lodges, B&Bs.; Covers Napa County, Sonoma County, Mendocino/Lake counties, San Francisco, the North Central Coast, the South Central Coast, Southern California, Central Valleys, Sierra Foothills. Lists 140 wineries in Napa alone. Altogether, more than 500 wineries are named in the booklet as well as more than 400 hotels/B&Bs;/restaurants. There’s an easy referral index at the back of the book. Sells for $3.95 plus $1.25 for shipping. Copies available from the Wine Spectator Wine Maps, Opera Plaza, Suite 2040, 601 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94102.

B&B; Reservations

Several readers have asked for the name of a California-based B&B; reservations service. One of the oldest and best is Bed & Breakfast International, 151 Ardmore Road, Kensington, Calif. 94707. Telephone 8 a.m./5 p.m. (415) 527-8836. Jean Brown is a pioneer in B&B; reservations. Dozens of destinations (a few outside California). Credit cards accepted for deposit. Accommodations range from new town house apartments to old Victorians. (Brown also represents a houseboat owner in Sausalito.) All accommodations are personally inspected by her staff.

A Home in England

Received a note from Kates Jones of England. Says this is the first year she’s had no action on her “holiday flat rental” in Gloucestershire. Jones tells us that the apartment (it’s over an antique store) has three bedrooms, a sitting room/dining room, kitchen, bath. Only 25 miles from Bath and Bristol, 20 miles from Cheltenham, 90 miles from London, 50 miles from Stonehenge, 65 miles from Stratford-on-Avon. Contact Jones at 3 Goose Green, Ozleworth, Wooton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire GL12 7FY, England. (Rates are 180 per week in the high season).

Britain on Budget

Campus Holidays USA arranges home stays for Americans traveling in Britain. As little as $75 for three nights in central London. In the perimeter of London you can do seven nights for even less--about $85. These homes are near the London Underground, says Campus Holidays. Makes getting around easy. These people book other homes in Oxford, Bath and Inverness in Scotland (seven nights or longer). Details from Campus Holidays USA, 242 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair, N.J. 07043. Telephone toll-free (800) 526-2915.

Britain With Style

A 96-page booklet tells about country inns and hotels throughout Britain under the Great Western banner. Descriptions along with rates, photographs/maps. A total of 185 properties are listed. Telephone numbers for each destination. Some castles serve as Best Western hotels in England, Scotland, Wales. Northfield Hotel, originally a 17-room private house with two acres of gardens, faces the sea in Somerset. In Chagford the Great Tree Hotel was a former hunting lodge surrounded by 25 acres of gardens, woods. For free copies of the ‘86/’87 guide, write to Marketing Services, Fulfillment Order--Great Britain, Best Western International, P.O. Box 10203, Phoenix, Ariz. 85064-0203. For reservations call toll-free (800) 528-1234.

Riding the Rails

In case you missed the item in the Travel Section recently, Amtrak is offering a $7 round-trip excursion fare that’s good through next June. Exceptions are holiday periods Nov. 25-30, Dec. 17-Jan. 4. Offered with one-way fares of $60 and up. Example: If your one-way fare is $65, you’d pay Amtrak $72. Amtrak is also selling new low-cost regional tickets that will be honored through next June. Some good savings. For other details call toll-free (800) USA-RAIL.

Holland Treat

One of Holland’s major provinces has produced a 40-page magazine-size booklet describing hotels, the local cuisine, tourist attractions, etc. The destination is Gelderland, famous for its huge nature preserve, the celebrated Kroller-Muller Museum, a 17th-Century royal palace and a museum that depicts the battle for Arnhem in “A Bridge Too Far.” The booklet is free by writing to the Netherlands National Tourist Office, 605 Market St., Room 401, San Francisco, Calif. 94105. Same office will mail you material on other provinces of Holland.

Reader Recommendations

England--Helga Fultheim, Long Beach: “Just returned from England and thought you might like these bargain B&Bs.; Owner Valerie Nielson just opened Towerhouse, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9NH England, phone (06662) 4211. Beautiful view, lavish English breakfast, buses to Bath, Bristol, etc., 16 double occupancy. Also Student Center, More House, 53 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2EH, phone (01-584) 2040. Plentiful English breakfast, five-minute walk to Glouchester Road tube. Excellent tube and bus connections.”

England--Mr.and Mrs. E. Maunders, Huntington Beach: “Enjoyed D’Arcy Hall Hotel, White Rock Gardens, East Sussex, England. Small, quiet and gracious atmosphere, friendly hosts. All rooms overlook ocean. Excellent breakfast. Good spot from which to explore Cinque Ports. Good train service to London. 10.50 per person.”

Scotland--Paul Paige, Phoenix, Ariz.: “Our favorite restaurant on a three-week trip was Harvies Showbar, 86 Glagow Road in the attractive town of Paisley, seven miles from Glasgow. Moderately priced dinners ($7 to $12) were exceptional and beautifully prepared.”

Ireland--Pat O’Connell, North Hollywood: Nine delightful thatched-roof cottages on the bank of a rippling river are spotless, equipped with fireplaces, handsome pine furniture, pretty curtains, china and cooking facilities and equipment. Holycross Abbey is just down the road. A two-bedroom cottage will sleep five. Rates for three-bedroom cottages 70 to 150 a week depending on season. Rates for two-bedroom, 10 pounds less. Write Holycross Cottages, Main St., Holycross, Thurles., c/o D. O’Connor, phone (0504) 43259.

California--Barrie Bryant and Jack Smith: “Two hours from L.A. the Quiet Creek Inn in Idylwild offers charming cottages with stone fireplaces in living rooms, terraces overlooking sparkling creek. Fresh flowers, homemade banana bread. Hosts Jerry and Mary Ann Barstow make you feel like favorite relatives visiting their country home. Rates are $59 a night. Contact Quiet Creek Inn, 26345 Delano Drive, P.O. Box 240, Idyllwild, Calif. 92349.

Oregon--Jerry and Sherri Long, Los Angeles. “Wolf Creek Tavern, P.O. Box 97, Wolf Creek, Ore. 97497, phone (503) 866-2474. Beautifully restored stagecoach inn. Owners and employees friendly and warm. Fantastic restaurant. Rates $35 double.”

Spain--Maureen Jackson, Glendale: For a few days R&R; in Europe, a small apartment in Marbella, one block from the beach and close to shops. Sleeps four. $150 per week or $25 per night. Write to Mrs. Shiel, Gaw End Cottage, Lyme Green, Macclesfield, England.”

Reader Recommendations should be brief (typewritten or printed). Cannot be used without prices and addresses. Please, no brochures.