Imagine spending Christmas Eve at a snug...

Imagine spending Christmas Eve at a snug old inn called Christmas House? Well, curses, turns out it’s impossible. While Christmas House is open the rest of the year, the owners close on Dec. 25 and Christmas Eve. Still, you can get into the spirit of the season other evenings right up till the day before Christmas with a traditional wassail bowl, caroling and readings from Dickens around a fire in the parlor. Next Sunday (5 p.m. till 8 o’clock) the hostess is scheduling a tour of the house, Christmas music and refreshments. Christmas House, an old three-story Victorian, is set in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Red and green stained-glass windows. Seven fireplaces, three bedrooms, one suite, with two shared baths. Weekend rates with a full breakfast figure out to $50/$95 (a 10% discount on weekdays). Christmas House: 9240 Archibald Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 91730. Telephone (714) 980-6450.

Holiday in France

If the idea of settling down in France for a spell sounds appealing, contact Rosemary Chiaverini of French Home Rentals (a company we’ve mentioned here previously). Chiaverini, the local rep, tells of several properties in the southwest (near the Dordogne Valley, Bordeaux region). Move in for a week or for as long as three months. Chiaverini also lists apartments in Paris, the French Riviera. We’ve had good reader response about FHR. Norene Geiger of Los Angeles said she rented a four-bedroom home in the Dordogne this year for $380 a week. Called it a “terrific” deal. No doubt rates will be up in ’87 due to a weakening dollar. Details, brochures from Chiaverini, French Home Rentals, 230 N. Cordova St., Burbank, Calif. 91505, or telephone collect (818) 846-9582.

Beach Suites

We’ve had a lot of favorable feedback about the new Mandalay Beach Resort at Oxnard. Suites for $89 a night, double occupancy with two baths, mini-kitchens, a full breakfast, complimentary cocktails 5:50-7:30 each evening. (Accommodations free for children under 12.) The resort is on the ocean. Tennis, whirlpool spa and swimming pool. Contact Embassy Suites/Mandalay Beach Resort, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road, Oxnard, Calif. 93030, or call toll-free (800) 582-3000. Outside California telephone toll-free (800) EMBASSY.

Books, Newsletter

Elaine Petroceli is mailing free catalogues describing nearly 2,000 books/maps to readers who write to her c/o Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, Calif. 94925. (Dozens of travel books that make excellent Christmas gifts.) In California telephone (415) 927-0960, or outside the state dial toll-free (800) 321-9785. Free wrapping. Also gift certificates ($10 minimum). Meanwhile, William Tomicki puts out a newsletter that deals with restaurants, hotels, travel. Calls it Entree. Subscription rate ($45 a year for the six-page publication) includes a complimentary copy of Jack Adler’s “Consumer’s Guide To Travel.” Write to Entree, P.O. Box 5148, Santa Barbara 93150.

Scandinavia for Shoppers

Scandinavian Airlines and Crownline Tours are providing shopping trips out of Copenhagen to the Kosta Boda and Orrefors glassworks in Sweden. These are one-day trips. The price ($40) includes lunch. (Buy more than $80 worth of crystal at Orrefors or Kosta Boda and the $40 is refunded.) Shoppers save 20%/60% over U.S. prices. And SAS says to forget about “schlepping your purchase back to the United States.” Shipping by sea/air is arranged “on the spot.” Details from SAS, Box SHOP, 8929 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills 90211, or telephone toll-free (800) 221-2350.

The Good Life

For travelers who enjoy old-fashioned luxury, Martin and Judith Miller are welcoming guests to their 17th-Century country house hotel, the Chilton Park. About an hour by road/rail from London, 40 minutes from Gatwick Airport. The address is Sandway Near Maidstone, Kent, England. A choice of 25 bedrooms. Open fireplaces, four-poster beds, original paintings, loads of antiques. Maids in Victorian uniforms unpack guest luggage. (You can arrange to be picked up by limousine at the rail station.) The Chilton Park features three dining rooms. Menus list oyster soup, artichoke souffle, pigeon breasts with port and juniper berry sauce, whiskey syllabub. Guests gather in a music and drawing room, a library with thousands of books. There’s also a billiards room. Carriage rides offered around the 250-acre estate, fishing in a private lake, tennis, riding. The Chilton Park is run like a 19th-Century country home. You reach it off the A20 between Maidstone and Ashford. Rates: 48/70 single, 60/100 double, including a full English breakfast, daily newspaper, VAT. Six-course dinners for about 18, afternoon tea 4.

Reader Recommendations

Canada--Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Cowen, Palm Springs: “We planned on staying two weeks but this B&B; was so good, we stayed two months, 1509 Rockland Ave., Victoria, B.C. V8S 1W3. Less than a block from Government House Estate. Excellent food. Large rooms, $36.20 for two.”

Canada--Mary Phillips, Lawndale: “Want to share two restaurants in Vancouver. Dingle House, 137 Gorge Road East in Victoria. Owned by lovely couple from Switzerland. Super service. Also Gina’s Mexican restaurant, 47 Skinner St., Nanaimo (70 miles north of Victoria). Fantastic Mexican food. Lunches $4 to $5. Owner is from Texas.”

Jamaica--Gloria Jessop, Santa Barbara: “Delightful B&B;, beachfront with pool. Rates for two, $30. Operated by Caribbean Holiday Homes which we read about in your column a couple of years ago. Reservations can be made through Yasmin Forouzandeh, 23233 Mariposa de Oro, Malibu 90265, phone (213) 456-9463, their California agent.”

Oregon--Leo and Phyllis Fisher, Los Angeles: “A jewel of a B&B;, Campus Cottage B&B; Inn, 1136 East 19th St., Eugene 97403. Queen-size beds, comfortable, charming furnishings, private baths, surprise treats and flowers. Hearty breakfast. Close to campus and Willamette River. Rates $63 to $73 for two. Phone (503) 342-5346.”

Colorado--Ralph Larson, Coronado: “For friendly courtesy, a complete floor of nonsmoking rooms, a setting of scenic beauty, try the Holiday Inn at Lake Dillon. Rates $49 for two and $39 single in off-season. Don’t miss seafood buffet on Friday night. P.O. Box 669, Dillon, Colo.”

England--Eileen Morgan, Los Angeles: Correction for Wyatt Cottage, Rosemary Lane, Bampton, Oxon OX 2NF, England. Contact Jeanette Obromski at (818) 357-9400 (not 213).

England--E. W. Mason, Pacific Palisades: “Papillon, 43 Gillygate, York, phone 36505, is a beautifully kept small guest house with private baths for nonsmokers. Rate: $19.50 per person per night with English breakfast. Also Nether Beck, 16 Danes Road, Staeley near Kendall, Cumbria LA8 9PW, phone (0539) 821549, a charming Victorian B&B; in the Lake District. Rate: $12 per night per person with delicious English breakfast.”

England--Marion and Alan Vertun, Los Angeles: “A delightful B&B;, the Spartans, Meadow Drive, Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, Straffordshire, England. Rates $35/$50 per night for room including a wonderful breakfast.”

Maine--Sheri and Gordon Staggs, Glendora: “A charming country inn nestled in a small town among beautiful fall foliage trees, four miles from ski slopes. The Glen Mountain House, P.O. Box 176, Bryant Pond, Me. Rates $35 for two.”

New Hampshire--Stuart and Judith Tower, Woodland Hills: “Beautiful, charming B&B;, Chase House, Chase Street, Route 12A, Cornish, N.H., phone (603) 675-5391. Built in 1775, fully restored birthplace of Salmon Portland Chase, Lincoln’s secretary of the Treasury. Along banks of the Connecticut River, only a mile from one of New England’s oldest covered bridges. Rates from $65 for share-the-bath to $85 for a private bath. For skiers, Mt. Ascutney is across the river. Reservations a must.”

Austria--Emil M. Stranz, Redondo Beach: “Corvinus Hotel, Bahngasse, 2700 Wiener Neusad, Austria, 25 miles south of Vienna. A block from main railroad station, off freeway A-2. Excellent accommodations and buffet breakfast. Rate 840 Austrian schillings per night for two.”

Austria--E. Sweet, Encino: “Gasthaus zur Glocke, Schanzlgasse 2, 5020 Salzburg, phone (06-62) 84-53-91. Inexpensive place to eat in the Old Town. Dinners from $6.95.”

Mexico--Dorothy Lawrence, Hermosa Beach: “One of the highlights of our recent trip to Mexico was a tour escorted by Senor Juan Lara in Oaxaca. Speaks excellent English as well as French, German and, of course, Spanish. A large, new, air-conditioned car accommodates six people. Can arrange transportation for larger groups. Rates about $8 an hour for four people. Contact Juan Montes Lara, Pro. Eucaliptos 303, Oaxaca. Phone 5-77-31.”

Morocco--Katherine Yamada, Glendale: “Atlas Treks for tours in Atlas Mountains. Dan and Christine Eitzen organize and lead each trip, live in Morocco and have extensive knowledge of region. Both speak Arabic. Two treks available next June for $185 per person. Mule treks next March, April and July at $210 per person. Land Rover expeditions November, January or February for $285 per person. Trips include hotel, food, transportation and guide service. Write Royal Travel & Tours, 2626 S. Pullman, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705, or call (714) 250-1505.”

Canada--Stella Kornberg, North Hollywood: Springcrest B&B;, 1190 Wolfe Ave., Vancouver, B.C. V6H 1V8, Canada, phone (604) 734-7503. “Charming Victorian home, prestigious Shaughnessy District.”

Canada--Ray Connors, Laguna Niguel: “B&B; of Lois and Jim Baker, 7251 Lismer Ave., Richmond, B.C. V6Y 2X4, Canada. For $32 you get a fine, well-furnished bedroom. Lois whips up a fine bacon and egg breakfast, and this is the price for two.”

Canada--Barbara McCarthy, Avocado Heights: “On a recent trip to Harrison Hot Springs found a German restaurant that was far superior to any we had eaten in in Germany. Address: 110 Esplanade Ave., Box 130, Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., Canada.”

England--Annie Boddington, Long Beach: “Came across a wonderful restaurant/bar called Magee’s Bistro, 7 Queen St., Wellingborough, Northants, phone Wellingborough 226-051.”

England--Jerry and Lois Dunklin, Canoga Park: “At Balmoral Hotel in Harrogate we were treated like personal guests by proprietor Colin Alderson, who served as a chef to Queen Elizabeth for five years. Hotel is haven of elegant taste, beautiful surroundings, superb accommodations. Full English breakfast and a gourmet dinner well worth 55 to 155 double. Write Balmoral Hotel, 16-18 Franklin Mounta, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, phone 58208.”

England--Jerry and Linda Mundel, Los Angeles: “Clean, airy and fully equipped apartment at Gloucester Lodge, 131 Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park, London W2, phone (01) 262-5771. Large room, kitchen and bath for $235 weekly. Rental must be for a week or more. Wonderful walking neighborhood with terrific restaurants. Cleanest and most pleasant B&B; we found in Great Britain was the Highland Park House at 16 Kilmaurs Terrace, Edinburgh, EH16 5DR Scotland, phone (031) 667-9204. Proprietors are friendly, helpful and prepare a full English breakfast at $30 per night for two.”

England--Pauline Kittleson, Seal Beach: “Highly recommend Hall Farm B&B;, Stogumber, Taunton, Somerset, England. Bed, breakfast and evening dinner 75 per week per person.”

England--W. Benson Harer Jr., San Bernardino: “Luxury Service Flats, 202 Kensington Church St., London W8 4DP ($550 per week). Also enjoyed Six Kings Circus Hotel, Bath, Avon BA1 2EW. Prices begin at $125 per night.”

England--Donald High, Carmel: “Enjoyed June Cottage, 11 The Willows, Findon, West Sussex, England. Paid 10 per person per night. Friendly pubs nearby.”

California--Fred and Jeanne Golding, Laguna Beach: “Discovered the Old Thyme Inn, 779 Main St., Half Moon Bay, Calif. 94019. Six rooms priced from $50 to $90 including breakfast for two. We wholeheartedly recommend this place.”

California--Kay and Joe Bialosky, Northridge: “Chez Mariette, Swiss B&B;, warm hospitality, beautiful decor, spotless, comfortable bedroom and private bath plus delicious breakfast for $60 a night. P.O. Box 5646, Berkeley, Calif. 94705, phone (415) 548-2369.”

New Mexico--Marge Magdalin, Santa Barbara: “Delightful B&B;, El Padero en Santa Fe, 220 W. Manhattan, Santa Fe, N.M. 87501. A dozen double rooms, $42/$90.”

Italy--Tracy Mezzatesta, Los Angeles: “High praise for Hotel Le Fioriere, Praiano, Italy (no other address necessary). Service is impeccable. Balconies overlook the Mediterranean and nearby Positano. Only $30/$40 a night for a double, which includes breakfast.”