Chain Offers Discount at Hampton Inn Hotels

One new discount program for mature travelers, a couple of updates on existing programs and a platoon of tours for World War II vets are combined in this week’s offering.

Hampton Inn Hotels, which claims to be “the fastest growing economy chain in America” with 120 inns in operation and 50 more to open this year, is testing the warm waters of the mature market.

The Memphis-based chain has announced a “Life Style 50” program for those 50 and older in which up to four guests can stay in one room at the single-person rate at any Hampton Inn.

The program is being tested through June and could become a standard offering for the chain.

No Restaurants, Lounges

Hampton Inns are without restaurants or lounges or business meeting rooms but offer quality guest rooms at prices “20% to 40% below those of traditional full-service hotels,” says the company. Full continental breakfasts, free TV and in-room movies plus free local phone calls are standard.

Life Style 50 memberships have already been given to members of the American Assn. of Retired Persons (AARP). But any mature traveler can join and get immediate benefits by filling out applications at any Hampton Inn, requesting an application by calling (800) HAM-PTON; or writing Life Style 50, Hampton Inns Inc., c/o American Resource Systems, 2701 Union Extd., Suite 300, Memphis, Tenn. 38112.

Southwest Airlines has announced a special one-way fare from Los Angeles to Phoenix for $15 for seniors 65 or older now until May 30. But sadly, the same announcement makes the notation that the special $39 senior fares to other destinations it serves have been sold out through the May 30 date.

The Phoenix fare is good only Monday through Thursday and Saturday. Seats at that price are limited and while advance purchase is not required, reservations are--and the faster the better. Call (213) 485-1221.

The National Senior Olympics will be held in St. Louis from June 27 through July 2 with more than 40 events for men and women age 55 through 80-plus years. For information on qualifying regional meets or the national meet itself, write to Joy Rice, Administrative Director, USNSO, 321 W. Port Plaza Drive, Suite 202, St. Louis, Mo. 63146; or call (314) 576-1987.

Trans World Airlines will be offering 60% discount off regular coach fare for U.S. National Senior Olympic participants and their families if booked 30 days in advance. If seats are booked less than 30 days in advance, the discount drops to 45%. National car rental is also offering discounts to participants.

As the mature travel market includes a vast number of veterans, tours for same keep rolling in. Here are brief reports on the latest along with addresses for more information:

Galaxy Tours, Wayne, Pa., offers several tours of Europe and the Orient this year: “The Way of Liberty Highway,” which follows a 739-mile route from Utah Beach in Normandy (D-Day landing site) along General Patton’s Third Army route through France, Luxembourg and into Bastogne, Belgium; “Russia, the Last Frontier,” for WWII veterans and families who wish to meet with their Russian counterparts in the Soviet Union; “Southern France,” for vets who made the southern invasion of France and/or served in Marseille and Toulon; “Okinawa, Plus Taiwan and Hong Kong.”

For more information: Galaxy Tours, P.O. Box 234, Wayne, Pa. 19087 or call toll-free (800) 523-7287.

Bon Voyage Travel, Ft. Collins, Colo., has a “March to Victory” tour led by authors of a book by the same name that covers European Theater sites from British staging areas to Normandy, through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Holland. It’s a one-time tour, June 29 to July 13, with an optional five-day extension.

For more information: Bon Voyage Travel, 105 E. Laurel St., Ft. Collins, Colo. 80524, or phone toll-free (800) 426-2466, Ext. 70810.

Pacific Asia Tours, Beverly Hills, has packaged a number of tours of interest to CBI (China, Burma, India) veterans.

These include: 32-day tour to Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong (and optional extension to Burma); a 27-day tour of China, Hong Kong, India and Singapore (with Burma as an option); 27-day tour of China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Burma (optional extension to India), and a 24-day tour of China, Hong Kong (optional extensions to Bangkok or Singapore). All are fully escorted and each tour has two departures this year, two more in 1988.

For more information: Pacific Asia Tours, 8447 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Beverly Hills 90211, or phone (213) 653-3393 or (800) 843-3855.

Valor Tours, Sausalito, repeats an old favorite tour for ETO veterans, a 17-day escorted trip to England and France that combines the D-Day anniversary with the Paris Air Show. Also included are visits to former Eighth Air Force bases in England and Normandy. It costs $2,854 per person, double, from Los Angeles. A 12-day tour of Normandy and the Paris Air Show is also available.

For more information: Valor Tours Ltd., Schoomaker Building, P.O. Box 1617, Sausalito, Calif. 94966, or phone (415) 332-7850.