If your travels take you to New...

If your travels take you to New York, you can fly round trip from JFK to Paris and Zurich for only $378 (jet to one city, return from the other). This is Council Charter’s 40th anniversary. Fares valid through June 30. You save roughly $140 over the regular charter price. (There is a $10 add-on for customs and federal inspection fees.) Up to four departures a week to Paris, three to Zurich. No advance purchase requirement, no discount for children. This same company flies to London, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Nice, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan, Rome. Contact Council Charter, 205 East 42nd St., New York 10017 or call toll-free (800) 223-7402.

Home Rental Guide

“Chalet built in 1950, wonderful view of valley and mountains. Only 10 miles from world-famous Gstaad. Three bedrooms, two living rooms (one with a large open fireplace). Two baths, large modern kitchen. Beautifully furnished. Wall-to-wall carpets, Oriental rugs, large sunny balcony. Patio, garage. Car available. Rents for $550/$750 a week depending on season. Contact Curtis Wilmot-Allistone, Chalet Miette, 1837 Chateaux-d’Oex, Switzerland.”

That is the description of one of many rental homes listed in a new guide that covers Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario), more than a dozen islands in the Caribbean, 12 countries in Europe, Mexico (seven destinations), New Zealand. Although the United States is included, only a dozen states are listed, among them Alaska and Hawaii. The guide is published twice a year. Subscription rate, $9. Details from Sanford Cohen, World-Wide Home Rental Guide, 142 Lincoln Ave., Suite 652, Santa Fe, N.M. 87501. (Note: This guide allows the traveler to deal directly with the homeowner, thus avoiding the expense of a middleman).

Desert Resort

It’d been a couple of years since I visited LaMancha Private Villas & Court Club in Palm Springs, and if anything it’s even more inviting. Quiet elegance, privacy, lush gardens. This happens to be my favorite resort in the entire Coachella Valley primarily because it’s small and service is impeccable. LaMancha is a hideout for film stars, corporate chiefs. Or anyone else seeking solitude. A total of 50 units (the majority with their own private swimming pools and/or Jacuzzis). Rates from $127/$267 a day (discounts for weekly rentals). Gas barbecues, private walled patios, wide-screen theater-style TV screens (four units feature their own tennis courts).

LaMancha does a “lover’s package” that includes four days, three nights for $500. Features a candlelight dinner in your villa. A waiter in a tux fetches the meal, pours the wine. Afterward he disappears, leaving the lovers to enjoy drinks, coffee and privacy. Meanwhile, dinner in LaMancha’s intimate, European-style restaurant runs about $50 for two with wine. Breakfast and lunch also served. Or if the guest prefers to dine out, there is free limousine service as well as the loan of a fleet of convertibles (no charge).

LaMancha Private Villas & Court Club, 444 Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs 92263 or telephone (619) 323-1773.

Local Rentals

If you have friends/relatives visiting this summer, tell them about off-campus apartment rentals operated by Marymount Palos Verdes College. As little as $32 per night for one-bedroom units. Others, $60 for two bedrooms. Linens, kitchen, color TV. Apartments are near grocery stores, parks. Guests have campus privileges: swimming pools, tennis. This is a good buy, especially for visitors on a budget. Contact Donald L. Williams, Marymount Palos Verdes College, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. 90274. Telephone (213) 377-5501.

Picnic Rides

This sounds like fun. Picnic rides on restored stagecoaches drawn by roan Belgian horses throughout Geyserville in Sonoma County. Twice daily trips (Saturday and Sunday) starting May 2. Weekday tours can be booked with advance reservations. Stage-A-Picnic leaves Hope-Merrill House Bed & Breakfast Inn at 10 a.m. Rolls through vineyards for tastings at a couple of wineries. The picnic is laid out at Trentadue Winery. A second ride leaves Hope-Merrill House at noon to join the luncheon crowd. Shuttle service is available in a 1926 Model-T.

These picnics feature farm-fresh produce, citrus, poultry and seafood from coastal fisheries. Reservations ($40) required. Rides can be combined with an overnight stay at the Hope-Merrill B&B.; For a brochure, write to Stage-A-Picnic, P.O. Box 536, Geyserville, Calif. 95441 or telephone (707) 857-3619. For reservations at Hope-Merrill call (707) 857-3356.

Bay Cruise

Everybody’s favorite city, San Francisco, has launched its seventh season of dinner/dance sunset cruises on Friday nights. Saturday night cruises are scheduled to begin June 6. Ships sail at 7:30 p.m. from Pier 39. Price: $26 per person. Includes steak or chicken, fresh corn on the cob, salads, fresh fruit, dessert. Drinks available at a no-host bar. Both contemporary and rock music for dancing. For details write to Blue & Gold Fleet, Box Z-2, Pier 39, San Francisco 94133 or telephone (415) 781-7890.

Holland

Holland is out to nab the tourist this summer with a “leisure card” that sounds like a bargain. Costs $10 U.S. plus $1.50 for postage. Discounts at hotels, rail, bus, trams and subways throughout the country. Other discounts for museums, car rentals, domestic flights, bus and boat excursions, and purchases at department stores and a diamond center. Provides free admission to Holland’s casinos, the Aalsmeer Flower Auction and gets you a free drink at your choice of more than 50 restaurants. Along with the card the Dutch send you a map, a calendar of major events and a tips booklet. Contact the Netherlands Board of Tourism, 605 Market St., Room 401, San Francisco 94105 or telephone (213) 678-8802.

Reader Recommendations

England--Geri Adams, Santa Cruz, Calif.: “The Manor House in Bath is a large stone house with beautiful grounds that border on the River Avon. Near center of town. Large flat next door available for summer for $350 a week. Contact Kate Brass, Manor House, High Street, Batheaston, Bath BA1 7RA, Avon, U.K.”

England--Mary Allen, San Diego: “Villa Magdala Hotel, Henrietta Road, Bath. All rooms with central heating, bath or shower. Some furnished with four-poster beds. Quiet residential area. Five-minute walk to city center. Twin room, full English breakfast, 38 ($62 U.S.) for two. Also Tilley’s Bistro, 12 Argyll St., Bath. French and English cuisine. Good wine selection. Dinner for two $25.”

California--M. K. and Faye Zaman, Northridge: “Following an earlier reader recommendation we booked a Death Valley trip with California Discovery Tours, P.O. Box 1677, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. 92693, phone (800) 338-3222. Had a fantastic weekend. Highly informative and well-planned escorted tour for $145 per person for three days.”

California--Elsie Hunn, Laguna Niguel: “Greenwood Lodge near Mendocino, a very special place. Snug, cozy cottages, squeaky clean and comfortable, overlooking the ocean. We settled in by the fire. Breakfast served to our cottage was a delight. Roger and Sally Barton, innkeepers. P.O. Box 172 (5910 S. Highway One), Elk, Calif. 95432, phone (707)-877-3422. Rates to $125 in-season. In Trinidad we found the Trinidad B&B;, newly opened, three rooms on the headlands with a view. P.O. Box 849, Trinidad, Calif. 95570-0849. Phone (707) 677-0840. Rates $75 to $95. Dinner at the Jubilee restaurant in Blue Lake, nine miles off California 101 on California 129 eastward. Terrific food. Choice of Cajun dishes or house-special California cuisine. 121 Hatchery Ave., phone (707) 668-4223. Entrees from $8 to $11.25.”

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