For D. N. of La Mirada who...

For D. N. of La Mirada who asks for the name of an inn at Rockport, Mass. We’ve had good reports about The Old Farm Inn at Halibut Point. This is in Rockport’s Pigeon Cove area. An old two-story red farmhouse with beam ceiling, set on five grassy acres with picnic tables, surrounded by trees, filled with country antiques. Dates from 1799. Features “warm throws to snuggle under while reading or napping.”

Proprietors John and Mabel Balzarini encourage guests to “kick off your shoes and relax.” Views nearby of Ipswich Bay and sunsets from Folly Cove. Guests walk the road to downtown Rockport.

The Old Farm Inn, 291 Granite St., Rockport, Mass. 01966. Telephone (617) 546-3237. Season rates: $53/$95, including continental breakfast.

Tale of 10 Cities

British Airways has packaged a fall/winter program at a 50% discount on a two-city vacation. For as little as $142 per person (double occupancy) the package will get you three nights in a London hotel and three nights in one of the following cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Edinburgh, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Vienna or Zurich plus round-trip air between London and the destination of your choice. This plus sightseeing, airport transfers, continental breakfasts, hotel service charges and taxes. Offer good Nov. 1 through March 31. (Dates must be booked before Nov. 1.)

During the off-season BA is also offering budget day tours from London to Windsor and Runnymeade (or Hampton Court) for $15, to Stratford and Oxford for $30. Or you can do an overnight tour to Stratford for $135 per person (double occupancy) that includes hotel, dinner and tickets to the Royal Shakespeare Theater. In Spain: A full-day sightseeing tour between Madrid and Toledo ($32) includes lunch. In Belgium: A day-long tour from Brussels to Ghent and Bruges ($17).

See your travel agent or call BA toll-free at (800) AIRWAYS. At the same time ask about the five-day car/drive trips through Britain (rates starting at $224 per person) using Trusthouse Forte hotels throughout.

Acapulco

Romantics (any age) will enjoy the Miramar restaurant in Acapulco. Overlooks the bay not far from Hotel Las Brisas. Stunning views. Because of the elevation, the Miramar is comfortable even during the hot summer months. An impressive menu: shrimp mousse, smoked salmon, coconut-flavored ceviche, escargot , chilled soups, quail, lobster, veal, espresso, cappuccino . In downtown Acapulco my vote goes to Restaurant Villa Demos (Ave. Del Prado No. 6), another option for romantics. Outdoor dining under the stars. A perfect choice on a moonlit night. Try the spaghetti carbonara or the fettuccine ciociara . Cabbies know Villa Demos (just down the street from Acapulco’s famous Villa Vera resort).

Honeymoon Hideaway

Doug Vieyra, proprietor of the quiet little Chalet de France in Northern California, tells us he now arranges weddings at this mountaintop retreat. The chalet--it’s off in the boonies--gets lots of honeymooners. Only two guest rooms with a shared bath. Rustic, peaceful. “No noise save for the whisper of the wind,” says Vieyra. The parlor contains a stack of 78 r.p.m. records spun on a 1917 Edison gramophone. Guests play darts, croquet, horseshoes. Deer graze in the meadow. There’s fishing, picnicking, hiking, bicycling. During summer, guests swim in a pond. The menu at Chalet de France features country French cuisine. Vieyra describes the life style at Chalet de France as “casual and unpretentious, laced with intellect and a sense of good humor.”

Chalet de France: Star Route Box 20-A, Kneeland, Calif. 95549. Telephone (707) 443-6512 or (707) 444-3144. American plan rates (room, meals, beverages): $85 per person (two to three days), $85 per guest (four or more days). Note: The chalet reopens Nov. 5.

A Letter From Paris

Emmanuel Legrand, a former dentist, is the proprietor of Hotel du Leman, 20 Rue de Treverse, 75009 Paris. “I chose the hotel trade,” says Legrand, “because of the human contacts.” (Besides, it’s more enjoyable, we suspect, than pulling teeth.) Legrand says he and his wife know “all our guests by their names” and offer “small attentions” seldom enjoyed at bigger hotels. Only 24 rooms. Telephones, mini bars, stereos, color TV, videos with free films. “Our most expensive room costs approximately $100,” Legrand says. Location: 10 minutes by foot from the Paris Opera House, five minutes from Galeries Lafayette.

For the Record

A recent reader recommendation from Patricia and Mack Burke of La Mesa told of two restaurants in Florence Italy that were inadvertently listed as hotels in the Tips column. We regret this error. The Burke recommendations were for Restaurant Buca Lapi, Via del Trebbio 1, and Restaurant Paoli, Via Tavolina 12.

Reader Recommendations

California--George and Billie Baresch, Riverside: “Melitta Station Inn, 5850 Melitta Road off Highway 12, east of Highway 101 in Santa Rosa. This inn was a stagecoach stop, later a freight station. Antiques, country collectibles, private baths. Rates: $55/$65. A full breakfast included.”

California--Russell and Caroline Ross, Long Beach: “Pelican Cove Inn, 320 Walnut Ave., Carlsbad, Calif. Rates: $85/$115. Hosts made us feel as though we weren’t just guests but friends or family.”

California--Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur G. Halley, Whittier: “Gaige House, 13540 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, Calif. 95442. A restored 1890 Queen Anne house with antiques. All rooms with private baths. A full gourmet breakfast.”

California--Anna L. Gosser, Thousand Oaks: Enjoyed Harbor House, 5600 S. Highway 1, Elk, Calif. 95432. Rates, $120/$180 (double), dinner and full breakfast included.

California--Frances Spielberg, Pacific Palisades: Keating House Inn, “a beautifully restored Victorian house with six rooms. Rates: $40/$60.” Address: 2331 2nd St., San Diego.

California--Mort and Sadie Dover, Glendale: “Found a gem of a B&B;, 748 N. East Ave., Reedley, Calif. 93654. Rates: $50 first night, $45 each subsequent night including tax.”

California--Robert D. Willis, Ventura: “Heartily recommend Headlands Inn, Box 132, Mendocino, Calif. 95460. Rates: $85/$100 including gourmet breakfast.”

Montana--Caren K. Sage, Santa Barbara: “Gallatin Gateway Inn, a 26-room restored railroad hotel outside Bozeman, Mont. on the road to Yellowstone National Park. Excellent food. Rates: $60/$75. Write to P.O. Box 376, Gallatin Gateway, Mont. 59730.”

Alaska--John Henry Fry, Laguna Hills: “Heartily recommend Bev and John’s Bed & Breakfast, P.O. Box 75269, Fairbanks, Alaska 99707. Tariff: $45 double.”

Wyoming--Ruth and Bob Sultzbach, Santa Ana: “The Lockhard B&B; Inn and Motel, 109 Yellowstone Ave., Cody, Wyo. 82414. This is about 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park. Paid $40 for a double with private bath plus an all-you-can-eat breakfast.”

Colorado--John and Jennifer Heinly, Orange: “A wonderful B&B; called Blue Lake Ranch, 18 miles outside Durango. Rates: $50/$75. Address: 16919 Highway 140, Hesperus, Colo. 81326.”

Oregon--Carol Wingate, El Segundo: Enjoyed Mount Baldy Bed and Breakfast, 678 Troll View Road, Grants Pass, Ore. 97527. Rates: $35/$45.

Oregon--Shirley Solie, Santa Monica: High praise for the Sylvia Beach Hotel, 267 N.W. Cliff, Newport, Ore. 97365. “This is a nonsmoking hotel. No phones, no TVs. Not for everyone, but the people who love good books, good food and good conversation are going to absolutely adore it. Home-cooked breakfasts. On the third floor is a room overlooking the sea with a fireplace in the corner. Coffee and tea always brewing.”

Canada--Bernie and Gwen Tott, Santa Maria: “The Willow Point Guesthouse, 2460 S. Island Highway, Campbell River, B.C.V9W 1C6. Three rooms. Reservations a must. Paid $37 Canadian, including a huge English breakfast.”

New Zealand--Susan Taylor, Whittier: “A wonderful couple does farm hosting on the South Island of New Zealand. Can accommodate four. Rates with meals $40 New Zealand per person. Write to Bill and Linda Wicks, No. 2 R.D. Lumsden, New Zealand 0228-7067”.

France--Olga Norris, Azusa: “Hotel La Residence, 18 Ave. Durant, 06000 Nice, France. Paid about $45 a night for a double with full bath.”

Wales--Jack and Dorothy Devine, Garden Grove: “A lovely B&B; in Southern Wales--Wye Barn, The Quay, Tintern, Chepstow, Gwent, NP6 6SZ.” Rates starting at about 10 per person.

Ireland--Chuck and D. Romano, Canoga Park: “A delightful B&B; 24 miles from Shannon Airport. Write to Anne and T. D. Morgan, Kappanuke, Cappamore, County Limerick, Ireland. Rates: Approximately $15 per person.”

Wales--Nancy Pennell, Rowland Heights: Enjoyed Plaindealings B&B;, Tower Hill, Fishguard, Dyfed, Wales. “Delicious dinner, full Welsh breakfast and one night’s lodging for two with private bath was 40.”

England--Jim and Ava Collins, Riverside: “Discovered charming, comfortable 10-room hotel, The Mill in village of Stone. Gourmet cuisine. A lively bar. Rates: 33/39 with private bath, TV, coffee, full breakfast. Write to D. V. Cornish, Mill St., Stone, Staffordshire, England. We checked into the room for one night and stayed six!”

England--Mrs. Jan Wilde, Studio City: Enjoyed The Coach House, 17 Warwick Road, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6YW England. Rates: 12/16.

England--Richard Beauchamp, Canoga Park: “An outstanding B&B; six miles north of Bath. Rates: 25 per person. Write to Margaret Shepard, Northfield House, Marshfield, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN1 48NW.”

England--Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wideman, Camarillo: “Found a wonderful B&B;, 6 Hampton Terrace, West Coates, Edinburgh EH12 5JD. Paid 40.”

England--Frank X. Kelly, West Los Angeles: Sandringham Hotel, 3 Holford Road, Hampstead, London N.W.3. Rates: 19.50/34.

England--Ben and Jan Zalba, San Clemente: “If you’re a gardener, head for Bibury House, Priory Place, Cheltenham GL52 6HG, England. Lovely gardens, large rooms with bath, English breakfast, 28 per night for two.”

England--F. Rasmussen, Glendale: In the Lake District enjoyed the Cavendish Arms Hotel, Cartmel, Cumbria. “About 800 years old. Superb food. Everything homemade. About $35 U.S. bed and breakfast.”

England--Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Hedges, Brentwood: River View Hotel, 1 Marlborough Villas, Fishergate, York 401 4AZ, England. “Room and lavish English breakfast 12 per person. Hotel overlooks the river and is within easy walking distance of York’s attractions.”

Because of the great number of reader recommendations received by this department, we regret that only a select few can be used in the Tips column. They must be brief (typewritten or printed). Only one recommendation per reader, please. Note: Recommendations will not be used unless prices and addresses are included.