It’s the season’s best buy--El Al Israel...

It’s the season’s best buy--El Al Israel Airlines’ Milk & Honey Package. You pay $40 per person for a five-night hotel plan that figures out to $8 a day, including a rental car, buffet breakfasts, discount coupons. The offer is in conjunction with El Al’s round-trip flight ($962) from Los Angeles. In effect through March 22, excluding a Dec. 12-24 blackout period. Seniors (60 or older) get a 15% discount.

Contact Milk & Honey Vacations c/o El Al Israel Airlines, 850 3rd Ave., New York 10022 or call toll-free (800) 262-3525. To contact El Al locally, telephone (213) 852-1252 or (800) 223-6700. (Ask about the airline’s three-day London package at $162 that’s offered on the return flight from Israel.)

Rentals/Israel

Here’s another good buy for Israel-bound travelers. Hometel Israel will rent you a chalet on the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, the Sea of Galilee or the Dead Sea for a thrifty $26 a day. In addition, Hometel has apartment rentals in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Herzlia for $37 a day, plus villas for $90/$120 a day.

Contact Hometel, 1133 Broadway, Room 732, New York 10010 or telephone toll-free (800) 367-4668.

Note: During 1988, Israel will be celebrating its 40th anniversary as an independent state.

Sweden on a Shoestring

Sweden is promoting a one-week package that includes the round-trip flight from Los Angeles, hotels, breakfasts and a sightseeing tour of Stockholm for $725. The offer (good through April 30) provides a variety of options: visits to a fur salon, crystal factories, ice skating, soaking in a sauna, free ski instructions. Details from the Swedish Tourist Board, 655 3rd Ave., New York 10017, phone (212) 949-2333. Ask about the “Stimulating Stockholm” package.

Europe on the Cheap

A group of 800 small, independent hotels in Europe is attracting guests with a “go as you please” plan that figures out to $79 per room per night. Here’s how it works: Before leaving the United States you buy vouchers good for hotel rooms during your trip. Your first night is reserved. After that, each of the participating hotels is committed to securing your accommodations for the next night of your onward journey. Besides the Continent, the offer is good at dozens of hotels throughout Britain. To obtain vouchers, contact Salt & Pepper Tours, 7 West 36th St., Suite 1500, New York 10018 or telephone toll-free (800) 223-7733 (U.S., Canada).

Ski Reservations

A company in Idaho represents hundreds of accommodations at 25 ski resorts in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Nevada. A 32-page guide (the “Resort Report”) assists skiers with their vacation plans. Free copies by writing to Central Resort Reservations, P.O. Box 979, Sun Valley, Ida. 83353. In addition to Sun Valley, the guide covers the following ski areas: Jackson Hole (Wyoming); Reno (Nevada); Lake Tahoe (California); Park City, Snow Bird (Utah); Summit County, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Vail, Crested Butte, Telluride, Aspen/Snowmass, Winter Park (Colorado).

Besides condominiums and lodges, “Resort Report” lists B&Bs;, intimate inns. This booklet is packed with details. Sections deal with ski schools, special packages for honeymooners, singles, families. To call Central Reservations, dial toll-free (800) 635-4156.

France on a Budget

If you’re looking ahead to next summer, you can book rooms at bargain prices either with French families or dozens of universities. (Some are offering accommodations during this Christmas season.) To stay with a French family works out to as little as $5 a day for lodging and meals. The program is open to all travelers regardless of age. Provides guests with an opportunity to practice their French and for the French family to test their English.

A special three-week student program (ages 14-27) will deal exclusively with French families next July. These are families with children and young adults of similar ages. Package price ($980) includes round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, meals, lodging.

Contact International Friendship Service, 22994 El Toro Road, El Toro, Calif. 92630 or telephone (714) 458-8868.

Houseboats

A fleet of 290 houseboats is being rented at 25% below the summer price on Lake Powell in Arizona (discounts drop to 40% starting Nov. 1). These houseboats sleep anywhere from six to a dozen vacationers. Equipped with kitchen utensils, stoves, refrigerators, baths. You have 1,960 miles of shoreline to explore. Great beaches. Spectacular scenery. Contact Del E. Webb Recreational Properties, 2916 N. 35th Ave., Suite 8, Phoenix, Ariz. 85017-5261 or telephone toll-free (800) 528-6154.

For general information on Lake Powell, write to National Parks Service, Box 1507, Page, Ariz. 86040.

Reader Recommendations

Alaska--Philip Johnson, Woodland Hills: “Spotless B&B; 153 miles southwest of Anchorage. Beautiful view of Cook Inlet. Host is a retired Alaska game warden. Rates: $45/$55 with a wonderful breakfast. Write to Don Roberts, P.O. Box 364, Anchor Point, Alaska 99556.”

Minnesota--Mary Sweeten, Mission Viejo: “While attending a school reunion in Minneapolis had a pleasurable 3 1/2-hour tour covering both Minneapolis and St. Paul for $15. Contact Tour du Jour Inc., 3236 Blaisdell Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 55408.”

Austria--Lisa Rachmann, Laguna Hills: “A lovely small hotel, the Auersperg, Auerspergstr 61, 5027 Salzburg. Room, including huge breakfast and all amenities, $45 U.S. for two, even during the festival season.”

Austria--Jack Murchison, Montecito: “Recently spent three days and three nights in the Aurora Pension (c/o Familie Fischer, A-6764 Lech am Arlberg, Austria). Frau Fischer speaks good English. You ski in Lech in winter, summers are devoted to hiking. Last summmer’s rates were 260/330 schillings.”

Italy--Gary and Eve Laughton, Rancho Mirage: “A wonderful four-star hotel within a 40-minute train ride from Venice. In the well-known spa town of Montegrotto. Rooms exceptionally large, with modern baths. Indoor and outdoor pools with mineral water. Write to Hotel Augustus Terme, 35030 Montegrotto, Padova, Italy. Room for two with three excellent meals cost us $96 U.S.”

Ireland--Allen Davis, Santa Monica: “The most wonderful B&B; I have ever experienced, The Powdermill Inn, Main Road, Ballin Collig Cork, Ireland. A nice room with full Irish breakfast was 20 a night. The inn also boasts one of the finest restaurants in Cork plus a really nice pub.”

Wales--Judy d’Albert, Irvine: “Five self-catering, beautifully restored two-four bedroom luxury cottages, 100-500 years old on a 70-acre wooded estate, complete with trout/salmon stream, tennis courts, small safari park. In the immediate area are Snowdonia National Park with its cog railway, Caernarvon Castle, Harlech Theater, golf courses. Rates ranging 135/615. Contact Gillian and Roger Good, Talhenbont Hall, Talhenbont, Criccieth, Gwynedd, Wales.”

England--Margie LaFia, Los Angeles: “Recommend Mrs. Hardings B&B;, 19 Manor Road, Stratford-on-Avon CZ37 7EA, England. Rates: 16 for two.”

England--Lawrence D. Longo, Redlands: “Enjoyed Bel Alp House, Haytor, Dartmoor, South Devon TQ13 9XX, England. Rates: 30/57 a night.”

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 agardener, head for Bibury House, Priory Place, Cheltenham GL52 6HG, England. Lovely gardens, large rooms with bath, English breakfast, 28 a night for two.”

Colorado--The Livingstons, Palos Verdes Estates: “Tommer Hus, a turn-of-the-century log house, 1060 Mary’s Lake Road, Moraine Root, Estes Park, Colo. 80517. Rates: $45/$60. (Among tall trees and wildflowers.)