Don’t miss this one. Would-be skiers will...

Don’t miss this one. Would-be skiers will be given complimentary ski lessons this winter at Squaw Valley. Not only lessons but lift tickets, boots, poles. The works. First timers (13 years and older) are instructed to enroll at the Clocktower building, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The orientation includes a cable car ride, the instruction and skiing on a specially prepared beginner’s trail. Offer is good weekdays only, Nov. 20 to May 1. These one-day lessons will be offered any time during this period with the exception of the Christmas holidays.

For details contact Bill Jensen, Squaw Valley USA, Box 2007, Olympic Valley, Calif. 95737. Note: A $30 refundable deposit will be required.

Ski East

Leaf season in New England and Canada is over. Now resorts and innkeepers are greeting winter guests. Yankee Holidays of Vermont is promoting a bargain package at Mt. Tremblant in Canada’s Laurentian Mountains that includes six days of skiing, ski lessons, accommodations for five nights, daily breakfasts/dinners. All this for a thrifty $280. Write to Yankee Holidays, 20 Spring St., Saugus, Mass. 01906. For toll-free details dial (800) 343-6768. Note: Mt. Tremblant is a 1 1/2-hour bus ride from Montreal. Pickups at the airport can be arranged. Resorts feature French cuisine, French ambiance.

Vermont Skiing

North Wind Touring of Vermont is doing cross-country ski and snowshoe outings that feature a different inn each evening. While you schuss ahead, your luggage is delivered by van. Lunches served en route at back-country inns accessible only by ski or snowshoe. Visits to frozen waterfalls, peaceful snow-covered meadows. Groups make pit stops at cider mills and bakeries. Candlelight dinners in the evening.

These inn-to-inn tours range from two to five days each. Beginners welcome. Groups (accompanied by guides) are limited to 16 persons or fewer. Rates: $210/$525. Prices include lodging, meals, taxes, gratuities, etc.

North Wind Touring, P.O. Box 46, Waitesfield, Vt. 05673 or telephone (802) 244-5726.

Vacation Home Vermont

A brand new two-bedroom, two-story cottage in a woodsy, rural setting in Vermont is up for grabs at $250 a night, $1,250 weekly. Ideal for two couples. Only a few minutes from Weston, one of Vermont’s most photographed villages. The cottage rises on 10 acres surrounded by wildlife, features 18th-, 19th-Century antiques (French, English, American). If you’re looking for total privacy or a holiday home, this could be the answer. (We checked it out recently and it’s spotless.) Contact agent Hilary Chalmers, P.O. Box 8, Weston, Vt. 05161 or telephone (802) 824-3176. (Daily, weekly, monthly rates.)

Colorado Ski Guide

A slick guide for skiers has been produced by Colorado. Details on Aspen, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Dillon/Silverthorne, Durango, Estes Park, Monarch, Redstone, Silvercreek, Silver Plume, Snowmass, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, Vail, Winter Park. Contains dozens of discount coupons. The 80-page guide provides information on accommodations, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing. Includes a series of color maps. For a free copy write to Colorado Ski Guide, Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, 225 W. Colfax, Denver, Colo. 80202.

Open House

It’s called The Estate. A big, old-fashioned B&B; in Guerneville, Calif. During December (weekends), hosts Jim Caron and Darryl Notter will be holding open house, serving freshly-baked cookies, hot apple cider. Stuffed animals will be displayed under a couple of trees. Antique ornaments. Other locally crafted Christmas ornaments will be on sale, with proceeds earmarked for a nearby senior citizens center.

This B&B; dates from 1922, features queen-size beds, private baths, a heated pool. Rates $75/$120 (single or double) plus tax. Airport pickup. During the holiday season Guerneville is invaded by travelers buying jams, wines, cheeses for Christmas gifts.

The Estate, 13555 Highway 116, Guerneville, Calif. 95446. Telephone (707) 869-9093. (This is in Northern California’s Sonoma Valley.)

Hawaii

There’s more for the shopper in Hawaii than muumuus and aloha shirts, says Vicki de Ville of Honolulu. She calls herself a “super shopper,” offers to lead island visitors on a “shop till you drop” tour of unchartered warehouses. “Bargain hunting heaven,” says Vicki. She’ll show you where to find Oriental antiques, Japanese kimono (cheaper than they can be bought in Japan). Vicki also leads her flock to sources of original designer aloha wear. Charges $30 for a half-day excursion. She’ll call for you at your hotel in an air-conditioned van, delivers you back after the shopping spree. Write to Vicki de Ville, 201 Poipu Drive, Honolulu 96825.

Short Takes

Gift subscriptions of a quarterly newsletter for diabetic travelers is being offered at a special Christmas discount rate of $16.95 by The Diabetic Traveler, P.O. Box 8223, R. W.(?) Stamford, Conn. 06905. . . .For a map pinpointing more than 330 parks (along with a street guide to 16 cities) in British Columbia, contact the British Columbia Ministry of Tourism, 3400 Wilshire Blvd., Ambassador Hotel Arcade No. 34, Los Angeles 90010. . . .Collect calls for security wallets for travelers are being accepted by Warren of California at (619) 575-0523, or write for a brochure to 416 W. San Ysidro Blvd., Suite K-23, San Diego 92073.

Reader Recommendations

Morocco--J. Bogart, San Diego: “Enjoyed an exciting trek into the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The trip was organized by Don Eitzen and his British wife, Christine. They live in Agadir and have been trekking in the High Atlas Mountains for years. It’s cheap. Only $150 per person a week. Information through Royal Travel & Tours, 2626 S. Pullman, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705.”

Belgium--Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bracey, Hacienda Heights: “Touring Belgium, we came across a fantastic restaurant in a converted farmhouse offering sumptuous food. It’s the Schildhoeve, Lispersteenweg 69, 2530 Boechout, Antwerp.”

Ireland--Tom Heffernan, Palos Verdes: “A must on the B&B; list for Ireland is Hawthorne House, Kenmore, County Kerry,Ireland. Owners Ann and Jerrif Brown charge 10 per person including breakfast. An evening dinner served gourmet style is 9.50. Best B&B; we found in all of Ireland.”

England--Joan and Dick Kramer, Anaheim: “An excellent B&B; near Frome and Longleat House, Sturford Mead Farm, Corsley, Warminster, Wiltshire BA1 27QU. Rate: 10 per person.”

England--Nicky Kronick, San Diego: “This 16th-Century farmhouse-inn was granted Best of Place Award by British government in 1983. Michael and Eileen Wilkes are gracious hosts who love Americans and have wonderful sense of humor. Rates a few years ago were 20 for full board, but have probably risen since then. Glebe Farm, Diddlebury, Craven Arms, Shropshire, England.”

England--Belle and Joseph Lorend, Van Nuys: Enjoyed Bagham Cross B&B;, Chilham, Canterbury, Kent CT4 8OU. Rates 9 per person.

England--James E. Sidgwick, Los Angeles: Recommends Candar private hotel, 9-11 Jivington Gardens, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England. “I paid 12 a night. Excellent breakfast, dinners.”