If you’re traveling to Spain, here’s a...

If you’re traveling to Spain, here’s a bargain worth considering: an apartment near Madrid that rents for only $250 a week. Ideal for a family or couples traveling together. Three bedrooms, two baths, a living room, dining room, kitchen, TV. It’s in Alcala de Henares. About 13 miles northeast of Madrid. Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus were among the town’s most illustrious visitors. Tree-lined streets. Surrounded by mountains. For details and reservations write to Mrs. Asuncion Harper, P.O. Box 494, Munfordville, Ky. 42765. Telephone (502) 524-7014.

Singles

Los Angeles’ newest club for singles (over age 45) is signing up members for a three-day cruise Jan. 15 aboard the Azure Seas. The ship will call at Catalina and Ensenada. Departs Friday evening, returns Monday morning. Still a few “shares” available at $294. The group calls itself “Just For Fun” and is offering the trip in conjunction with the Brunch Bunch, another singles club. For reservations contact Bob Kerr of Freighters & Cruises, 715 S. Normandie, Suite 802, Los Angeles 90005, telephone (213) 380-9720. Other details from Pearl Franklin at (213) 850-0760. Note: The Azure Seas is scheduled to arrive in Catalina on Saturday morning, sails at 3:30 p.m. for Ensenada where it will dock at 9 a.m. Sunday with departure that afternoon at 5:30. Arrives back in Los Angeles at 8 a.m. Monday.

A Letter From Belgium

Mrs. Christine Dewaele writes from Brugge, Belgium, about a charming old home with 18 guest rooms (private baths). Describes it as a “home away from home.” We’ve seen pictures and it looks inviting. Old World touches with modern conveniences. Owner-run and in a quiet section of Brugge near the canals and market square. Guest rooms feature color TV, telephones, clock radios. The rate for two nights with breakfast is 2,400 Belgian francs (about $70 U.S.). For 3,800 francs the package includes a walking tour and dinner in addition to breakfast. Extra nights, 1,100 francs. Contact Pandhotel, Pandreitje 16, 8000 Brugge, Belgium, or see your travel agent. Other details from the Belgian National Tourist Office, 745 Fifth Ave., New York 10151.

Washington, D.C.

A new hotel in Washington, D.C., has the welcome mat out for up to four persons sharing two-room suites at a reasonable $79 a night on weekends. The package includes complimentary breakfasts and a two-hour cocktail party each evening. This is hard to beat in pricey D.C. Contact Embassy Suites, 1250 22nd St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. Besides complimentary breakfasts and drinks, the hotel has a no-tipping policy. Rooms feature refrigerators, two TV sets per unit, microwave ovens, coffee makers. After a day of sightseeing, guests return to a steam room, a sauna, swimming pool. The Embassy’s 318 suites open on a tropical atrium. This is in D.C.’s West End between Georgetown and the White House.

Cruise Discounts

Dan Griffin of Riverside sends along a note asking about Spur of the Moment Tours. Spur of the Moment is a clearinghouse for “last-minute unsold cruises.” The company says it can save passengers up to 50% on trips. Works particularly well for retirees and others who can travel on short notice. This means a lead time of a month to six weeks on international cruises, two to three weeks on domestic sailings. Spur of the Moment deals with 20 cruise lines. So far this year they’ve booked accommodations for more than 10,000 passengers. A variety of transatlantic sailings are available for March/April when cruise ships will be repositioned at Atlantic/Mediterranean ports. For details call Spur of the Moment at (800) 223-2129 in California or (213) 839-2418. Spur of the Moment’s hot line (information on upcoming sailings) is (213) 838-9329.

Olympic Housing

Space is already filling up for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. A reported 33,000 rooms are in the pool. Hotels, apartments, small inns, private homes. To trim costs you can book a room in a private home. Singles are priced at $25, doubles are going for $30. This includes a Western-style breakfast. (The Korea Travel Bureau is in charge of the program.) Guides will meet your flight in Seoul and accompany you to the guest house. For details on private home rentals and general information on the Olympics, write to the Korea National Tourism Corp., 510 West 6th St., Suite 323, Los Angeles 90014.

Big Apple Guide

Matt Beha of Michigan used to travel frequently to New York, where he would become hopelessly confused by the city’s street numbering system. (The nearest cross street to 600 1st Ave., he found, was 33rd Street.) The more he tried to figure out the system the worse it got. So he came up with a formula, put it all down in a pocket-size guide that works like a slide rule. You put the address number closest to your destination in the guide’s window and it comes up with the nearest cross street. A real time saver. To obtain a copy, send $1 and a self-stamped No. 10 envelope to Guide, Box 25004, Lansing, Mich. 48909. A limit of three guides per writer. Beha will also send along a sightseeing trip sheet. It’s gratis, but you’ll have to make a special request.

Reader Recommendations

England--Freda Bellamy, Ventura: Praise for Chew Cottage, Norton Lane, Chew Magna, Bristol BS18 8RR, England. Rates 30 a night for up to three people and 40 for four to six people.

Spain--M. Herrera, Whittier: “Hostal Principado, Zorrilla No. 7, Madrid. The cleanest rooms in town. Within walking distance to Plaza Mayor, etc. Double rooms with bath, $24 U.S. a day.”

Holland--Bob and Margaret Rolfsness, Rancho Santa Fe: Praise for Hotel Alexander, Oude Zeeweg 63, 2202CJ Noordwijk, Holland. “About $85 U.S. double. Comforters on king-size beds, hair dryers, built-in radio and clocks on the headboard. This is across the street from the well-known grand hotel Huis Ter Duin, which is on the ocean. The food was delicious.”

Germany--Dr. Richard Peerson, La Mesa: “An apartment which sleeps four persons. Full kitchen and linens. Cost (two to four persons) is $30/$40 a night with a minimum of three days. “The view of the Bernau Valley is spectacular. The owner speaks English. Write to Margaret Scherer, Berliner Str. 9A, 7500 Karlsruh 21, West Germany.”

New Zealand--James J. Hoogerwerf, Ventura: Enjoyed Wellsford Castle, 45 miles north of Auckland. “Surrounded by 21 acres of picturesque meadows. This modern-style replica of a Normandy country lodge offers superior accommodations for up to five couples. Write to P.O. Box 66, Wellsford, New Zealand. Rates: $125/$175 New Zealand per couple a night.”

New Zealand--Mrs. Harvey Hamilton, Whittier: “A farm stay at the home of Alan and Dorothy Dodd, Glenham No. 1, R.D., Wyndham, New Zealand. “Delightful family, beautiful home in lovely countryside. Delicious dinner. Bed and breakfast for $40.”

Australia--Dr. and Mrs. P. K. Cullen, Santa Barbara: Praise for Cairns Colonial Club, Cairns, North Queensland, Australia. “Clean accommodations. Most with small kitchens. Air-conditioned rooms. Two swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, tennis court. A weekly seafood buffet. Situated on eight acres of tropical landscaped gardens only six kilometers from Cairns. Deluxe kitchen suite for four was $89 Australian a day.”

French Polynesia--Jeanette Lisak and Charles Mulley, Pasadena: “Hotel Raiatea-Village, P.O. Box 282, Uturoa, Raiatea. Approximately $65 a night for two. Choose between a seaside bungalow or a garden bungalow, complete with kitchenette. Bicycle and outrigger rentals, free truck rides into Uturoa. The staff invited us to the mid-morning luau consisting of a just-caught fish broiled over an open pit.”

Because of the large number of reader recommendations, we regret that only a select few can be used. 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.