Holiday College Rooms

Thousands of universities and colleges are offering economical rooms in their residences during holiday periods, including Christmas and Easter vacations.

For example, you can have a single room at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland’s most famous and oldest university, for about 14 (about $25) a night. Other universities in Scotland offer rooms for less than half that price.

St. Andrews is on the east coast, 50 miles north of Edinburgh. It is the town of Scotland’s patron saint, and it’s famous for being the home of golf.

The residence buildings of St. Andrews are spread throughout the town. Some are old, others modern. One residence will be familiar to movie buffs. Hamilton Hall appeared in the opening sequence of the movie “Chariots of Fire” as the Carlton Hotel.

St. Andrews has 1,700 residence rooms. During holiday periods, visitors can take accommodations independently or join an educational holiday program. Holiday periods include the Easter break, March 19 to April 8, 1988, and the summer break, June 11 to Oct. 3.

Home of Golf

For independent accommodations, contact Roger Smith, Residences and Accommodation Office, 79 North St., St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9AJ, Scotland.

St. Andrews also is world famous as the home of golf. Golf is one of 24 holiday programs available at the university during the summer break. These holidays attract a variety of age groups.

The golf weeks offer accommodations at Hamilton Hall, just opposite the 18th green of the famous Old Course and a few yards from the clubhouse of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

The fee for the one-week holiday is 209 ($372 U.S.). This includes full board, a single room and unlimited play on the New, Eden and Jubilee golf courses.

Other holiday programs include photography, archeology and painting. For details contact John Horboin, St. Andrews University Holidays, 3 St. Mary’s Place, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9UY, Scotland.

Many universities offer residence rooms at less expensive rates than St. Andrews. One of the best ways to learn about residence accommodations is to contact the tourist information office for the country you intend to visit. You can also contact the universities directly by writing to the director of residences.

Several years ago the French Ministry of Youth and Sports introduced a special card, La Carte Jeunes, that allows residents and travelers under the age of 26 discounts on a variety of services throughout the country.

Several other European countries have agreed to issue similar national youth cards, which they will honor in each other’s country.

Students are already eligible for thousands of discounts in foreign countries by carrying an International Student Identity Card. Non-students under 26 also are eligible for many foreign discounts through the international FIYTO card program.

The advantage to La Carte Jeunes is that it appears it will offer non-students many discounts in a few European countries. In France it is honored for about 12,000 reductions, in Portugal about 6,000.

The La Carte Jeunes is sold in France for 60 francs (about $10 U.S.). Discounts are from transportation, accommodations and museums.

Many reductions are geared to young residents of the country. Until recently the card could only be bought at one office in Paris. This year it will be sold at major French post offices, some banks, tourist board offices and city halls.

In the past, the card has been sold for one-year terms that end May 31. According to a representative of the French Youth Hostel Assn., this will be changed to calendar years.

Last June, in Lisbon, the prime minister of Portugal and government representatives from France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Scotland agreed to introduce their own versions of La Carte Jeunes that could be used in each participating country.

The price and the name will be different from country to country, but the orange and red cards will look alike. Businesses honoring the cards will have similar stickers to display in their windows.

Books listing the discounts in the region where you buy the card are provided free at the time of purchase.

In Portugal the youth card is available from the Portuguese Youth Hostel Assn. at Rua Andrade Corvo 46, 1000 Lisbon.