We keep hearing good things about Brookside...

We keep hearing good things about Brookside Farms Guest House in Orwell, Vt. Dates from the 17th Century. Ionic columns grace the entrance. A library with 10,000 volumes. Brookside is the centerfold of a 300-acre working farm (animals, maple syrup production). The innkeepers serve a huge country breakfast, afternoon tea with homemade cakes, cookies. Concert violinist Murray Korda (well-known to Los Angeles audiences) operates Brookside with his wife, Joan, and four youngsters. Joan is a gourmet cook who prepares a variety of Hungarian and continental dishes, marvelous soups. Guests are greeted with a cheese board, crackers, fresh fruit. Brookside Farms (near Lake Champlain) maintains its own cross-country ski trails and an antique shop. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Brookside Farms, Highway 22A, Orwell, Vt. 05760. Telephone (802) 948-2727. Rates: $60/$175.

Skiers

Denver’s Hyatt Regency will be offering a special two-night package for skiers this winter. The Friday/Saturday plan includes accommodations for two, first-class seating (round trip) on the ski train to Winter Park, a couple of lift tickets, breakfast on Sunday morning. Price: $199. Or the one-night package (room, ski and train tickets) figures out to $139. The weekend train operates through April 9, starting Nov. 26. Leaves Denver’s Union Station at 7:30 a.m., arrives Winter Park at 9:30 a.m., returns to Denver by 6:15 p.m. Telephone toll-free (800) 228-9000.

Snowmass

Meanwhile, Colorado’s Snowmass Club near Aspen has worked out a three-night Thanksgiving package (Nov. 24-27) for $125 per person (double occupancy) that features Thanksgiving Day dinner. Skiing at Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk. Cross-country trails lead into the mountains from the Snowmass Club Touring Center. Other activities: sleigh rides, dog sledding, hot-air ballooning.

The Snowmass Club, P.O. Drawer G2, Snowmass Village, Colo. 81615. Telephone toll-free (800) 525-0710.

For reservations at 23 ski resorts in Colorado, Utah, California, Wyoming, New Mexico and Canada, contact Advance Reservations, P.O. Box 1179, Park City, Utah, or call toll-free (800) 453-4565.

Puerto Vallarta

Ever since Puerto Vallarta began booming, the town has been moving south. Dozens of resorts have sprung up along the coast. A studio apartment at the CostaVida-Vallarta will cost you $51 through Dec. 20. Or you can move into a one-bedroom villette for $69. (Rates will be hiked during the holiday season, Dec. 21-Jan. 5.) Other options: a two-bedroom, two-bath villa at Mismoloya Beach ($200 a night). Includes a full-time cook, maid, swimming pool. A six-bedroom, seven-bath villa is available for $350. Contact Vallarta Villa Vacation, 30012 Ivy Glenn, Laguna Niguel 92677. Telephone toll-free (800) 624-1618.

Caribbean

While the Americana Aruba is undergoing expansion in the Caribbean, vacationers are being offered accommodations for $27.50 a night (through Oct. 23) based on a three-night (minimum) visit. As a bonus, a coupon for three free nights will be offered for use following the renovation. If you can stand the construction noise and are checking out bargains in the Caribbean, it’s worth considering.

Call Reservations Systems Inc. at (800) 223-1588.

Vienna

Ellen Kallan of Newport Beach wants the name of a small hotel “with value” in Vienna. Try the Kaiserin Elizabeth, Weihburggasse 3, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Singles from about $60; doubles start at $85. This is a 14th-Century building. Guests have included Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner. Spacious rooms with high ceilings. The Kaiserin Elizabeth is close to St. Stephan’s and near a U-Bahn stop. (Request a room on the quiet, inner courtyard.) The hotel is inside the Ring. Hardwood floors, spotless wood paneling. Your travel agent can book your room.

New Mexico Map

A new highway map of New Mexico is being offered free to travelers. Loaded with new information. Notes on loop tours, color pictures of dozens of attractions. Addresses, phone numbers of chambers of commerce, visitor bureaus. Tells where to write for other maps, guides, brochures.

Write to New Mexico Tourism & Travel Division, Joseph M. Montoya Building, 1100 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, N.M. 87503, or call toll-free (800) 545-2040.

Romantic Inn

Kathy and Bob Davis have opened their new Apple Farm Inn at San Luis Obispo. Guest rooms with love seats, window seats, fireplaces, country wallpapers. Canopy/brass/four-poster beds. Windows face San Luis Creek and an authentic mill house. Wicker furniture and pine antiques in the lobby. Morning coffee/tea delivered to your room. The restaurant features home-style cooking (smoked ribs, chicken and dumplings, seafood, corn bread, garden fresh salads, apple dumplings, fruit cobblers). The breakfast menu includes Belgian waffles with fruit toppings, fresh cinnamon rolls, blueberry muffins.

The Apple Farm Inn/Restaurant, 2015 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo 93401. Call toll-free (800) 255-2040. An introductory offer ($99 single or double) includes a room, dinner, breakfast in bed.

Reader Recommendations

California--Bill and Kathy Fagan, Santa Ana: Enjoyed the Knickerbocker Mansion B&B;, Big Bear Lake. “This has to be the ultimate in romantic B&Bs.; We loved it! Double room: $85 a night. Great breakfast.”

California--Teri Murphy, Rancho Santa Margarita: “Union Hotel, 362 Bell St., Los Alamos. Rates: $75/$90. Includes a full breakfast. This is an Old West B&B; with a parlor and saloon. Romantic getaway.”

California--Jeni Adams, Anaheim: Praise for The Inn on Cedar Street, 1307 Cedar St., Calistoga. “A warm, cozy, three-bedroom Victorian cottage. Fantastic breakfasts. Ended each day with a homemade midnight snack. All this for only $80 a night.”

Maine--George M. Kahn, Santa Monica: “A fantastic bed and breakfast, the Inn at Ferry Landing, RR1, Box 163, Deer Isle, Me. 04627. Deer Isle is about 30 miles south of Bar Harbor, but is light years apart as far as crowds and commercialism is concerned. The Inn at Ferry Landing is a 140-year-old house that’s been totally refurbished. A rocky beach across the road. Full breakfast is served. Rates from $50.”

England--L. G. Kendall, Anaheim: Recommends Riversdale Farm, Coombs Road, Bakewell, England, for 9.50 single, and Copyhold Cottage, Dunnington, York, for 15 single.

Scotland--Marilyn and Jim Sullivan, San Juan Capistrano: Enjoyed the Lorimer House, 19 Murray Park, St. Andrews Fife KY16 9AW, Scotland. “Breakfast was great. Paid 14 per person.”

Bali--Bruce and Donna Nelson, Mission Viejo: High praise for restaurant Banyualit Beach Inn at Lovina Beach, Bali. “Had a whole duck baked in Balinese spices for $3.50 for two people. Clean rooms on the beach for $10 a night. Address: Box 17, 81101 Singaraja, Bali.”

Denmark--Sandra Hoffman, Studio City: Enjoyed Hotel Centrum, Helgolandogade 14, 1653 Copenhagen, Denmark. Rates from $35.

Japan--Patti and John Brugman, Pasadena: “Ogatamaso Minshuku in Takachiho on the island of Kyusu is in a wooded mountain setting near the Great Takachiho Gorge. Rooms included meals for 5,000 yen per person. Write to 1270 Mitai, Takachiho-cho, Nishi Usuki-gun, 882-11 Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.