Special Ski Offers in Purgatory

Mature travelers, who like to ski downhill and cross-country, or who want to take up the sport, should look into a special ski week offered by Purgatory Village in Durango, Colo.

Skiers and would-be skiers 55 and older can take advantage of discounts on lodging, lift tickets, rentals, lessons and meals during Purgatory’s second SnoMaster’s Week, Jan. 6-12.

“We found that many older skiers dropped out of skiing because they lost the companionship of former ski buddies who have given up the sport,” Sue Morris, Purgatory’s director of hospitality services, said.

“Our event gives them an opportunity to ski, meet new friends in a casual atmosphere and work on their skills to recapture excitement in the sport.”

Special Rates

Participants get special rates at the Purgatory Village Hotel starting at $40 a day per person, double occupancy, including a continental breakfast.

Mature skiers also get lift tickets for $12 a day and can rent skis and boots at $7 a day for basic equipment ($12 to $18 for advanced gear).

Group lessons are $12 for half a day (normally $22). Beginners get two free half-day group lessons with the purchase of two all-day lift tickets.

Participants also receive 10% discounts at Dante’s, Powderhouse and Sterling restaurants, a 20% discount on cross-country rentals and lessons and $2 off snowmobile rides.

For more information, contact Purgatory/Durango Central Reservations toll-free at (800) 525-0892, or write Durango Ski Corp., P.O. Box 666, Durango, Colo. 81302.

-- -- --

If you seek warmer climes, Castel San Felipe, in the quiet fishing village of San Felipe in Mexico’s Baja, offers a special low rate through Feb. 28 for mature travelers.

The 180-room resort, 240 miles south of San Diego, has rooms at $23.50 per person, double occupancy, and including full American breakfast. Call Amex Ltd. in San Diego for information or reservations: (800) 262-2656.

-- -- --

In Kissimmee, Fla., the Trave-Lodge Main Gate East has a special package for mature travelers now through Feb. 8, excluding the Christmas holidays.

Included are hotel accommodations for two days and one night, one breakfast, a souvenir Disney T-shirt and shuttle transportation to Walt Disney World and Epcot Center. Price is $27.50 per person, double occupancy. Extra nights may be booked for $32.

For more information, call (800) 327-1128.

-- -- --

Grand Circle Travel, a Boston-based specialist in mature travel, has a new offering, a 12-day Caribbean cruise that includes a 1,000-mile Amazon River cruise.

Beginning April 4, 1989, the cruise, offered by Grand Circle in conjunction with Ocean Cruise Lines, starts at $1,346 per person, based on double occupancy. Grand Circle says this is a saving of $1,049 off published fares.

The trip includes the Amazon cruise, plus such ports of call as Manaus, Alter do Chao, Santarem, Narrows of Breve, Tobago, Grenada, Martinique, St. Maarten, St. Barts, San Juan and even Devil’s Island.

Air fare is not included, but Grand Circle offers discounted flights from Los Angeles.

For more information and other cruises, including a new catalogue, “The Amazon, Orinoco and South America,” contact Grand Circle, 247s Congress St., Boston 02210; phone (800) 248-3737.