How to Go and Where to Stay in Catalina

To Avalon by ferry: Call toll-free (800) 257-2227. Daily sailings from Long Beach. Time: one hour. Round-trip fares: adults, $32; seniors 55 and over, $28.50; children 2 to 11, $23.50; infants, $1.50. Directions to terminal: Take the Long Beach Freeway (710) south to the Queen Mary turnoff. Park in the Queen Mary lot to the left of the ship.

Daily sailings from San Pedro. Time: 1 1/2 hours. Round-trip fares: adults, $27.70; seniors 55 and over, $25.10; children 2 to 11, $20.50; infants, $1.50. Directions to terminal: Take the Harbor Freeway (110) south to the Harbor Boulevard exit and follow signs to the Catalina Terminal.

Daily sailings from Redondo Beach, starting in June. Time: 1 hour 45 minutes. Same fares as sailings from San Pedro. Directions to terminal: Take the San Diego Freeway (405) south to the Crenshaw Boulevard exit. South on Crenshaw to 190th Street. West on 190th to Harbor Drive. South on Harbor to the Redondo Beach Marina.

Catalina Cruises: call (800) 888-5939. Daily sailings from Long Beach. Time: 1 hour 50 minutes. Round-trip fares: adults, $26; seniors 55 and over, $22.80; children 2 to 11, $16; infants, $1.50. Directions to terminal: Take the Long Beach Freeway south to the Downtown exit, keep to the right and exit on Golden Shore; follow Golden Shore to Catalina Landing. Saturday and Sunday sailings from San Pedro until May 24, then daily. Time: 1 hour 50 minutes.

Catalina Passenger Service: call (714) 673-5245. Daily sailing from Newport Beach. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes. Round-trip fares: adults, $28; children under 12, $15. Directions to terminal: Take the San Diego Freeway south to the Newport Freeway (55). When the freeway ends, continue straight ahead for seven miles to Balboa Pavilion.

To Avalon by helicopter: Island Express: Call (800) 228-2566. Daily flights from Long Beach and San Pedro. Time: 15 minutes. Round-trip fares: adults, seniors and children, $100.44; children under 2, no charge. Directions to terminals: same as for Catalina Express.

Helitrans: Call (800) 262-1472. Daily flights from Long Beach and San Pedro. Time: 15 minutes. Round-trip fares: adults, seniors and children, $96; children under 2, no charge. Directions to terminals: Long Beach flights from Associated Helicopter service, Long Beach Airport; San Pedro flights same as for Catalina Express.

Where to stay (note: All hotel addresses are in Avalon and have the same zip code--90704):

--Hotel Metropole, Metropole Market Place, (800) 541-8528 or (213) 510-1884. Nov. 1 to April 30, Sunday through Thursday, $75-$175; weekends, $85-$190. May 1 to Oct. 31, $100-$225.

--Hotel St. Lauren, P.O. Box 497, (213) 510-2299. Oct. 2 to May 31, $85-$160. June 1 to Oct. 1, $125-$200.

--Hotel Vincentes, 108 Marilla Ave., (213) 510-1115. Off-season, midweek, $75-$110; weekends, $95-$150. Summer rates, $125-$225.

--Villa Portofino, 11 Crescent Ave., (800) 346-2326 or (213) 510-0555. From $78-$175. Lower midweek rates November through April, excluding holidays.

--Hotel Vista Del Mar, 417 Crescent Ave., (213) 510-1452. From Nov. 1 to April 30, $55-$185. From May 1 to Oct. 31, $85-$225.

--Pavilion Lodge, P.O. Box 737, (800) 428-2566. From Oct. 28 to March 21, $49-$69; March 22 to June 21, $69-$89; June 22 to Sept. 8, $119; Sept. 9 to Oct. 27, $69-$89.

--Catalina Canyon Hotel, P.O. Box 736, (800) 253-9361 or (213) 510-0325. From Nov. 1 to May 15, midweek, $85; weekends, $95. From May 16 to Oct. 31, midweek, $135; weekends, $155.

--Inn on Mt. Ada, 398 Wrigley Road, (213) 510-2030. Bed and breakfast, $220-$440.

--”Old” Turner Inn, 232 Catalina Ave., (213) 510-2236. Bed and breakfast, $110-$175.

All room rates are double occupancy, exclusive of the city’s 7% bed tax. Packages are frequently available in many hotels from Nov. 1 to April 30.

The chamber of commerce and visitor’s bureau publishes an official visitor’s guide listing hotels, their facilities and rates.

It is available by calling (213) 510-1520 or by writing to P.O. Box 217, Avalon. The chamber also provides information on the availability of rooms, and connects callers directly with most of the hotels.

Apartments and condominiums: Many units are available at summer rates of $675-$800 a week for one bedroom, $700-$1,375 a week for three bedrooms. Donna Gosselin of Davis-Baker Co., (213) 510-2276, has many of the listings.

Where to eat: Besides hotels, the chamber of commerce guide previously mentioned also includes information on restaurants and fast-food outlets, including style of cuisine and average prices.

Getting around: There are no car rentals in Avalon, but electric golf carts are available for $25 an hour at the agency nearest the ferry landing, band $20 an hour at the agency at the opposite end of Crescent Avenue.

There is one taxi company and one taxi stand, on Crescent Avenue in the center of town.

Brown’s Bicycles, 107 Pebbly Beach Road, (213) 510-0986, rents single-speeds by the day for $4 an hour or $12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; five-speeds, $5 an hour or $15 from 9 to 5. Tandems are also available: single-speeds, $8 an hour or $25 from 9 to 5; five-speeds, $10 an hour or $30 from 9 to 5.