Does anyone recall when the cigarette manufacturers...

Does anyone recall when the cigarette manufacturers bandied about the slogan, “I’d walk a mile for a Camel”--all this before the U.S. Surgeon General announced that cigarettes were hazardous to your health? Well, there’s a new twist to the one-time promotion. Only instead of hitting the nicotine trail, we’re being urged to hoof it 1,100 miles alongside a caravan of live camels in Australia. For macho types (both men and women), the journey is described as “one of the most ambitious desert crossings of the century.” The Aussies are figuring on 84 days. Starting in Alice Springs, the caravan will traverse the Gibson and Great Sandy deserts, winding up at the Indian Ocean. Rex Ellis, expedition leader of The Outback Camel Co., says the trek hasn’t been carried off successfully since the deserts were crossed by the great Australian explorer, Ernest Giles.

With a string of nearly a dozen camels, Ellis is scheduling his camel caravan during Australia’s winter. Departs Alice Springs in June, 1992. Price is $9,000 for the full 84 days or $3,750 for anyone choosing to tag along a third of the way. Aboriginals will join the group. At one point, the caravan will pass within sight of Ayers Rock, and during the final weeks will follow the Ashburton River to its terminus at the Indian Ocean.

Macho types should contact Ellis c/o The Outback Camel Co., P.O. McLaren Flat, South Australia 5171.

Free Flights: You can fly free domestically or to Europe/the Caribbean by spending nine nights at one and/or a combination of 54 hotels in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil. The complimentary air trips (valid Oct. 1 to May 31, 1992) are based on hotel bookings made between now and March 31, 1992. Participants include the Inter-Continental, Forum and Wyndham groups, as well as more than a dozen independent hotels/resorts in the United States/Canada. The airlines are American, United, Pan Am, SAS. This is a particularly attractive plan for frequent fliers. Destinations throughout the United States, including Hawaii. The program is called U.S.A. Plus. Details from your travel agent or by contacting U.S.A. Plus at (800) 235-9872 or (713) 872-7587.

Gift Giveaways: Each weekend between now and November, guests registering at Hyatt hotels in Palo Alto, San Jose and at San Francisco International Airport will be given packets of 22 gift certificates. Discounts on travel, shopping, attractions, concerts, sports. Other offers for food/beverage. (Upgrades are being provided at one of the Hyatts.) Joining the promotion are United Express, a car rental company, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Assn., Shoreline Amphitheater and Golf Course, a European-style health spa and the Paul Masson winery with its summer concert series. The Hyatt Regency at San Francisco Airport (20 minutes from downtown San Francisco) provides free parking, an indoor-outdoor swimming pool, fitness center. Rates at the Hyatts start at $75.

Details from your travel agent or Hyatt hotels.

Hotel Dining: A.J. of Thousand Oaks asks, “What is the definition of pension complet and demi-pension at European hotels?” Pension complet means your hotel package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, while demi-pension usually indicates breakfast and/or lunch/dinner as part of the plan. During the high season, a good many hotels promote the pension complet package. In other cases, discounts are offered for room/board, usually based on a minimum of three days. Inquire about discounts when booking your trip (management isn’t particularly responsive about volunteering this information except to travel agents). Inquire also about reciprocal deals with other hotels where you may dine under the pension complet or demi - pension plan. Ask your travel agent to explain the various options.

Traveling Alone: Traveling solo has its advantages/disadvantages. One of the advantages is that as a loner you can do as you wish (rise early/sleep late) and never be concerned about pleasing another person. In this case, freedom is sweet. On the other hand, there’s the loneliness factor to consider. Besides lacking companionship, you’ll be slapped with the irksome (and expensive) surcharge for the single supplement. The lone traveler usually winds up paying nearly as much for lodging as the couple in the room next door. And there’s the matter of dining alone, which is no joy. (This is a time I usually put to use studying a guidebook and figuring out activities for the following day.) If you decide to join other singles, ask your travel agent to put you in contact with organizations--locally and nationally--that cater to those seeking companionship. Another option: Join a tour and share expenses with another single.

On Foot: Rural Britain is the focus of walks offered by a U.S. tour operator. Strolls through the Cotswolds, Devon, the Lake District. Others in Scotland/Wales. These are weeklong, inn-to-inn treks. Fully escorted. Five days, six nights: $1,200 (meals, accommodations, guide). Contact The Wayfarers, 172 Bellevue Ave., Newport, R.I. 02840, (401) 849-5087. (The company recently received the Queen’s Award for Achievement.)

Santa Fe: Another new hotel in Santa Fe, N.M. The 59-room Inn of the Anasazi opened this summer next door to the plaza. A first-rate property. Traditional Southwest styling. Guest rooms with hand-crafted furnishings, four-poster beds, vigas, gas-lit kiva fireplaces, VCRs, TVs, stereos, mini-bars, robes. Coffeemakers/custom-blended coffee beans provided by the management to all guests. Guides available for visits to the Anasazi ruins of Chaco Canyon, Bandolier National Park, Indian pueblos. Other tours to galleries/museums. Arrangements for hiking, rafting, fishing, (skiing in winter). Anasazi features Southwestern fare. A lounge with a wood-burning kiva fireplace. A private wine cellar that seats up to a dozen guests. Bob Zimmer, formerly associated with the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, heads up the management team at this new “talk of the town” property.

Inn of the Anasazi, 113 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, N.M. 87501, (800) 688-8100. Rates: $180/$210 (suites, $250). After Oct. 21, $140/$250.

Reader Recommendations

California--Helen Anderson and Donna Tuss, Upland: “DeLourde’s B&B;, 43510 Skyline, Box 944, Three Rivers 93271. Near the gateway to Sequoia. Rates: $85/$95.”

California--Tim and Sue McElvany, Upland: “Rainbow Farms B&B;, Route 1, Box 1097, Crowley Lake 93546. Surrounded by mountain meadows 18 miles east of Mammoth. Rates: $85/$125.”

Arizona--Ellie and George Herr, Playa del Rey: “For a Grand Canyon trip, write O.A.R.S., P.O. Box 67, Angels Camp, Calif. 95222.”

North Carolina--David Goodwill, Rancho Palos Verdes: “Windsong, 120 Ferguson Ridge, Clyde, N.C. 28721, is a new B&B; with pool, tennis, mountainside setting. Rates: $80 double.”

New York--Stella Matsuda, Thousand Oaks: “Enjoyed The Berry Farm Bed & Breakfast, 623 Bay Road, Queensbury 12804. Rates: $45/$65.”

England--Al Shaw, Calabasas: “Old Monmouth Hotel, 12 Church St., Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3BS, England. Rates: about $27 per person. We just loved it there.”

England--Lotta Arce, East Los Angeles: “Garlieston Hotel, 5 Bridge Road, Torquay, Devon TQ2 5BA, England. Rates: about $25 for a double, including breakfast. Close to the beach.”

England--Enrique and Alicia Lopez, Pacoima: “Ford Farm, Haberton, Totnes, South Devon TQ9 7SJ, England. Singles about $25, doubles about $50.”

France--Gwen Vouzon, North Hollywood: “Le Moulin Foulon, Aubry le Panthou, 61120 Vimoutiers Orne, France. A timbered 200-year-old B&B; with gourmet vegetarian food. Room, breakfast, dinner, afternoon tea for two came to $50.”

Czechoslovakia--Lois and John McKie, Palos Verdes: “In Tabor, 60 miles south of Prague, a cheerful B&B.; Rates: about $20.50 double. Write to Jana and Zdenek Camra, Klokoty-Lucni 325, 390 01 Tabor, Czechoslovakia.

We regret that only a select few recommendations 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.