Visiting World War II Island Sites

As the 50th anniversary of America’s entry into World War II approaches, Valor Tours of Sausalito, Calif., has set up a number of trips for mature travelers who wish to visit the islands that made headlines in 1941-42.

President Bob Reynolds has operated tours of World War II battlefields and military reunions since 1977.

Among those scheduled:

--”Pearl Harbor Remembered,” Dec. 2-8. Highlight is a cruise/tour of Pearl Harbor Dec. 7. Group also visits other World War II historic sites on Oahu. Accommodations at the Royal Hawaiian hotel. Cost: $1,398 per person, double occupancy, plus air fare.

--”Fall of Bataan and Corregidor,” May 1-12, 1992. Accommodations at the Manila Hotel and Corregidor Inn. Participants will visit many World War II sites on Bataan in the Philippines. Cost: $2,050 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles.

--”Guadacanal,” Aug. 3-13. Commemorates the day when American forces first landed. Includes the dedication of a new war memorial overlooking Iron Bottom Bay. Group also will visit Tulagi in the Solomon Islands and other sites. Cost: $2,950 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles.

--”Pacific Reunion Cruise,” July 21-Aug. 16, 1992. Pacific cruise/tour starts with three days in Manila and Corregidor in the Philippines. Following is a 19-day cruise on the Ocean Pearl to World War II battle sites in the South Pacific such as Peleliu, Belau; Madang and Bougainville, Papua New Guinea; Rabaul, New Britain; Rendova, Vella Lavella, and Savo, Solomon Islands, plus Guadacanal and Tulagi (arriving at Guadacanal for its war memorial dedication).

The cruise will end in Cairns, Australia, with three days in Sydney before the flight home. Cost: $4,096 to $7,196 per person, double occupancy, depending on cabin-cruise selection. Round-trip air-fare supplement from Los Angeles is $695 per person.

--”Remembrance Day in Bermuda,” Nov. 8-13. Commemorates the stationing of U.S. Marines in Bermuda. Cost: $798 per person, double occupancy, from Newark, N.J. Air fare from Los Angeles is extra.

For more information on these and other tours (such as “Battle of the Coral Sea” and “Darwin, Australia” and an aviation buff’s “Return to England and U.S. Air Force Bases”), contact Valor Tours, P.O. Box 1617, Sausalito, Calif. 94966, (415) 332-7850.

Great Western Tours is offering “Utah Winter Wonderland,” a six-day rail-and-motor-coach trip that features the Homestead country resort in Heber City and a Christmas concert at Salt Lake City’s Mormon Tabernacle, departing Dec. 17 for six days.

Great Western, which deals mostly with senior groups, uses Amtrak’s Desert Wind for round-trip travel from Los Angeles.

Tour price of $698 per person, double occupancy, includes train, motor coach, sightseeing in Salt Lake City, Provo and Robert Redford’s Sundance Ski Resort, an overnight stay in Salt Lake City, two nights at the Homestead and eight meals.

For more information on this or five other holiday tours, contact Great Western Tours, 3814 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91107, (800) 344-7090 or (818) 578-1161.

Ten Sheraton hotels in Hawaii are continuing their “Golden Guest” program to Dec. 20, offering a 25% room discount to mature travelers 60 and over and to members of the American Assn. of Retired Persons (AARP).

In addition, guests at check-in will receive a “Golden Guest” card and booklet that offers discounts at selected Sheraton restaurants and various stores, and for area sightseeing.

For more information, call (800) 325-3535.