Discount on Furnished Apartments : Oakwood’s ‘Snowbird Program’ cuts daily rate 25% through April.

Oakwood Resort Apartments is offering a substantial discount through its national “Snowbird Program” for travelers 55 and older.

The program, now in its seventh year, is designed for those who would rather stay in a completely furnished apartment than a hotel room while visiting family and friends or vacationing in one location for a month or longer.

There are 45 Oakwood complexes across the United States. In California, properties are located in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties and in Northern California. Elsewhere, Oakwood Apartments are in Las Vegas, Denver, Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia, as well as in several locations in Virginia and Maryland.

Oakwood offers fully furnished studios and one- or two-bedroom apartments with full-sized kitchens and private balconies or patios. Apartments are “move-in ready,” complete with linens, dishes, color television and weekly maid service. Utilities (gas, electric, water), no-deposit telephone installation, answering machines, VCRs and microwave ovens are also included in the rental rate. All Oakwood properties have pools, spas, tennis courts and fitness centers, and are surrounded by landscaped grounds. Many also have mini-markets, car-rental offices and private facilities for entertaining guests.

The senior plan provides for a 25% discount from regular rates, which for this winter are the same as they were for the 1991-92 season. Thus, seniors pay $39 instead of the average daily rate of $52. No deposit is required.

The program continues through April 30, when full rates resume. More information is available by calling (800) 888-0103.

New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates all subways, railroads and public bus lines in the Big Apple’s metropolitan area, has created a colorful series of maps and brochures that mature travelers can use in conjunction with reduced fares. The easiest method for senior visitors is to use their Medicare card, which is acceptable as identification on subways.

Simply show your card when you purchase a token for subway travel and you’ll receive a ticket good for a return fare, a 50% reduction in the cost of a trip. The ticket is also valid for transit on the bus lines. To obtain a senior transportation pass good for trips on all MTA lines, it is necessary to apply for a free senior ID card through the New York City offices of MTA. For more information, call (718) 330-1234.

Meanwhile, copies of the illustrated brochures are free upon request and include the following:

- Token Trips--How to get around New York to see all the major sights and attractions, with correspondent bus and subway numbers listed.

- New York City Subway Map--All routes, hours of operation and transfer points.

- Manhattan Bus Map--All routes, hours of operation and transfer points for the MTA bus system.

- Long Island Railroad Map--Route map, places to visit and subway connections with railroad stations.

Mail specific requests to New York City Transit Authority, 130 Livingston St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201.