An Isolated Resort in Costa Rica

Travelers over 50 who are serious about getting away from it all, while still enjoying resort living, may be pleasantly surprised by a new off-the-beaten-path destination on the west coast of Costa Rica.

The Playa Tambor Beach Resort, which opened just two years ago, is set on the tip of a peninsula that juts into the Pacific Ocean. It offers a package for seniors that includes round-trip air fare, all meals, drinks, water activities and entertainment at a bargain price. Grandchildren also enjoy a generous discount.

The package is for seven nights and eight days, and includes round-trip air fare from Southern California cities to Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose via Houston on Continental Airlines. Also included are all airport transfers, two nights’ accommodations in San Jose and five nights at Playa Tambor. Transportation from San Jose to Playa Tambor is by motor coach and ferry (it takes about four hours for the 120-mile trek), and the return trip is by private aircraft at no extra charge.

Mealtimes include buffet or a la carte dining with juices and alcoholic or soft drinks. Sports and games, provided at no charge, include windsurfing, ocean kayaking, snorkeling, sailing (Hobie Cats and Sunfish), boogie boarding, aerobics, water polo, basketball, table tennis, croquet and badminton.

Playa Tambor has 400 rooms, a private ecology park, four miles of sandy beach, a one-third-acre swimming pool, two restaurants, a poolside cafe and two bars.

The price for the complete, all-inclusive package from Southern California cities is $1,457. For children ages 2 to 12 occupying a room with parents or grandparents, the cost is $877. Prices are effective from Jan. 6 to April 15, 1994.

For a descriptive brochure listing all components and other information, call (800) 634-5555, Ext. 3, or write to Grand Destinations, 1801 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 640, Los Angeles 90067.

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Walking has long been a favorite activity of senior travelers. It requires a minimum of equipment and gets high marks from the medical profession as a salutary fresh-air exercise. One of the leading organizers of walking trips in rural England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland is British Coastal Trails, whose founders--Barbara and Perry Taylor--are themselves in the 60-plus age bracket and frequently participate in their tours.

Walking-tour itineraries cover the United Kingdom and include historic places such as Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, the Cotswolds, Wales and the Scottish Highlands, as well as County Kerry and County Galway in Ireland. Most depart April to October. Except as noted, all itineraries are eight days and cover six to eight rural miles.

First-class inns are booked for two or three nights at each stopover, and a full breakfast and dinner menu is included each day. Walkers are supported by a luxury mini-coach which carries supplies and, when requested, transports walkers between destinations. Group size is limited to 18 persons. Prices range $1,585-$1,785 per person for the land portion only, and do not include air fare.

For the less active, two manor house visits--one in Scotland, one in southwestern England--are available. The six-day stays include leisurely day walks. The homes are castles or baronial residences rich in history, dating to the 14th Century. Both are priced at $1,985 per person, land only.

For the really laid-back tourist, there are walks from canal boats, of eight days’ duration and priced at $1,585 per person.

For the avid hiker, a selection of more demanding routes is available; prices range from $1,585 (eight days) to $2,695 (16 days.)

For a color brochure, call (800) 473-1210 or write to British Coastal Tours, 1001 B Ave., No. 302, Coronado, Calif. 92118.