Autumn Leaves, Barges in France

Late summer and fall is when tour operators offer the best variety for group trips and senior discounts.

Gadabout Tours specializes in senior-friendly itineraries that cover the globe. For example, those who prefer not to fly will enjoy Gadabout’s extended land tour, a 32-day “Autumn Panorama” through the United States, which departs from Southern California on Sept. 15 and wends its way east via Las Vegas, Denver, Missouri, Illinois and Michigan. The tour swings into Canada for visits to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec before heading south to New England, New York and Washington. From there it heads into the Southern states and returns West via Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The price of $2,998 per person, double occupancy, includes all transportation, admission fees, lodging and some meals.

For shorter trips, California and Southwest itineraries are available for as few as three to five days.

Gadabout’s 60-page brochure lists more than 90 departures for tours and cruises from now until year’s end. For a brochure, call a travel agent or Gadabout Tours; telephone (800) 952-5068.

Senior travelers will receive a 20% discount on some barge cruises that are available this fall until late October aboard the vessel with the Hawaiian name, the M.V. Lanikai. The vessel floats through the canals of France’s Loire and Burgundy regions and is limited to six passengers in three double or twin-bed cabins with full bath. The barge has a dining salon and a sun deck.

Passengers arrange their own transportation to the cities in France where each tour begins, and they will be transported from there to the barge. All weeklong trips begin on Sundays and include a welcome aboard dinner, breakfasts and lunches, drinks and wines consumed on board, and visits to historic sites, shopping, cathedrals, vineyards and wineries. Hot air balloon rides are available for a fee.

Prices for travelers over age 50 after the 20% discount are $1,480 per person, double cabin and $1,550 per person, twin cabin.

Senior discounts are valid for all cruises throughout 1994. For a brochure and information, call Lanikai Charter Cruises of Hawaii; tel. (800) 487-6630.

EuroTours, which begins its 30th year of operation in the European market, offers journeys to Scandinavia, Russia and the United Kingdom in the north, Italy and Greece in the south and some of the emerging countries of Eastern Europe. A selection of cruises in European waters is available as “Leisure Weeks,” seven-day stays in a choice of European capitals, including London, Paris, and Rome.

EuroTours also offers weeklong family home stays, which include breakfast and dinner with the host family. Home-stay cities include London, Paris and Munich.

EuroTours’ prices include round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, airport transfers in Europe, first class or superior lodging, daily continental breakfast, all ground transportation via motor coach, paid admission to scheduled attractions, luggage handling en route, tour guides and some meals.

Sample fares for selected itineraries that follow are per person, double occupancy: (Prices vary slightly with choice of dates.)

* Highlights of Eastern Europe--12 days: $1,990.

* Magic of Italy--14 days: $1,895.

For a brochure and information, call EuroTours; tel. (800) 242-4686.