Raking in the Savings of Group Tours

Contiki Holidays, a tour operator for travelers ages 18 to 35, is introducing two new Mexico tours this year.

The Mexico Highlights and Mexico Grande programs feature visits to archeological sites, walking tours, opportunities to explore caverns and free time on popular beaches.

The Mexico Highlights tour combines three nights in Mexico City and a night in Taxco with two nights each in the resort areas of Acapulco and Ixtapa. The tour price (land only) is $785 per person.

The Mexico Grande tour adds overnight stays in the colonial city of Merida and in Isla Mujeres, plus three nights in the resort area of Cancun. The cost is $1,235 per person.

The tours include hotel accommodations (two sharing), daily breakfasts, several dinners, air-conditioned motor-coach transportation and guided sightseeing.

Contiki also is offering 10- to 14-day Africa programs. One 14-day program is called the South Africa Experience, which covers the route between Johannesburg and Cape Town. The tour includes visits to Kruger National Park, Swaziland, a beach resort in Rocktail Bay, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Knysna and Oudtshoorn. The land-only cost is from $1,535 per person, double occupancy.

The newest Contiki Africa program is a 12-day East Africa Adventure. It explores the national parks and wildlife of Kenya and Tanzania. The cost of the tour is $2,325, excluding air fare. For more information on Contiki programs, see a travel agent or call (800) CONTIKI.

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HI-American Youth Hostels have recently issued a free map guide to their 150 facilities across the U.S. Each hostel offers travelers shared accommodation for $10 to $24 per night. For a free copy of the Hostelling Map of the USA, contact, HI-AYH 733 15th St. N.W., Suite 840, Washington, DC, 20005; tel. (202) 783-6161, fax (202) 783-6171.