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Show TRAVEL Vacation Paradise Without Boredom The French have a plan that puts you in tropical splendor at minimum expense By BEN MATTHEWS is something search for and find. When they do, it's rarely usually a picturesque tropical island with nothing to do ex- Paradise cept sink into boredom. But the Club MSditerranee, an organization of 600,000 members which is just becoming known to Americans, has become the world's biggest travel club by building "tropical paradises" with plenty of fun and, just as important, minimum expense. The club was founded in 1950 by Gerard Blitz, a Belgian who had been chaman international water-pol- o pion, with two French friends based on experiences Blitz had had as director of rehabilitation centers for repatriated prisoners shortly after World War II. Blitz's concept was ultrasimplicity beautiful scenery and beaches, thatched huts, cots, communal show- - able to join. (Membership is $5 per person, $8 per family. Children over 10 are welcome at most villages.) In 1963 there were 1,000 U.S. members today there are 10,000, and three of the villages Moorea in the South Pacific near Tahiti, Agadir on the coast of Morocco, and in Israel have proved particularly popular with Americans. I visited the Moorea village recently on a tour of the South Pacific and found it the nearest thing to an 'deal South Pacific vacation spot 11 om California to Australia. There are 150 thatched bungalows set in an old coconut plantation. There are 1 miles of white beach and a lagoon of incredible clarity. SailMats scuba and skin diving were quite popular. The cost of two weeks at Moorea is $590, including the round-tri- p air fare from Los Angeles. Since the normal excursion fare to Tahiti from Cae-sar- Club members "go native" on Moorea. ers and dining areas, and the best fishing, swimming, and skin diving; Today there are 31 seaside villages and nine in the heart of the best ski country in the Alps for winter vacationers. Originally the club was predominately French, but several years ago the club began to build in the Western Hemisphere, and Americans were ea Los Angeles is $520, you can see what kind of typical bargain the club offers vou. Among those specially equipped to cater to Americans are the villages on Corfu; Cefalu, Sicily; Cadaques and Porto Petro in Spain; and Djerba, Tunisia. Furthermore, the American interest is prompting expansion by the club to seaside spots closer to the U.S. mainland. The first will open next December on Guadaloupe. The club's first U. S. resort opens in Bear Valley, Calif., in December. And other club spots are planned in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and Yucatan. The Club Mediterranee has two offices in the U.S., one at 530 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, and the other at 516 Fifth Avenue, New York. Your travel agent also is prepared to tell you all about these paradises without ennui. U Frivolous our foot. These new Kleenex towels may be soaked with color, but they're still the thirstiest ones around. Each one is two layers thick to absorb 50 more. So don't let those "frivolous" shades of gold, green and fW' - sunny yellow fool you handsome is as handsome does. Right? v ; - . - " ..." 'V y . - I I i -'- f '' " ' t. , ' I '', " Kleenex brings you towels in new deep-ton- e colors Another new product from Kimberly-Clar-k |
