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Show H6 Not Homefor the Holidays: ManySeniors Opt for Travel Cosmos and Abercrombie & Kent, include dates over Christmas BY MARCIA SCHNEDLER UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE IF YOU GO More senior travelers are deciding that home is no place to be for the holidays. They're going as A travel agent can suggest other companies and resorts with holidaytours, cruises and packages. But singles, with spouses and friends, and taking along children and grandchildren here’s howto reach those mentioned here: @ Cosmos or Globus, 5301 S. Federal Circle, Joan Chrystal, a 71-year-old New Hampshire retiree, is among those joining such holiday group tours, boarding cruise ships decked out with decorations or Littleton, Colo. 80123; 800-851-0728 gc lal Cruises, 2121 headingoff to resorts and hotels that burn yule logs and serve Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, Calif. 90067; 310- sumptuous banquets. Chrystal spent her first Christ way as a recent widow about 10 years ago on a tour to Colonial Williamsburg, decorated in 18thcenturywreaths, garlands. green- @ Grand Circle Travel, 347 Congress St., Boston, M 2610. singing in the streets. “It was a dream to me,” Chrys- 706, 6900 Wisconsin Ave., 02210; 800-221- @ Grandtravel, Suite bitten. I foundita Chevy Chase, Md. 20815; wonderful time to see other parts. of the country. The following year, | went to Savannah [Ga.] and @ Holland America Charleston [S.C.], decorated in plaid ribbons because of their Scottish heritage.” Next came San Antonio andthe Carolinas. “On an Arizonatour, I woke up Christmas morning at the Grand Canyon.” Chrystal decided to travel over the holidays not so much because shefeared being lonely, but so she 800-247-7651. Line, 300 Elliott Ave. W., Seattle, Wash. 98119; 206- 281-3535; www.hollandamerica.com. @ Interhostel, University of New Hampshire, 6 Garrison Ave., Durham. N.H. 03824; 800-733-9753: www.learn.unh.edu. @ Maupintour, 1515 St. AndrewsDrive, Lawrence, wouldn't have to choose between Kan. 66047; 800-255-6162. her two children at Christmas. She visits them earlier in December or in Januaryinstead. She hasfoundthat singles comprise a higher percentage of Mass. 0273. W@ Saga Holidays, 222 Berkeley St., Boston, 02116; 800-343- Christmastravelers than at other times. “I've met people who don't want to goto all the trouble of decorating and cooking any- more,” Chrystal says. “But they love the adventure of travel. Whether they come because they're lonely or for anotherrea son, they do well on Christmas tours.”” That's because of the camaraderie that rapidly develops among group members. Chrystal hasfound that somefellowtravelers — singles and couples — may join a tour when their children and grandchildren are spending the holidays with in-laws Chrystal uses Maupintour, which has developed what maybe the largest choice of escorted trips over Christmas and New Year's that focus specifically on the holidays as well as sightseeing and culturalactivities. From among the 20 holiday Maupintoursin the United States elk herdsat Yellowstone National Park or watching traditional dances at a pueblo near Albuquerque, N.M Maupintour runs 15 international toursa year, includingtrips to Peru’s Machu Picchu,the Gala- pagos Islands and other parts of South and Central America and Mexico. They take travelers to Egypt, Kenya, Australia, London and the English countryside, to Salzburg, Austria, and evento Vienna for the Imperial Ball on New Year's Eve. Saga Holidaysand Grand Circle ‘Travel, both senior specialists, offer additional choices. Saga trips go to Spain, France's Cote d'Azur, the Canary Islands, London, Cornwall and the Cotswolds, Prague, Vienna, Palm Springs, Monterey, San Diego, San Anto- nio, Branson and Nashville, New Orleans and the Canadian Rockies. can choose to spend Christmas day on a sleigh ride in the Canadi- Grand Circle goes to London or to Munich and Salzburg. Some of its tours have holiday departures, including Turkey, the Amazon on the Green and Radio City Music Hall, am ong the geysers and Egypt, Croatia and Spain. Other companies, like Globus, and Canada this year, travelers an Rockies, at New York's Tavern ercrombie & Kent. Its Pride of Britain Hotels, many in converted manor houses and castles, are popular becausethey have the atmosphere of a house party, Brantsch says. Globus has27 U.S,and interna- tional tours and independent city stays over Christmas, while Cosmos adds morethan a dozen additional choices. The University of New Hamp- 785-9300. ery and candles with carolers tal says. “I among their regular departures Most popular are such destinations as Egypt, Africa and Antarctica, says Christa Brantsch at Ab- Basin, the Galapagos Islands, shire’s Interhostel travel--study program for those 50 and older schedules trips to Prague and Eastern Bohemia, the Alsace and Paris, Rome and Florence, Vienna and Mexico. These study tours are not appropriate for youngsters and teen-agers. “T've only been on one tour where someone brought a young grandchild, and the poor kid had nobody her own age to talk to,” Chrystal says. Because of their convenience when grandchildren and children are along, rental condominiums are popular over Christmas, reports Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays. Senior travelers with younger grandchildren along also head to cruise ships and resorts, since many plan special children’s events. Crystal Cruises, for example, has a good reputationforits holiday decorations and children’s programs. In the Caribbean, Holland America promises caroling with the ship’s crew and a special holiday menu, as well as frolicking on its new private beach. Resorts, too, often have activities geared to children as well as adults. The highly rated Ameri- can Club in Kohler, Wis., appeals becauseof its Teddy BearTeasset 5 in Tudor architecture and a mancounted winter andsenior rates. New Year's, to destinations from Pasadena, Calif, for the Rose Resorts in warm-weather spots may cost more, but have sports like swimmingand golf available. Those whoprefer to be at home Bow! parade and game, to a gala palace ballin St. Petersburg, Russia. They'll also find pre-Christmastripsto cities, towns and mar- on Christmasitself will find holi- kets in full holiday dress day tours over Thanksgiving or EN DAILY FL somccsAVAL Oras 7 DAYS £4 $3.00-859:00ma ne 4 ptember 13, October 4 $25 ETSTTRTVTTet ia 9/21 & 10/19 5 Days/5 Buttets $95 BUcome Sept. 14, 4 DAYS Beninsaatents SEPT. 21 10 oars $699 Carisbad, Cripple Cr., Santa Fe RENO/TAHOE FardoioenBeat Ree Virginia city$ 141] Oct. 5, 5 days Pree) raises) ae Dec. 28th, 7 da 149 x i CIRCLE Oct pig26,aeea $2671, 5 7 Night Package ts Beach Fanti btrrtinalie Market Place ee - 5 S Fly/Drives a e erotictem aie Nevachwanetein Castle, $454 A as Bress ordeeetaesic pea sola Yeleer ; Nov 12, 1997 11 days frelitarom 8et sas, bowls, 18 Moat, sohtassing, jin ‘lan, Kailani World Travel 800- HAG 9269 Prices are per person, double occupancy and are subject 1 wihou not Avolablay mey be imied. Prices incase axes. Vole! for pompenaligs naar a aadSeaU aURIAICLCE ce ; $480 orved fe 24 18days Le,Km Lata93.999 South America Brazil, Argentina, Chile, P Jan. 8°08 = for 17 days Frac eateeaten eam et Poreonelly eorried. A grest winter break 4 54,450 4 AnaheimDisneyland 289 IonG Seis pee 4-8 800 7 r) ie a 6-5825 Hawail- Waikiki Ems: from8,pesing SosHotel Mailo Sky Ground TransportationOptions Double Rapid Rewards™ fight credit FunBook Discount CouponBooklet 24-Hour Traveler Assistance Additional Dates/totels Carousel ae&Everig Tnasare Island Roundtrip Air» 2Nighis Hotel: Hotel Taxes S174 $575 £2,455 Guilin, Hong Kong 3169 a uta i — (includes air & 7-day car) 1:800-255-3230 Oberemmergau ; Wastvar aan ina Soreeen Gata cos eee et nngbruck, dS “164 MauifromSalt Lake City cin SAN FRANCISCO THEATER AND Dec 4 for 4 Days FeatungOna Noesees AND ALL THAT Jazz” Personally escorted by Bob Guymon AipiedChristos: en ee Sie 8 Days Ip ah fa THOMASTRAVEL 399.9903 Coes MESQUITE, NEVADA 800-459-PLAY 14 Doy vance booking Weekend aes sighlly s Higher 200 mile max, on tefl « ed ade mt i ndi 35 DSToeres Ce Uv, rerae aiatsa Eerane (includes air r& 7-day car) WATCH FOR NEW TOURS SPECIAL GROUP CHARTERS .. . Best Retes in Town but different than being at home — wherever they go. wae1199 Hen ny HOURS —_— $405: Sse TT whosend a few cards then hed@. Rownel Thip Aina bas ey CNCL See)0; So Waikiki trom Salt Lake City Ton $661 ° San Diego " ] 99 to he $929 "he aa teed a y ees Monday-Fri. AM and Pca A» Syawavacalerneans a $7 Cash Back Fri. PM, nt Pestoneectaes Sat. and Sun. AM Seman riaeelearereecree Every 7th Trip FREE a ikaenatues “2 \ ceete , ot on a trip because it’s what they love to do most.” They find Christmas is just as thrilling’ — no othertime of year but Christ- "| Heber Creeper Sept 23/$23 Lunch & Train ave EeeSvat Siene eat > grandparent-grandchild tours to New York City and London and Paris immediately after Christmas “I met a womanwhotravels at $11 cas BACK 90 Weekdays STOCKMEN’S: a ch fea A BETTER WAY TO TRAVEL . mas,” Chrystal says, “and people SILVERSMITH/STATELINE «NITE! Miramarat Waikiki ce . Grandtravel offers upscale REPO ra DEATH VALLEY SAVE UP TO 20% OFF AIRLINE SALE PARES. IKOSTON 288RT FLORIDA FRM _— For many seniors, Nuremberg at Christmas beats cooking, cleaning for the family at home. or-house atmosphere, plusits dis- A 4 |
