| Show Live T!ongerBetterOATise Five of the nation's top travel authorities give their picks for this year: S111101:-tc-sitVaci4tio- perfitg ( n i: BYJOAN RATMFR HEIMAN 101 FOR A VACATION spot that gives you the most for your money? There are a lot of places right here in the US or close by where you can find fabulous travel bargains to suit a lean budget Here are the choices for the best vacation deals this year from five travel experts: 1) Visit the big city Las Vegas and New York City are two of the nadestinations action's favorite big-cit- y Michael to Spring editorial dicording rector of Fodor's guidebooks Las Vegas is "bargain city" if you visit midweek and stay away from the casinos Room rates are kept low to lure you to the gaming tables says Spring For example a double room (up to four people) can go as low as $39 on weekdays at the huge Excalibur Hotel depending on the time of year At Circus Circus it's $36 a night per room for up to four people And - and an buffet dinner for $499 New York City can be a good buy too says Y5011 tifl ler CMPI w 11 i ail ! go' 1VP ts Jrng ”- - - breaks on hotel rooms (AAA) "It permits you to find food and lodging at the least costly and most unusual places" Driving tours in the New EnglandHudson Valley region the Midwest or the Southwest are ideal vacations Detailed itineraries are available to members at the nearest AAA club Here is Verkuil's suggestion for a seven-da- y 1360-mil- e driving tour of the Southwest Begin in Salt Lake City exploring its Mormon history and renowned architecture Then drive south through the Utah Valley along the Wasatch Mountain chain and head to Cedar Breaks National Monument Next stop is Zion National Park and its colorful gorge carved by the Virgin River It's 37 miles around the rock formations in Bryce Canyon National Park and then you're on your way to Capitol Reef National Park the Natural Bridges NationalK uments the Four Corners and Colorado Visit the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park then explore the natural rock formations in Arches National Park near Moab Utah The last leg is your return to Salt Lake City stopping oatthe way in Price where the outlaw Butch Cassidy hung out lolv - t tz experience that won't cost a penny Fodor's suggests people-watchin- g free walking tours in I SW-:-- and modestly priced tickets And there's a lot to iff Las Vegas: A vacation in Las Vegas—known for its of casinos and hotels—doesn't have to be expensive Visit midweek and take advantage of the low room rates the parks free summer "ship" concerts in Central Park tours at and South Street Seaport Grand Central Terminal and the UN Don't forget the museums: Some charge no admission others let you pay what you wish 2 ) Take a cruise Cruises are among ge the best vacation bargains for travelers over 50 (or anyone) says Hal Norvell travel expert for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) And the best ways to save money are to sign on early or sign on late 14This summer you can Scandinavia and A 0 receive a $100 shipboard credit plus free airfare if you book by May I And 75 i you can save up to $2023 —40' per person on a cruise up the New 1 The Big Apple offers lots off places to New York: You to Park can visit entail see—for free! go and people (above) or take tours of the cfty's famous landmarks I5-d- ay Eng- land and Canadian coasts plus $100 more on ship- board credits by signing on by May I for a Sep- tember sailing Or if you make plans just a few weeks before you sail you can find unbelievable bargains Watch ten the ads in your newspa per check your travel agent (AARP members can contact the AARP Travel Experience from American Express) or two-for-o- ne use the services of a travel club that te cializes in deals spe- last-minu- 3) Caribbean splendor for tight- wads To save money and beat the crowds visit a resort off-seas- says Ed Perkins editor of the Consumer most flexible form of transportation" says Paul R Verkuil president of the American Automobile Association sarii sive restaurants weekend dr Bally's offers a midweek package for two people for two nights that currently costs $150 and includes a show and two buffet brunches Besides you can chow down three hearty meals a day in Las Vegas for under $10 by eating in the hotel restaurants Some offer a full breakfast for as little as 49 cents a buffet lunch for $399 g Spring because of an abundance of inexpen- I 4-77- 5) Take the Beanie route"Travcling by car is the least expensive and I Reports Travel Letter He suggests a trip to the US Virgin Islands where sum- mer packages abound In St Thomas k sea- hotel discounts during the son (mid-Apr- il through range from 15 to 40 less than what you'd pay in the winter For example at both Magens Point Hotel and Black- beard's Castle the rates are 30 lower Also many resort hotels belong to half- price discount programs off-pea- 4) Disney World on a budget A visit to Disney World is never cheap but you can keep the costs down says Mark Templeton publishing director of the 1994 edition of Let's Go: USA a series of guidebooks by college students for budget-minde- d tray- - elem If you're into camping you can get a Z f A full hookup at area camp- t ' '2 grounds for about $25 for 4 'r adtwo plus $4 for each 'Pi 1 ditional person age 3 or over A dormitory bed in 111 0200 v a hostel costs about $12 a '' ' 't 4 1 ' night and a budget motel 7 about $45 for a double ii 04ifi 914-”avft' If you prefer a hotel try 1t ' " ' ' one in nearby Orlando where you can fmd lodg' 0 ings for as low as $30 a room per night at off- Via a Cagagman resod Fal the rates and plenty of seas beat crowds the and the high prices Yoga family-styl- e restaurants At Disney World buy the four-da-y Joan Heibnan is the author of "UnbelievSuper Pass that will get you into all the ably Good Deals & Great Adventures theme parks and save a few dollars off That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless the daily entrance fees You're Over SO" (Contemporaty Books) - ' v ' (!:7° it!) 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