Discounts Now Available at Hotels in San Diego, Lake Tahoe

A new discount for seniors has been established at the Catamaran Resort Hotel, Mission Bay, San Diego, which charges $75 a night for two Sunday through Thursday, and $85 per night Friday and Saturday. The weekend rate includes a bay cruise on the paddle-wheeler Bahia Belle. The offer is good through June for those 60 years and older, and is subject to availability. Call (800) 288-0770 for reservations or information.

Also in San Diego, the Omni Hotel offers AARP members a 50% discount off regular single or double rates, which are normally $150 for one and $170 for two per night. The discount is subject to room availability. Call (800) 843-6664.

At Lake Tahoe, the Lake Tahoe Horizon-Radisson Casino Resort is offering travelers 62 years and older a 25% discount off regular rates year-round. Call (800) 333-3333 for reservations and information.

Some senior males would like to know how to become “guest hosts” on cruise lines that offer free or greatly reduced fares for unattached mature men as dancing partners on ships where there is a shortage of single men.

The idea started with Royal Cruise Lines and was expanded to its sister company, Royal Viking Line.

Since the guest-host story has received so much national publicity, the cruise lines have been swamped with requests. They now have a carefully selected supply of men who must adhere to a strict code of deportment and ethics while aboard ship.

Applicants must begin the screening process with a reference letter from a travel or cruise agent.

Globetrotter Travel in San Marcos, Calif., has a four-year-old Senior Travel Center that works with seniors, offering escorted tours, senior discounts and a singles-seniors matching program for trips.

One of the trips is an “Old West” tour to South Dakota for grandparents and grandchildren (6-17 years), July 10-16. The Old West tour includes Mt. Rushmore, Dinosaur Park, the Badlands and Custer State Park. Activities such as a camp-out night for the kids, trail rides, nature hikes and other shared adult-children activities are included.

Cost is $645 for adults, $392 for grandchildren sharing a room with grandparents. Accommodations, sightseeing and 11 meals are part of the price. Air fare is extra.

Another trip is a seven-day cruise and two-day land package to Hawaii for seniors, Dec. 21-31. Ports of call will be at Honolulu, Oahu; Lahaina, Maui; Hilo and Kona, Big Island of Hawaii, and Lahue, Kauai, plus two nights in Honolulu. Cost is $1,650 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles.

Also being offered is a Canadian Rockies golf package in August to four golf courses, including those at Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. Cost is $2,199 per person, double occupancy, with air fare, accommodations, meals, sightseeing and all golf fees and tee times part of the price.

Other tours take place year-round. These are to Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nev.; Scandinavia and the Soviet Union, New York City, Canada for a fall foliage cruise, river rafting on the Columbia River in Washington, and Disney World in Florida.

For more information, contact the Senior Travel Center, 1254 E. Mission Road, San Marcos, Calif. 92069, (619) 489-1704.

There has been a major change since American Express took over the travel program of the American Assn. of Retired Persons (AARP). Members have the option to purchase their vacations--all but cruises--through travel agents. Cruises, however, must still be booked through the 800 numbers.

AARP members can call (American Express) at (800) 927-0111 for at-home and abroad vacations and (800) 745-4567 for cruises.

Newest in the travel programs for AARP members inaugurated by American Express is a series of Asian and Pacific tours, all of which depart from Los Angeles.

One is a 20-day escorted tour to China and Hong Kong, with stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Xian and a five-day Yangtze River cruise. Price, including most meals and sightseeing, is $3,715-$3,395 per person, double occupancy. Many departures have been scheduled.

Other trips are an eight-day Hong Kong package for $1,659 per person, double occupancy, a 15-day “Captivating Capitals” tour from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore for $2,499 per person, double occupancy, and tours to Australia and New Zealand.

For more information, use the toll-free numbers above or contact your travel agents.