If opera is your musical preference, you`ll want to take note of opera tours of Europe. There`s one Feb. 20-28 to Vienna–a Metropolitan Opera Guild tour–that takes in a performance of Strauss` ”Elektra” at the Vienna State Opera, the Opera Ball and performances of the Spanish Riding School, the Vienna State Opera Ballet as well as trips to Salzburg and Budapest.
Land cost is $3,480 or $3,995, a person, double occupancy, depending on accommodations. Roundtrip air fare to Vienna is extra.
Another trip is March 17-25 to Paris and Milan. Operas include Donizetti`s ”L`Elisir D`Amore,” Bellini`s ”I Puritani” and Verdi`s ”Don Carlo” and ”Don Giovanni” and ”Un Ballo in Maschera.” While in Milan, visitors will visit Verdi`s home for musicians, the new Enrico Caruso museum and see Leonardo da Vinci`s ”Last Supper.” Land costs is $2,669. Not included is air fare.
Besides the opera tours, Dailey-Thorp has tours to European musical festivals in Verona, Munich, Salzburg and Bayreuth.
The company`s tours are not limited to Europe. There are trips to Spoleto in Charleston, S.C.; the Santa Fe Opera season in Santa Fe, N.M., and the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
For more information, contact Dailey-Thorp Travel, 315 W. 57th St., New York, N. Y. 10019, or call 212-307-1555.
THE CARIBBEAN
If you`re the type of traveler who likes to collect islands in the Caribbean, you`ll probably be interested in a new newsletter, Caribbean Treasures.
Each issue of the eight-page newsletter, which is published nine times a year, takes a look at one island, or two islands closely related to each other. Since first publishing last March, the editors have written about St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Bonaire and Antiqua and Barbuda. The current issue features the French island of St. Barthelemy (St. Barts). Upcoming is an issue on St. Croix and St. John. In June there`s an issue on Caribbean summer bargains.
The issues give helpful information about the island–getting around, sightseeing, where to stock your villa, hotels and inns, restaurants and beaches. There`s also information on the island`s currency, nightlife, car rentals and how to get there.
A one-year Caribbean Treasures subscription is $45. It costs $3 to see a sample copy. The publisher is Close Communications, Box 466, Keene, N.H. 03431.
B&B CALIFORNIA
There are fireplaces in every room at the Doryman`s Inn in Newport Beach, Calif. At the Inn at La Jolla, guests are surrounded by Cubist architecture. In Palm Springs, the Villa Royale has three pools and a different decor featuring a different country for every room.
These are some of the more than 100 bed and breakfast inns and 80 homes that can be booked through Eye Openers Bed & Breakfast Reservations. The service handles properties along the coast from San Diego to Mendocino and at inland spots such as Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley and the Yosemite area.
Private home rentals start at $35 for two people. At the inns, the price starts at $75 a couple.
For more information, contact Eye Openers Bed & Breakfast Reservations, P.O. Box 694, Altadena, Calif. 91001, or call 213-684-4428.
DUDED UP
People may be skiing right now in Colorado and Wyoming, but come May the`ll be riding horses. Dozens of dude ranches in the states will be open for business until November.
If you`d like a list of 65 dude ranches, contact the Dude Ranchers`
Association, P.O. Box 471, LaPorte, Colo. 80535, or call 303-493-7623. Most ranches are in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana with a few in California, Oregon, Texas, Arizona and other states. The list designates whether the ranch is of the dude, resort or working variety.
The list is available in two forms: in a magazine with stories and pictures about dude ranches–the cost is $1–or as a basic (free) list of the ranches. In either case, there are thumbnail sketches of the properties.
A WINE CRUISE
Like Italian wines? Like cruising? Put the two together and you have two upcoming cruises on the Costa Line. The wine cruises are being offered in conjunction with the Italian Wine & Food Institute. Dates are March 21 and 28. During each eight-day cruise, Dr. Lucio Caputo, president of the institute, will conduct three seminars as well as tastings of white, red and sparkling wines.
The 750-passenger Carla Costa departs from San Juan and sails to Curacao, Caracas, Grenada, Martinique and St. Thomas. Rates range from $1,390-$1,960, a person, double occupancy.
St. Maarten, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antiqua and St. Thomas are the islands on the route of the 400-passenger Daphne, which also departs from San Juan. The cost is $1,195-$2,450 a person, double occupancy.
Roundtrip air fare from Chicago to San Juan is included in the rates.
For more information, contact a travel agent or the Costa Line, 800-462-6782. The address of the Italian Wine & Food Institute is Suite 1513, One World Trade Center, New York, N.Y. 10048; 212-432-2000.
A `50S SALUTE
On Feb. 3, the French Lick Springs Golf & Tennis Resort in French Lick, Ind., will kick off a three-week salute to music of the 1950s.
The February Fifties celebration will start with a tribute to Elvis Presley. Rick Saucedo will impersonate the ”King of Rock `n` Roll” during the Feb. 3-8 festivities that will center around Presley. Other entertainment will be the Fabulous Ambassadors with the music of Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Bobby Daren.
From Feb. 10-15, the resort will feature show tunes, Dixieland and swing music that was made famous by Count Basie, Nelson Riddle, the Dorseys and Les Brown.
The Beatles will be saluted Feb. 17-22 with their music performed by American English, Beatles impersonators.
The resort is offering two-night packages at $39.50 a person, double occupancy. The price includes shows, films and recreational activities such as indoor tennis, bowling and use of the health spa.
For more information, contact French Lick Springs Golf & Tennis Resort, 800-457-4042 (outside Indiana) or 800-742-4095 (in Indiana). The resort is 275 miles from Chicago.
FREE FOR THE WRITING
For a copy of the North Carolina ”Outer Banks Vacation Guide,” write to Dare County Tourist Bureau, P.O. Box 399, Manteo, N.C. 27954, or call 919-473-2138.
