Abercrombie & Kent, known for its distinctive tours, has just announced what sounds like another winner for upscale travelers: a 12-day shopping and cooking tour to Hong Kong and Bangkok. The first tour departs San Francisco for the Orient on Jan. 6.
Shopping is the big attraction in Hong Kong with an A&K expert guiding travelers on expeditions to local spots for antiques, clothing, jewelry or electronics.
The Hong Kong portion also includes an island sightseeing tour and a dim sum lunch.
The Thai cooking classes in Bangkok will be given at the Thai Cooking School under the direction of Chalie Amatyakul. The morning classes include hands-on demonstrations on appetizers, curries, stir-fried, steam and fried dishes and desserts.
Afternoons will be free for sightseeing and/or shopping.
Hotels include the Mandarin in Hong Kong and the Oriental in Bangkok.
Most meals are included in the land package price of $2,595 a person, double occupancy ($786 single supplement). The air fare via Cathay Pacific Airways from San Francisco-Hong Kong-Bangkok-Hong Kong-San Francisco is $1,203 Jan. 1-May 31 and Sept. 1-Dec. 31. From June 1-Aug. 31, the fare is $1,269.
(Air fare to San Francisco is extra.)
For more information, contact a travel agent or Abercrombie & Kent, 1420 Kensington Rd., Oak Brook, Ill. 60521, or call 312-954-2944 or 800-323-7308.
HOLIDAY PACKAGES
The Mayfair Regent, Park Hyatt, Days Inn and Essex House are among 32 Chicago area hotels offering special rates for the holiday season from now to Jan. 3. The rates will apply to the weekdays as well as the weekends, and some hotels have blackout periods for the special rates.
Nightly rates per room range from $39 at the Essex House to $125 at the Mayfair Regent.
Upon checking in, the guest will receive a discount coupon book for use in a number of Chicago restaurants, theaters, shops, tours and attractions.
For more information and reservations, call 800-451-5618. To receive information about Chicago, contact the Chicago Tourism Council, 806 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611, or call 312-280-5740.
ASPEN VIA TRAIN
Skiers heading for the Aspen area or the ski areas near Salt Lake City soon will be able to travel to those areas from Denver on a fancy ski train. The Roaring Fork Railroad Co. of Aspen is behind the new venture, which starts Dec. 19.
The four cars in the ski train are two California Zephyr coach domes, a dome dining car and the first-class Parlour Car, the Silver Queen. The train will carry up to 150 skiers in the four cars.
Pulled by Amtrak, the four-car ski train travels westbound every Saturday and eastbound every Sunday. Service will continue until March.
On Saturdays, the train leaves Denver at 8:50 a.m. and arrives in Glenwood Springs at 2:15 p.m. It continues on to Salt Lake City with arrival at 10:47 p.m.
The train leaves Salt Lake City at 6:48 a.m. Sunday with a stop in Glenwood at 2:50 p.m. and arrival in Denver at 8:25 p.m. Ground transportation from Glenwood to Aspen or Snowmass is included in the cost.
On the Denver to Glenwood route, the one-way cost is $140 for first class; $115 in the vista dome car; and $99 in coach. The Denver to Salt Lake City one-way price is $280 in first class; $210 for vista dome; and $178 in coach. Food and drinks are included in the prices.
Roaring Fork has arrangements with several Denver hotels for special rates for their passengers.
For more information, contact Roaring Fork Railroad, P.O. Box 4869, Aspen, Colo. 81612, or call 303-925-5241 or 303-674-1429.
HOOSIER CHRISTMAS
The folks down in Brown County, Ind., are getting ready to spread their annual Christmas cheer. Starting Friday and continuing on weekends through Saturday, Dec. 13, the center of the festivities-Nashville, Ind.-will be aglow with holiday lights and decor, strolling carolers and Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman.
The area`s 250 shops and restaurants will be open seven days a week during the holiday season.
For more information, contact the Brown County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Franklin House, Nashville, Ind. 47448, or call 812-988-7303.
TOURING ECUADOR
For anyone interested in learning more about Ecuador, an information bureau has been established with a toll-free number. Operators are available to answer questions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m (Eastern time) Monday through Friday. These people also will send pertinent information, including a 20-page brochure about the country.
The number is 800-553-MORE.
The Information Bureau is under the direction and sponsorship of FEPROTUR, the Ecuadorian Foundation for the Promotion of Tourism.
FREE FOR THE WRITING
For a copy of the 80-page guide to Denver and Colorado ski areas, write to Ski Guide, Denver Metro CVB, 225 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, Colo. 80202, or call 303-892-1505. . . . For a copy of Nevada Events-A Traveler`s Guide, contact the Nevada Commission on Tourism, Capitol Complex, Carson City, Nev. 89710, or call 800-237-0074 or 702-885-4322. . . . For a copy of the 1987-88 Killington Ski Week Guide and Lodging Directory, write to Killington Ski Week Guide and Lodging Directory, 203 Killington Rd., Killington, Vt. 05751, or call 802-773-1500.
A CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE MIDWEST
ILLINOIS
Country Christmas, Galena, Nov. 27-29. Craft demonstrations, house tours, carolers; 800-892-9299.
Victorian Christmas at Reddick Mansion, Ottawa, Nov. 27-29. Holiday decorations at the Italianate mansion, built before the Civil War;
815-795-2556.
1987 Poinsettia Show, Peoria, Nov. 27-Jan. 17. Hundreds of poinsettias on display; 309-685-4321.
INDIANA
Old World Christmas, Ft. Wayne, Nov. 27-28. Ethnic groups observe Christmas; 219-424-3476.
Christmas at Union Station, Indianapolis, Nov. 27-Dec. 24. Choirs, entertainment, Santa Claus; 317-635-7955.
Victorian Christmas, Evansville, Nov. 27-Dec. 6. Candlelight tours, Victorian decorations, entertainment; 812-423-3749.
Brown County Old-Fashioned Christmas Festival, Nashville, Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-6, 12-13. Carolers, music, candlewalks, crafts; 812-988-7303.
IOWA
Arts and Crafts Show, Cedar Rapids, Nov. 27-29. 319-364-1641.
Christmasland, Humboldt, Nov. 28-Dec. 25. 515-332-1481.
MICHIGAN
Holiday Arts Festival, Ann Arbor, Nov. 28-29. More than 150 artists display their works; 313-662-3382.
Olde-Fashioned Christmas, Holly, Nov. 28-29. Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20. Actors re-create characters from Charles Dickens` ”A Christmas Carol”;
313-634-5301.
Annual Christmas Walk, Chesaning, Nov. 27-29. Carolers, carriage rides, decorated homes; 517-845-7700.
WISCONSIN
A Taste of Wisconsin, Fontana, Nov. 22. Eighteen merchants display Wisconsin products at the Abbey; 312-368-8515.
Wisconsin Holiday Market, Kohler, Nov. 27-29. More than 50 artists, craftsmen and merchants display their wares at the American Club;
414-457-8000.
Holiday Craft and Gift Show, Milwaukee, Nov. 27-28. 414-321-4566.
Days of Yesteryear Antique Show and Sale, Stevens Point, Nov. 27-29. 414-787-4808.
Spirit of Christmas Past, Green Bay, Nov. 27-Dec. 13. Houses are decorated according to the ethnic heritage of their occupants; 414-498-4368.
Holiday Art and Craft Show, Madison, Nov. 28-29. 608-271-2880.
Third Annual Christmas Walk, Mineral Point, Nov. 28-29, Dec. 19-20. Members of the Mineral Point Artisans Guild display their works; 608-987-3539. Santa`s 6th Annual Craft Show, Racine, Nov. 28-29. More than 100 exhibitors display their wares; 414-632-1939.
