This is a big year for New...

By JERRY HULSE

May 4, 1986 12 AM PT

Times Travel Editor

This is a big year for New Zealand. Travel agents tell of record bookings. A thrifty deal involves motor homes. Rent a three-berth Toyota for as little as $20 a day (a six-berth Mitsubishi figures out to $30). You get a guidebook, road maps, campsite directory, discount book, sightseeing materials. A choice of more than 450 RV parks. Overnight camping for as little as $6. Rentals are offered in conjunction with Continental Airlines by New Zealand Motorhome Adventures. For details contact Ron Armstrong’s World Adventures, P.O. Box 3009, Newport Beach, Calif. 92663. Telephone (714) 645-8873, (800) 222-8687 nationwide or (800) 221-8687 within California.

Holland Bargain

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is offering a bargain for passengers flying to Amsterdam. For $10 they’ll put you into a hotel for one night, give you bus transfers from Schiphol Airport, a continental breakfast and a food/beverage credit at your hotel that figures out to 40 Dutch guilders or about $13. The offer is good through Oct. 31. Details from your travel agent or KLM, 9841 Airport Blvd., Los Angeles 90045.

Home Exchange

In our article on home exchanges (April 20) we overlooked three additional choices:

--Global Home Exchange, 1735 N. Fern St., Orange, Calif. 92667. Telephone (714) 637-5192.

Holiday Exchanges, Box 5294, Ventura, Calif. 93003. Telephone (805) 642-4879.

--Interchange International, 11789 Montana St., Suite 13, Los Angeles 90049. Telephone (213) 472-7216.

For those who missed the original article, the other agencies are:

--Home Exchange International, 22458 Ventura Blvd., Suite E, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364-1581. Telephone (818) 992-8990.

--Vacation Exchange Club Inc., 12006 111th Ave., Suite 12, Youngstown, Ariz. 85363. Telephone (602) 972-2186.

Rentals:

--Claire Packman, At Home Abroad, 405 East 58th St., New York 10022. Telephone (212) 421-9165.

--Australian Farms, c/o The Australia Tourist Commission, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1740, Los Angeles 90010-2480. Telephone (213) 380-6060.

For other information on home exchanges/rentals, contact the individual foreign government tourist office in the Los Angeles metropolitan telephone directory (a listing of these offices appeared in the March 23 International Travel Issue of the Los Angeles Times).

Expo

If you’re having trouble booking a room at Expo in Vancouver, accommodations are being offered aboard “floating condos” between Stanley Park and the Westin Bayshore Hotel. Contact Three Buoys Boatel, 1155 W. Pender St., Vancouver, B.C. V6E 2P4, Canada. Telephone (604) 684-0044. Fully equipped kitchens, baths, sun decks. Rates: $52.33 per day per person based on six-passenger occupancy.

Other boat rentals offered through the Vancouver Yacht Hotel (next to Vancouver’s Bayshore Inn) by Us Inc., 7342 15th Ave. N.W., Seattle, Wash. 98117. See your travel agent or call the agency, (206) 789-6500. The toll-free number in Washington state is (800) 562-7454.

Meanwhile, a couple of students at the University of British Columbia are offering accommodations at fraternity houses on the UBC campus. Rates are $17.50 per night (take your own sleeping bag and the tab is only $10). Contact Point Gray Property Managers Assn., 5785 Agronomy Road, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1L9 or telephone (604) 224-7576.

Argentina

With the turmoil in Europe, travelers are looking to South America. Some real bargains. This note from Raul Coria, vice president of Aerolineas Argentinas in Los Angeles: “Our latest tour package to Argentina is nine days. Includes the air fare round trip from Los Angeles with visits to Buenos Aires, Bariloche and Iguazu Falls for $1,249.” Coria calls it a “super deal.” Aerolineas Argentinas is pitching dozens of other packages. One (Tango in Argentina) sells for $999, including air fare, a city tour in Buenos Aires, tango shows, etc. See your travel agent or contact the airline, 545 S. Olive St., Los Angeles 90013. Telephone (213) 683-1070.

Hong Kong Shopper

Here’s a new service for travelers heading for Hong Kong. An agency called Shop-a-Tour will whisk you off on a personalized shopping spree in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz. Itineraries tailored for the individual. Jewelry, cameras, clothing, art. Make up your own list. Shop-a-Tour promises “real bargains.” They also do a “get-to-know-Hong Kong” tour by foot/taxi. Guides are long-time residents, experienced shoppers. Write in advance for reservations: Shop-a-Tour, G.P.O. Box 3281, Hong Kong.

New Zealand Rail Pass

Most of you have heard about Europe’s Eurailpass but few are familiar with the New Zealand Railways Travelpass. Good for unlimited bus/train travel on the North and South Islands plus ferries serving both shores. Rates: $107 for eight days, $140 for 15 days, $188 for 22 days. The eight-day pass must be bought before leaving the United States. Others on sale in New Zealand. Contact the New Zealand Tourist & Publicity Office, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1530, Los Angeles 90024, or call (213) 477-8241.

Reader Recommendations

Arizona--Stan and Barbara Beckett, Mission Viejo: Recommend the Mandarin-Szechwan restaurant, 350 East 32nd St., Yuma, Ariz. “Food was superb!”

Trinidad, Calif.--Alexandra Delis Abrams, Malibu: “A wonderful B&B; on the California north coast--Trinidad B&B;, P.O. Box AU, Trinidad, Calif. 95570. Ocean Views, $65/$85.”

Canada--Bernie Weisberg, Monterey Park: “A very reliable person runs the B&B; registration, 805-7241 Combie St., Vancouver, B.C.”

Canada--Sally Conery, Palm Springs: “Enjoyed a delightful stay at Margie’s B&B;, 1955 Austin Ave., Coquitlam, B.C. A spacious, antique-filled home on a wooded ravine. Offers peace and quiet in a suburb of bustling metropolitan Vancouver. All this for $50 a day per couple.”

Italy--J. A. Anderson, San Marino: Enjoyed a restaurant named Don Lisander, Via Manzoni 12, Milan, Italy. Just a block or so from La Scala. Food was exquisite. The cost for the two of us for four courses was approximately $70 without wine.”

Bermuda--David A. Millhauser, Los Angeles: Enjoyed Astwood Cove, 49 S. Rood, Warwick 7-06, Bermuda. “Overlooks the famous South Shore beaches. Spotlessly furnished studio and suite apartments, all with kitchen and private phones. Swimming pool, garden. Rates $46/$66 low season double occupancy per night, $76/$90 high season.”

England--Mrs. Michael Edwards, Sun City, Ariz.: “A real jewel of a B&B; in the heart of the Cotswolds. Write to Mr. and Mrs. David Holland, Mullion Cottage, Longborough, Gloucestershire GL56 OQE, England. The charge is 10 per person with a full breakfast.”

England--Christine Thompson, Garden Grove: “An absolutely marvelous bed and breakfast called St. Leonards at Warminster Road (A36) in Bathampton, Bath Avon BA2 6SQ, England. Rate, 25 per couple. Magnificent view of the Avon Valley and the city of Bath. We have some considerable experience in staying at B&Bs; around England, and St. Leonards is absolutely first-rate.”

England--Virginia McClure, Laguna Hills: “Enjoyed Mossetts Lodge, Mossetts Road, Horley, Surrey, England. Less than 10 minutes from Gatwick Airport. We paid 34 for an immaculate double room.”

Readers: Your recommendations should contain the addresses of hotels, inns, restaurants, as well as prices whenever possible. (Please print or type.)