By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Correspondent

Several years ago JoAnne and George Estill, of Estill International Travel Service in Los Altos’ Village Court shopping center, planned a fall Canadian and New England bus tour from Toronto to Boston traveling along the St. Lawrence River.

They booked the trip for a group of past district governors of a local service club and went along.

“Almost anyone who appreciates nature will love the coast of New England, the autumn colors and the forests along the St. Lawrence,” said George. “I couldn’t wait to do it again.”

Several years later they took a group of retired airline pilots on a Canada/New England cruise on the St. Lawrence from New York to Montreal.

“While the trips covered the same area, there are significant differences,” said JoAnne. “Bus tours require a lot of packing and they can’t cover the same amount of area, because the bus doesn’t drive at night. Because they travel at night, a cruise ship can make stops at Nova Scotia, New York, Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Prince Edward Island, Montreal and Quebec and leave full days for autumn ventures.”

The optimum time for “fall foliage” is mid-September to mid-October. Acadia National Park and the Cabot Trail are especially scenic areas. Quebec has been characterized as going to Europe without the long plane flight. “The goods you buy in Canada are high quality and reasonably priced,” JoAnne said.

While travel is down this year, itineraries in the United States and Canada have been very popular. Historically, at this point in the year these tours and cruises are sold out. While there is some tour and cruise space still available, the Estills suspect it will soon be gone.

The Estills also suggest the Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, which is still available. The Rotterdam is presently the flagship of the line and was designed for round-the-world cruises. During September and October, the ship sails from New York to Montreal, or the reverse, featuring 10-day trips, including two days and a night in Quebec.

“Standards are much higher for ships that do that kind of itinerary than the usual seven-day cruise ships,” JoAnne said. “We have taken groups as large as 250 on the Rotterdam and the clients were pleased with the ship, the ambiance and the food.”

On a cruise, all the meals and the entertaining evening shows are included in the price.

The Estills said there are two or three “formal” nights on a 10 day cruise despite the trend toward less formality in dress and seating at meals.

Estill International Travel Service is located at 4546 El Camino Real in the Los Altos Village Court. For more information, call 948-6027.