Fine wine, smart talk on Europe tour

“WE just returned from a wonderful two-week tour in the Basque region of Spain and southwest France, including visits to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and four days in Bordeaux, France. Our tour leaders, Jean Bardot, professor of art history at the American University of Paris, and Patrick Bulteau, a food and wine expert, are well known to travelers of the now-defunct University of New Hampshire Interhostel travel programs. Included in our tour were fabulous meals, fine wines, intelligent commentary on sights and art and personalized attention that only small groups allow.”

Tour prices start at about $2,500 per person, double occupancy.

Educational Discovery Tours, P.O. Box 10200, Truckee, CA 96162; (800) 544-4723, www.educationaldiscoverytours.com.

NANCY AND ROGER BURGLaguna Niguel

**

Scotland: Classy Highlands B&B;

“WHILE traveling in the Scottish Highlands two weeks ago, we stayed at the lovely Spean Lodge, an immaculately restored Victorian-Georgian country house in Spean Bridge, along the Road to the Isles. Gracious hosts, wonderful food and decor. We highly recommend this B&B.;”

Doubles from $110.

Spean Lodge, PH34 4EP Inverness-shire; 011-44-0-1397-712-004, www.speanlodge.co.uk.

KATHERINE SIEGELSTEVE KAPLANReseda

Send recommendations to Readers Recommend/Travel, Los Angeles. Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; e-mail [email protected]. Include your name, address and phone number, as well as the address, phone number and website of the place you are recommending.