Memories of your travel4seniors.com editor: The first time I visited The Palace (2 New Montgomery St.) was 70 years ago in November 1945. World War II had ended several months earlier, and I was on my way home from Navy duty in the Philippines.

I had 24 hours before boarding a troop train heading for the East Coast, so I decided to spend a night at the Palace. After living in a tent with a bucket for bathing in the middle of war-devastated Manila for a year, I wanted the luxury of a tub bath, clean sheets and food other than Spam and K-Rations. With my meager Navy pay of $100 a month, it was expensive for that time: I paid $10 for the room, another $5 for room-service breakfast and $10 for dinner in the expensive hotel restaurant.

Make plans to greet 2016 while enjoying the beauty of the California bay city and surrounding vineyards of the Carmel Valley. Program #13042RJ is from Monday, December 28 through Saturday, January 2.

The price tag of $945 per person features five nights at a charming local hotel and 15 meals. The varied program also offers visits conducted by local experts to museums, wineries, landmarks and other picturesque destinations. For more info, go to www.roadscholar.org

For an economical, uncrowded winter beachside vacation, the welcoming town is just an easy 35-mile drive north on U.S. Highway I-95 along the Florida coast from the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. Most major airlines schedule regular flights to and from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

Atlantic Avenue is Delray’s 20-block long main retail area, with many stores and restaurants. You’ll find vacation clothing, swimwear, scuba equipment, souvenirs and other items to appeal to both young and older visitors. Also restaurants serve dishes from Mexico, Ireland, Germany, Russia and the good old USA.

The tiny Isle of Capri shines like a jewel in the Mediterranean, just 60 miles off the coast from Naples. Ever since it served as a royal vacation destination for emperors 2,000 years ago, it has been a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world.

Spend a few days there, and you’ll experience the true beauty of the island and the people early mornings and evenings, avoiding the tourist crowds. Late autumn and early winter temperatures range from 60s daytime and 40s nights, just right for strolling and sightseeing.

Visitors get to Capri from the Italian mainland by regularly scheduled ferry and hydrofoil services. It takes 40 minutes by hydrofoil and 80 minutes by ferry. You can also go to and from the neighboring isle of Sorrento via the same system.