Last week we mentioned several rental opportunities...

Last week we mentioned several rental opportunities in Britain. Now comes this note from Christy Campbell, the charming hostess of In The English Manner: “We still have quite a few rental apartments in London available over the Christmas holidays, but travelers should make plans now, whether it be with us or in hotels or other rental units. London promises to be quite full this year at Christmas.”

Already store windows are reflecting the warmth of the season in old London Town. The air is crisp. Plum puddings and other good things are on order for holidays that come alive with song and good cheer in a city that rings out with Christmas spirit.

In The English Manner, P.O. Box 936, Alamo, Calif. 94507. Telephone (415) 935-7065.

Swiss Farm Vacations

Switzerland is expensive, but if you work it right it can be a bargain. For a Swiss farm vacation the average rate per adult figures out to about $10 a day. It’s even cheaper for kids. And for an additional charge the farm family will prepare breakfast and dinner. Farm hosts in the village of Altnau near Lake Constance, Bretzwil (near Basel), Appenzell, Escholzmatt and Greppen near Lucerne, Plaffeien, Sumeswald, Zimmerwald and Zollbrueck.

Switzerland also has jumped into the B&B; market. About $25 per person a day (including service and taxes). Several towns have banded together to publish a brochure (Baden, Biel, La Caux-de-Fonds, Chur, Fribourg, Neuchatel, Sion, Solothurn, Thun, Winterthur). Besides the B&B; setup you get free use of local public transportation, entry into museums, public swimming pools. There’s even a free sightseeing tour. The brochure provides details on each town, a special events calendar.

And there’s the Sporthotel Tannenboden in Flurnserberg that’s put together a package for dog owners: six nights’ accommodations with breakfast and dinner and a kennel for your pet will cost you about $265.

For details on these programs contact the Swiss National Tourist Office, 250 Stockton St., San Francisco 94108.

Teen Trip

Spring break among high schoolers frequently means rowdy crowds invading spots such as Palm Springs and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Next year it’ll be different. A San Francisco entrepreneur will offer a 13-day trip to Hawaii featuring bicycling, camping, backpacking, windsurfing, snorkeling, sailing, parasailing (departures March 13 and March 20) at $1,950 a crack. In the summer there will be other action in British Columbia, Arizona, California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah. Teens will scale a 13,000-foot peak, hike among Indian reservations, go kayaking and white-water rafting, fishing, biking. Strictly for teens.

Contact Adventures Rolling Cross-Country, 2269 Chestnut St., San Francisco 94123, telephone (415) 381-1030.

Budget Hotels/Europe

If you’re going to Europe this winter, Pullman International Hotels has a guaranteed-rate program. For $69 vacationers can choose rooms in 22 three-star hotels in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal. Rates are effective through Feb. 15. Prices are for single or double occupancy (including tax, service, continental breakfasts). The price for four-star hotels runs $89 in Paris, Rome, Florence, Frankfurt, Cologne, Zurich, Geneva, Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp, Madrid. Cheap, cheap, cheap by today’s standards.

Check with your travel agent or Pullman International Hotels, 200 West 57th St., New York 10019.

Singles

Here’s a switch on single travel. Whereas usually women outnumber the men in these groups, Singles Tours International guarantees a 50/50 mix of men/women. Says STI’s Patrick Thiel: “We offer an opportunity to meet vacationers with similar interests.” Coming up: trips to Maui, Puerto Vallarta, Rio (for carnival) and skiing in Switzerland (January/February). Vacations can be financed with STI for approximately $45 a month.

Singles Tours International, 115 Cayuga St., Suite 3, Salinas, Calif. 93902 or telephone toll-free (800) 462-7464.

Glove Compartment Map

If you’re looking for an unusual item for someone’s Christmas stocking, Rand McNally has produced a nifty road atlas. Glove compartment size. Sells for $3.95. Lists major attractions in all states along with an index of cities/towns, plus additional road maps of Canada/Mexico.

Eighty pages total, with a key map for determining map pages for all regions of the United States. At newsstands, bookstores.

Mobil Guide

Maps of all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico are featured in the “Mobil Road Atlas & Trip Planning Guide.” Maps are color-coded. The atlas pinpoints theme parks, national parks, beaches, ski areas. You’ll find a national highway map and a trip planning guide. Details on attractions, celebrations, events for ’89. Organized alphabetically by state. Other highlights: weather charts, maps of favorite U.S. walking cities, car-check reminders, intra-state mileage charts, tips on packing. Published by Prentice-Hall. Sells for $6.95.

Teacher Swap

An exclusive home-swap program for teachers is gaining in popularity. Now in its third year with listings in 37 states, six Canadian provinces, the Virgin Islands, Germany, Austria, England, Thailand. You pay $25 for the directory. Information is arranged to enable the reader to quickly find names, addresses, telephone numbers of teachers living in vacation areas with golf, tennis, fishing, boating, hiking, riding, skiing.

Write to Teacher Swap, Box 4130, Rocky Point, N.Y. 11778.

Reader Recommendations

California--Teresa Gunn, Laguna Beach: “The Stagecoach Inn, 5940 Pony Express Trail, Pollock Pines, has rooms and suites from $44, including continental breakfast. Really loved our stay there. Surrounded by beautiful pine trees. Intend to return when it snows. Reservations strongly suggested.”

California--Mr. and Mrs. Norman Ehrenberg, North Hollywood: Enjoyed the Country Garden Inn, 1815 Silverado Trail, Napa, Calif. “Rates for weekends range $110/$140 including a breakfast, wine in your room and a sweets table. Rates during the week are $90/$120. Canopied beds, antiques.”

New York--Mrs. A. J. Bryarly and Mr. and Mrs. James Bliss, Fullerton, enjoyed Genesee Country Inn, 948 George St., Mumford, N.Y. 14511. Rates: $75/$95.

Massachusetts--Howard F. Terhune, Palm Springs: “A B&B; only one hour from Boston and 15 minutes from Rockport and Gloucester, Mass. Beautiful rooms, some with fireplaces. Fantastic breakfasts. A real bargain at $70 a night double occupancy ($12 less off-season). For a brochure write to Bob and Cindy Cameron, George Fuller House, 148 Main St., Essex, Mass. 01929.”

Connecticut--Canda Lawson, Los Angeles: “An enjoyable time at Cobble Hill Farm, Steele Road (Route 44), New Hartford, Conn. 06057. A charming 1793 Colonial with four guest rooms. Antiques, country decor. Each guest room has its own theme. Scrumptious breakfasts. Double room with shower, breakfast included, $95.”

Canada--Helena Moffatt, San Pedro: “Greystone Manor B&B;, 4014 Haas Road, RR 3, Site 384-C2, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 5M8. Single $35 and double $45 (Canadian). Overlooking Comax Bay. On Vancouver Island approximately halfway between Victoria and Campbell River.”

France--Virginia L. Hornak, Tarzana: “Enjoyed three-star Reginel Hotel, 45 Avenue Sardi-Caruot, 13200 Arles, France. About $50 for a double room.”