The price of a taxi to downtown...

The price of a taxi to downtown Tokyo from Japan’s Narita Airport is a shocker. You’ll pay about $125 for the 80-minute trip. Your best bet is the Narita express train. Gets you into the city in less than an hour for about $21. Twenty-three round trips daily, airport to Tokyo. Reserved seating, reading lights. Baggage storage units on each car. If time isn’t a concern, another train does the trip for about $10. Or there’s a “limousine bus” for $19.

Contact the Japan National Tourist Organization, 624 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2640, Los Angeles 90017, (213) 623-1952. Ask for other tourist information (maps, brochures, hotel rates).

In Love With Paris: Steve Teichner of Fullerton writes: “As regular readers of your Tips Column, my wife and I were struck by the suggestion that it was possible to rent an apartment in Paris. That booking resulted in an extremely enjoyable visit. The apartment was a block from the Seine and led to subsequent stays in other apartments and finally the purchase of our own. For our apartment rental, we used Ray Lampard, Ray/Roth, 6 Rue Bertin Poiree, 75003 Paris, France.”

With the growing interest in apartments/house rentals overseas, I’ve prepared an updated listing of sources to contact for rates and other information:

--LaCure, 11661 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 1010, Los Angeles 90049, (800) 387-2726.

--London Apartments, 5 Hidden Valley Road, Lafayette, Calif. 94549, (800) 366-8748 or (415) 283-4280.

--In the English Manor, P.O. Box 936, Alamo, Calif. 94507, (415) 935-7065.

--Livingston Holidays, 1720 E. Garry Ave., Suite 236, Santa Ana 92705, (714) 476-2823.

--B & D De Vogue Travel Services, 1830 S. Mooney Blvd., Suite 203, Visalia, Calif. 93277, (800) 727-4748.

--Chez Vous, 220 Redwood Highway, Suite 129-E, Mill Valley, Calif. 94941, (415) 331-2535.

--Idyll, P.O. Box 405, Media, Pa. 10963, (215) 565-5242.

--At Home Abroad, 405 East 56th St., New York 10022, (212) 421-9165.

--British Travel Assn., P.O. Box 299, Elkton, Va. 22827, (800) 327-6097.

--Italian Villa Rentals, 550 Kirkland Way, Suite 100, Kirkland, Wash. 98033, (206) 827-3694.

--Villas International, 71 West 23rd St., New York 10010, (800) 221-2260.

--Rent-A-Home International, 7200 34th Ave. N.W., Seattle, Wash. 98117, (206) 789-9377.

Britain B&Bs;: More than 400 B&Bs; in Britain are listed in a new guide that’s being mailed free to travelers. Homes, farms, guest houses, pubs. (Yep, you can sleep it off in a pub!) The guide--compiled by Bed-and-Breakfast GB (for Great Britain), a UK-based reservation service--covers England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland. Provides descriptions, areas where the various inns are located. Reservations/addresses/prices must be secured through Hometours International, 1170 Broadway, Suite 614, New York 10001, (800) 367-4668.

Camping/Yosemite: If you’re still undecided about your summer vacation plans, Yosemite has midweek tent cabins available at bargain rates. Double occupancy only $30 a night plus tax. Each additional guest pays $4 (children $2). Because of the high demand, tent cabins are usually booked months in advance. These are canvas-walled cabins with raised wooden floors, beds, maid service. Each unit sleeps from two to five persons. Weekends (Fridays through Sundays) are fully booked. Only midweek options available (Monday through Thursday).

Your travel agent or call (209) 252-4848 at Yosemite.

Booked for Travel: The Complete Traveller, one of the nation’s oldest bookstores, has published its 1991-92 catalogue. Contains 56 pages of listings (Blue Guides, Insight Guides, Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kits plus others). Hundreds of choices. Subjects range from adventure travel to working vacations on farms, fly fishing, scuba diving. Other books for travelers wishing to vacation closer to home. In addition to books, you’ll find an inventory of maps, language tapes, lists of unusual travel accessories.

For copies of the catalogue, send $2 to The Complete Traveller, 199 Madison Ave., New York 10016. (The $2 fee covers the current catalogue and entitles the subscriber to free subsequent editions.)

Hawaii on the Cheap: Hale Hawaiian Apartment Leasing of Laguna Beach will rent you a home at Poipu Beach on Hawaii’s island of Kauai for as little as $560 a week, double occupancy. (Add $15 for each additional guest.) In this day of skyrocketing hotel rates, this is a steal. (Some of those glitzy new hotels charge this for a single day.) Hale has hundreds of homes in its pool. Besides homes, Hale represents private condominiums. At Papakea Resort on Maui, a condo with an ocean view (sleeps up to four persons) is available for $75, maid service included. Offers are good through Dec. 15. Homes/condominium rentals on all islands. Prices start at $47 a night for two persons for a studio unit at Kihei on Maui, and range up to $500 a day at Kaanapali and Diamond Head. Daily, weekly, monthly rates available. Dozens of choices.

Hale Hawaiian Apartment Leasing, 479 Ocean Ave., Suite B, Laguna Beach 92651, (714) 497-4253.

Oregon Hideaway: Salishan Lodge on the Oregon coast continues to get good ratings. Five stars from Mobil, five diamonds from AAA. The lodge overlooks Siletz Bay. Two-story units with natural wood facing. Walls hung with paintings by Northwest artists. Rooms with fireplaces are top-notch--as are meals in the lodge’s restaurants. An excellent wine cellar (more than 2,000 bottles). This is on the central Oregon coast about 90 miles from Portland, less than 700 north of San Francisco on Highway 101. Swimming pools/hot tubs, tennis, an 18-hole golf course. From Salishan, it’s a short drive to Oregon’s wine country, sea lion caves, a marine science center. Close by, Cape Foulweather with its dramatic ocean views draws huge summer crowds. Salishan Lodge, P.O. Box 118, Gleneden Beach, Ore. 97388, (800) 452-2300. The lodge has 205 rooms, three suites. Rates from $138/$205.

Miscellaneous: Capitol Reservations is obtaining hotel discounts again this summer for families visiting Washington, D.C. A choice of 70 properties. Discounts up to 50%. Choices near the Smithsonian, Capitol Hill, the White House. Others in Maryland/Virginia. At Loew’s Lenfant Plaza Hotel, a room normally costing $195 can be booked (space available) for as little as $98. Call Capitol Reservations at (800) 847-4832. The service is free.

Meanwhile, the Stouffer Beach Resort on Maui has undergone a face lift to the tune of $43 million. Redesigned--lobby to roof. New furniture, marble, murals. The works. This is is Hawaii’s only 10-time consecutive winner of AAA’s Five Diamond award. Details from your travel agent or Stouffer Beach Resort at (800) 992-4532.

Reader Recommendations

Nevada--Dick Story, Santa Barbara: “Ken and Kay Benton’s Chollar Mansion B&B;, 565 S. D. St., Virginia City, Nev. 89440. Rates: $65/$100. (Ken is a Comstock Lode history buff.)”

Hawaii--Sheila Link, Hemet: “Dragonfly Ranch, Box 675, Honaunau, Hawaii 96726. Perched above lovely Honaunau Bay. Rates: $100/$140 double.”

Maine--Barbara Spring, Torrance: “A 10-bedroom mansion, John Peters Inn, P.O. Box 916, Blue Hill, Me. 04614. The mansion rises on 20 acres with its own private road, swimming pool. Rates: $100 for doubles.”

Wales--Frances Limbird, Torrance: “Neuaddlas Guest House, Tregaron, Dyfed SY25 6LG. Rates: about $53.”

England--Jane Mortimer, Laguna Beach: “Linden House B&B;, 557 Earlham Road, Norwich. A very pleasant place to stay. Rooms beautifully furnished. Rates: $66.”

We regret that only a select few recommendations can be used. They must be brief (typewritten or printed). Only one recommendation per reader, please. Note: Recommendations will not be used unless prices and addresses are included.