British-born Anne Pottinger of Santa Clarita arranges...

British-born Anne Pottinger of Santa Clarita arranges home exchanges for Americans with her countrymen. You get three issues annually of a 60-page publication (“Vacation Homes Unlimited”) containing descriptions/addresses of hundreds of homes in England, Scotland, Wales. (New listings in each issue.) Pottinger works in collaboration with Home Base Holidays of Britain. Data concerning U.S. homes is circulated in Britain, information about homes in Britain is distributed to U.S. subscribers. After this, the parties get together to arrange swaps.

For membership forms and other details, contact Anne Pottinger c/o Annlin Publications, P.O. Box 1562, Santa Clarita, Calif. 91386, (805) 251-1238. Note: Pottinger also represents more than 500 B&Bs; in the United States/Canada.

Boat & Breakfast: Bed and breakfast on a yacht is the latest offering by a company in San Diego that represents dozens of boat owners in San Diego, Oakland/San Francisco, Sausalito. Vessels are equipped with salons, galleys, TVs, stereos. Free parking in San Diego at Shelter Cove Marina on Shelter Island and Cabrillo Isle Marina on Harbor Island. For those who don’t care to cook, arrangements are made for catered dinners. Other extras: floral bouquets, welcome baskets. In San Francisco, boats are docked at Pier 39, in Oakland at Jack London Square, and in Sausalito at the local marina. Rates: $95/$275 per night per couple (add $25 for each extra person).

Boat & Breakfast U.S.A., 1450 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego 92101, (619) 296-8940.

Spain: Elton Whitman of Encino asks about “your favorite paradors in Spain.” In the north I enjoyed Conde de Condomar at Bayona, near the Portuguese border on the peninsula of Monte Real. Conde de Condomar occupies the site of an ancient palace. Renaissance furniture, antique clocks, suits of armor. One half expects some swashbuckling knight to come dashing down a hall. (It was from one of the battlements at Bayona that Columbus’ three caravels were seen returning from the New World.) Conde de Condomar features a swimming pool, tennis. A particularly restful location on the Atlantic Ocean. Steep cliffs, striking gardens.

Conde de Condomar is especially popular with honeymooners. Couples repeat their vows in a chapel nearby.

I’m also fond of Parador San Francisco near the Alhambra and the gardens of the Generalite in Granada. Originally, this was an Arabian palace. Extremely popular, so book at least four months in advance.

Spain’s paradors are government-operated. Rates vary with areas/seasons. Eugenio Ovalle of San Francisco specializes in Spain’s paradors as well as the pousadas of Portugal.

Write to Ovalle c/o Alta Tours, 870 Market St., Suite 784, San Francisco 94102, (800) 338-4191. Other details from the Tourist Office of Spain, 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 938, Beverly Hills 90211, (213) 658-7193.

Southern Comfort: A request from Rachel Lawson of San Marino: “An inn with Southern atmosphere in Charleston, S.C.” My vote goes to Evelyn and Morton Needle’s Vendue Inn in the heart of Old Charleston. This is a combination of four 200-year-old buildings. Thirty-four rooms. Half-tester/four-poster beds. All rooms decorated differently. A portrait of Andrew Jackson greets guests in the small, immaculate lobby. Wine/cheese served each afternoon in the courtyard, and a seafood bar on the rooftop terrace. A pianist entertains each afternoon, and on occasion chamber music is offered in the courtyard. Hanging planters, the heady fragrance of jasmine. Dinners in The Library (about $30 per person without wine).

Vendue Inn, 19 Vendue Range, Charleston, S.C. 29401, (800) 845-7900. Rates: $110/$210, including a continental breakfast.

Other details from the Charleston Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, P.O. Box 975, Charleston, S.C. 29402, (803) 577-2510. Ask about Charleston’s candlelight concerts, tours of historic homes.

New Orleans: Mills Adams of Northridge asks for the name of a “quiet, inexpensive inn in New Orleans’ French Quarter.” Try Mrs. Junius Underwood’s French Quarter Maisonettes. An ancient home adjoining the Ursuline Convent on Chartres Street. At $45/$55, one of the best bets in the Quarter. The silver-haired proprietress told me on my last visit, “I don’t think we should invite people to New Orleans and then gouge them, do you?” Mrs. Underwood counsels her guests on restaurants, shopping, sightseeing. Her little seven-room inn dates from 1825. Faces a peaceful courtyard only two blocks from the Mississippi River.

French Quarter Maisonettes, 1130 Chartres St., New Orleans 70116, (504) 524-9918.

Across the street, Soniat House is a splendid old inn with French/English antiques, four-poster beds. Lighted candles line a path each evening that leads to a brick courtyard. Fountains, water lilies, potted plants, carriage lamps. Twenty-five rooms (no two alike). A porch with rocking chairs where guests watch passing carriages.

Soniat House, 1133 Chartres St., New Orleans 70116, (800) 544-8808. Rates: $125/$170.

Hawaii Footnote: In the roundup of hotels on the Hawaiian island of Kauai last week, I failed to mention one favored by legions of vacationers, the Waiohai. Faces the island’s finest swimming/surfing beach at Poipu. Next year, the Waiohai celebrates its 30th anniversary (opened originally as a cottage colony in 1952). Specializes in programs for families (emphasizes children’s programs). Two swimming spools, a child’s wading pool, tennis (golf next door). And one of the island’s finest restaurants, the Tamarind, featuring such items as Kona salmon with shiitake mushrooms, Pacific lobster and scallops with ginger litchi/papaya. Waiohai Hotel, 2249 Poipu Road, Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii 96756, (800) 426-4122. Rates: $195/$360, suites from $445. Note: the Kauai Hilton currently has a $99 package (double occupancy) that includes a car. Call (800) 445-8667.

Potpourri: The “Alaska 1992 Vacation Planner” is being mailed free by the Alaska Division of Tourism, Department 909, P.O. Box 110801, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0801. . .Interpacific Tours, in cooperation with Northwest Airlines, is offering a seven-day trip to Hong Kong (round-trip flights/hotels) starting at $899: (800) 221-3594. . .For a 64-page guide to ski resorts in British Columbia, call (800) 663-6000. . .Los Coyotes Travel (800-448-9566) is scheduling another four-night April tour to Santa Fe/Albuquerque (sells out months in advance) via Amtrak, with accommodations in Santa Fe at the Inn at Loretto. . .Aston Waikiki Shore’s beachfront condominium resort in Hawaii is offering studio units for $99 a night: (800) 922-7866. . .Mount Cook Airlines is selling a $395 pass good for 30 days of air travel in New Zealand: (800) 468-2665. . .An introductory opening offer of $59 per room (through Dec. 9) is being featured by the Omni Puerto Vallarta Hotel & Grand Spa in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico: (800) 843-6664. . .Between Nov. 24 and Jan. 30, rates will be lowered to $89 at the Spindrift Inn in Monterey, $69 at the Monterey Bay Inn and $49 at the Victorian Inn. For reservations at any of these inns, call (800) 232-4141 (California).

Reader Recommendations

California--Edward Kovach, Los Angeles: “Bidwell House, P.O. Box 1790, Chester 96020. On the southeastern slope of Mt. Lassen. Rates: $60/$90, full breakfast included.”

Ireland--Patrick J. Burke, Santa Monica: “Julie O’Loughlin’s B&B;, Atteyfeeney, Shanaglish, Gurt, County Galway. A haven of comfort for 10 Irish pounds.”

France--Katie and Glen Gould, San Diego: “Hotel NN Les Tilleuls, 236 Cours de la Liberation, 38100 Grenoble. Rates: $45/$50.”

Australia--Mike and Lisa Guest, Irvine: “A cottage is rented (double occupancy) for $40 for two nights and $35 for three nights (with special weekly discounts) by Herbert and Renate Filla, 213 Ryde Road, West Pymble 2073.”