The best way to save money on a vacation rental home is to bypass the middleman. You can save 20 to 30 percent by renting directly through the owner. Options include writing the local tourist board or looking through the classified sections of college alumni magazines. Rental agencies, on the other hand, offer the convenience of an experienced pro minding the details. Some resources:

If you use a rental agency, it's a good idea to choose one with a local agent based near the town in which you intend to rent. That way, you'll have someone to contact in case anything goes wrong.

At Home Abroad
New York, N.Y.
Caters to an upscale market. Rates range from $3,500 to $50,000 per month, although many of their Caribbean and Mexican villas also are available by the week. Requires a $50 registration fee. At Home Abroad is the agent for Mick Jagger's retreat, Stargrove, on the West Indies island of Mustique. Rent is $9,000 a week during peak winter months. 212-421-9165

Barclay International
New York, N.Y.
Specializes in apartment rentals in most of the major cities around the world. Properties include suites at some luxury hotels. A free catalogue is available. 800-845-6636

British Travel International
Elkton, Va.
Offers properties in France, England, and Italy. A color catalog is available for a small fee. 800-327-6097

Creative Leisure International
Petaluma, Calif.
Properties primarily in Hawai'i, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Will arrange everything from airfare to babysitting. 800-426-6367

Europa Let
Ashland, Ore.
Listings in Europe, Mexico, Hawai'i, the Caribbean, and the Pacific islands. A good choice for sailors seeking seaside homes. There is a $25 booking fee. 800-462-4486

Homes Away
Toronto, Canada
A relatively new branch of Butterfield and Robinson, which is well known for organizing hiking and biking trips, offers houses not usually for rent--an old silk farm, for example. 800-678-1147

Interhome
Fairfield, N.J.
In its 30th year and with over 20,000 listings, Interhome is one of the oldest and largest home rental agencies in the world. Hot spots include the northern Croatian coast (safely away from the war zone), Poland, and the Czech Republic. 201-882-6864

Rent A Home International
Seattle, Wash.
Offers an estimated 25,000 listings around the world in Europe, Australia, and Asia. Prices range from $600 to $25,000 per week. Does not have as detailed information on its properties as many other agencies. Several catalogs are available for small fees. 206-789-9377

Villas International
San Francisco, Calif.
Listings include a villa on Phuket island in Thailand that costs from $1,200 to $1,600 per week, but they specialize in properties in Europe and the Caribbean. 800-221-2260

An economical way to take a vacation. Usually there is a listing fee, but other arrangements are left to the homeowners.

Intervac
San Francisco, Calif.
International and domestic listings. 800-756-4663

Hideaways International
Littleton, Mass.
Listings include owners of resort and vacation properties in Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean. Members also get special discounts. 617-486-8955

Vacation Exchange Club
Key West, Fla.
The club offers a free information package. 800-638-3841

Renting through an institution abroad can be challenging. But it also can lead to savings by cutting out the middleman.

Denmark

• Scandinavia DanCenter: Offers Danish rentals only. Material is written in German and Danish. Write: Sotorbet 5, DK 1371, Copenhagen, Denmark, or call 45-3333-0102.

• ScanAm World Tours: Rents throughout Scandinavia. Write: 933 Highway 23, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444, or call 800-545-2204.

England

• Heritage of England Country Homes: The organization specializes in country houses and will arrange airfare and car rental. Write: 153 W. 13th St., New York, NY 10011 or call 212-242-2145.

• The Landmark Trust: A charitable trust that preserves buildings by carefully restoring them and renting them to vacationers. Rentals include everything from medieval halls to concrete bunkers. A catalog of properties is available for $35. Write: Shottesbrooke, Maidenhead, Berkshire SLX 3SW, England, or call 44-162-88-25925.

• National Trust Enterprises: Determined travelers can find real bargains at this branch of the National Trust, which is aimed more toward British nationals. Prices range from $183 per week in the off-season to $1,725 in the summer, mostly for old farm workers' cottages on beautiful estates. Write: The Travel Trade Department, PO Box 536, Melksham Wiltshire, England SN128SX. Or call the Royal Oak Foundation, a sister organization in New York City, 212-966-6565.

France

• Federation Nationale des Gites de France: A nonprofit institution founded in 1955 to preserve old country houses and bolster rural economies through tourism. The network consists of over 50,000 houses and apartments--or gites. Gites are not available in cities. They are more modest dwellings and not always available in prime vacation areas. Write: 35 Rue Godot de Mauroy, 75009, Paris, France, or call 14-742-25-43.

• The French Experience: It rents more upscale French gites. In the high season, July and August, the company's prices range from $400 to $750 per week. For information, write: 370 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017, or call 212-986-1115.

Italy

• Cuendet U.S.A.: Full- service rental agency with more than 1,500 listings from farmhouses to castles and villas. A catalog costs $18. Write: 165 Chestnut St., Allendale, NJ 07401, or call 201-327-2333.

Scotland

• National Trust for Scotland: For information, write: 5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, Scotland EH2 4DU, or call 44-1-226-5922

Sweden

• Varmland Tourist Board: The board specializes in rentals in Sweden's Lake District. For information, write: V. Torgatan 26, 65300, Karlstad, Sweden, or call 46-54-195901.

Living Footnotes

• Rent Italian villas online!

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