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By Donald D. Groff

May 6, 1999 |My friends and I want to rent a large luxury villa in the Greek islands and have been stymied at every turn by travel agents who don't return calls, rental firms that try to sell us properties that don't meet our criteria and the sheer lack of information on the subject. Can you tell us where to turn?

Try contacting these sources, all of which handle properties in Greece: Hideaways International, phone (800) 843-4433; LaCure, (800) 387-2726; and Europa-Let, (800) 462-4486. You can also contact the Greek National Tourist Organization, phone (212) 421-5777. At its Web site, search for "villas" and you'll find several more villa possibilities.

I'd appreciate your advice regarding both the best price and reduction in hassle on rail pass travel. I'd like to "Chunnel" from London to Brussels, then wander through France and maybe Switzerland over a two- or three-week period. I'm a senior. Would a French Rail Pass or a limited Eurailpass be better?

The tangle of rail passes is indeed confusing, but the variations are understandable when you consider how many patterns and paces travelers employ. In your case, the traditional Eurailpass, which includes unlimited travel in 17 countries, would be overkill. Also skewing your needs is the fact that England is not covered under most of the European passes, so you'll have to consider your rail travel there a separate purchase. For your French-Swiss travel, the Europass may be in order; it includes travel in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. The French Flexipass allows three days of travel during a month-long period for $205 (first class), with additional days of travel available for $30 each, up to six more days.

But besides region, you need to consider how many days during your trip you'll be traveling, as well as the distances -- it could be that point-to-point ticketing is less expensive than a rail pass. Also, there are often three classes of pass travel: first, second and youth.

You can sort out all these factors using Rick Steves' 1999 Guide to European Railpasses, which walks you through steps to determine what's best for you. The guide also is available in published form by calling Steves' Europe Through the Back Door at (425) 771-8303. The train service that uses the Channel Tunnel is called Eurostar, and fares and schedules are available through its Web site. Special fare promotions also are described there. Whenever ordering a pass or other rail fare, students should ask if there is a student rate or discount available. Also check out the Eurailpass site, and note that the pass program is commemorating its 40th anniversary with an unusual deal: Anyone turning 40 in 1999 and purchasing the pass between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 gets a 40 percent discount off the normal price. Eurail's phone number is (888) 382-7245.

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