Q and A
LEAD:  France  Question: Please suggest sources of information for accommodations in France equivalent to the paradors in Spain. I would also appreciate knowing where I could find a list of farmhouses and bed and breakfast lodgings. - S. E., Bellevue, Wash.  Answer: France does not have a chain of government-owned inns like the 80 or so paradors, mostly in historic buildings, in Spain.
France  Question: Please suggest sources of information for accommodations in France equivalent to the paradors in Spain. I would also appreciate knowing where I could find a list of farmhouses and bed and breakfast lodgings. - S. E., Bellevue, Wash.  Answer: France does not have a chain of government-owned inns like the 80 or so paradors, mostly in historic buildings, in Spain. What is generally perceived as similar in France is the Relais & Chateaux group of hotels, which are in chateaus, abbeys and manor houses converted into hotels and restaurants, and are managed by their owners. The Relais group began in France in 1954. Its American representative, David Mitchell & Company (200 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016; 212-696-1323 or, out of state, 800-372-1323), supplies a guide listing details of all the hotels and restaurants for $5. The 1989 issue is expected to be available in about two weeks. Mitchell makes reservations for the hotels.
Chateau Accueil is an association of about 70 privately owned chateaus, many of which are in the Loire Valley and most of which are occupied by their owners. Generally they have from 4 to 10 guest rooms and although they do not include restaurants they do provide breakfast and often will serve dinner on request. Rates for two are generally from $100 to $150, with breakfast and including tax and service. The organization is represented by B. & D. de Vogue Travel Services (Post Office Box 1998, Visalia, Calif. 93279; 209-733-7119 or 800-727-4748), which issues a free guide with photographs and descriptions of all the chateaus. The company makes reservations.
The Chateau Accueil lodgings are also booked by the French Experience (171 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016; 212-683-2445), which represents France's gites, too. The thousands of government-approved gites in the countryside are homes for rent. These properties, which are given from one to three ears of corn, according to standard, are supervised by about 90 regional offices in France and each office makes reservations and maintains its own local list. There is no central reservations office in France. People who inquire at French Experience are sent an application form in which they state their preferred region and dates. The company then contacts the appropriate regional office to find out what is available, Demand is heavy, and prices higher, in July and August. A two-bedroom cottage with kitchen might cost about $250 a week most of the year but double that amount in midsummer.
French Experience also acts for Cafe Couette (coffee and quilt), an association of hundreds of bed and breakfast homes, mostly in Paris and other tourist areas.
The French Government Tourist Office (628 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10020; 212-757-1125) usually has a pamphlet about the Chateau Accueil properties and a list of the gites' regional offices. Among books that might prove useful is Country Hotels & Inns of France ($10.95), which lists about 4,500 small hotels and inns with brief details in French. It is available at many travel bookshops, including the Traveller's Bookstore at 75 Rockefeller Plaza in New York (212-664-0995).  Busy Venice  Question: Was any decision made on the proposal made a while back to levy an admission charge on people making day trips to Venice? - H. V., Brooklyn  Answer: Venice has not imposed a visitor fee of the kind proposed during the particularly busy summer season of 1987. It was argued then that the crowds thronging the Rialto Bridge, St. Mark's Square and other areas on day trips were excessive and posed as threat to preservation efforts. Aside from pleas to tour bus companies to stagger their arrival times and to motorists to park their cars outside the city and take the train, no regulations have been used to limit the number of visitors. The word from Venice is that the city government remains reluctant to charge an entrance fee, although the idea remains under consideration. A decision is expected to be made in early spring.  London Veggies  Question: Do you know of any vegetarian restaurants in London? I would really prefer places that serve other food, too, as my companion eats meat, but any suggestions are welcome. - J. M. B., Elmhurst, Queens  Answer: Vegetarian restaurants in London (and there are several) tend to be simple, with pinewood tables and gingham drapes, are often self-service and not licensed to serve drinks. But Presse, 53-54 Frith Street (telephone, 437 0666), serves more exotic dishes and has a short but good wine list. It is not strictly vegetarian since it includes a few fish and chicken dishes on its menu. A meal for two with wine is about $60 (calculating the pound at $1.80). Presse is in Soho near the theater district.
There is a chain of vegetarian restaurants called Cranks in the following central locations: 11 The Market, Covent Garden (379 6508); 17-18 Great Newport Street (836 5236); 8 Adelaide Street (836 0660), and 9-11 Tottenham Street (621 3912). Cranks were pioneers of vegetarian restaurants in Britain, existing long before vegetarianism became fashionable, thus their name. Dinner for two with wine is about $60.
There are two more expensive restaurants that have separate vegetarian menus: Inigo Jones, 14 Garrick Street, near Leicester Square (836 6456), where dinner for two costs about $180; and Leith's, 92 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill (229 4481), around $150 for two.
Many of London's numerous and usually inexpensive Indian restaurants offer vegetarian dishes.  San Francisco  Question: What sort of weather should we expect in San Francisco in late March? - G. H. Y., Baltimore  Answer: Visitors should expect cool, breezy and showery conditions. That may be true the year round in San Francisco, but March is still the rainy season there. On average it rains on at least 10 days of the month, and average temperatures range from 48 to 61 degrees (the lowest and highest recorded are 33 and 86). The weather at any time is changeable - it often varies from neighborhood to neighborhood. Residents advise dressing in layers.