Paris
Gail Boisclair, PerfectlyParis, Paris
38 properties (year round, $950-$2,430).
Overall portfolio: $)
Boisclair's listings are all in or near the artsy Montmartre neighborhood, where she herself has lived for eight years. Most of the cozy apartments are in turn-of-the-¬century buildings with old-world charm. You won't mistake your stay for one at the Ritz, but the small size of Boisclair's portfolio allows her to provide personal service—she might be the one to greet you when you arrive at your flat. In keeping with her budget-friendly focus, Boisclair includes Métro stations and cafés and restaurants as well as nearby amenities for her listings (33-1-44-92-00-84; gail@perfectlyparis.com; perfectlyparis.com).

Christophe Chastel, Guest Apartment Services Paris, Paris
40 properties (low season, $1,425-$17,115; high season, $1,425-$19,965).
Overall portfolio: $$
With a background in interior design, Chastel chooses only the most stylish Parisian flats for his portfolio. All properties are on or near Île St-Louis; most have stunning views of the Seine and/or Notre-Dame. His office is at most a ten-minute walk from the apartments, so he's on hand to meet and greet guests and offer full concierge services (33-1-44-07-06-20; info@guestapartment.com; guestapartment.com).

GREAT BRITAIN
Suzanne B. Cohen, Suzanne B. Cohen & Associates, Hallowell, Maine
401 properties (low season, $705-$12,826; high season, $1,020-$18,200).
Overall portfolio: $
The two-night minimum for Cohen's collection—which ranges from manor houses in the Cotswolds to lighthouses in Devon to flats in London and Bath—is welcome news to anyone interested in getting a brief taste of villa renting before committing to a full week. She will steer you around the pitfalls, from homes with no shower curtains (or no showers at all) to traffic fines: Don't park on the double yellow line even if everyone else has (207-622-0743; suzanne@villa europe.com; villaeurope.com).

Warren de Long, Blandings Ltd., London
200 properties (low season, $1,560-$31,225; high season, $2,340-$31,225).
Overall portfolio: $$
Prefer to eschew bland lodgings in favor of houses with quirky character? Then De Long's properties, mostly in southern England with a concentration in the Cotswolds, are for you. His focus is on historic country houses—from large farmhouses to small manor homes—often on significant acreage. The homes are lived in by their owners much of the year, and are likely to contain antiques, heirlooms, and interesting collections (of everything from modern British art to equestrian esoterica). You'll find only a few sample listings on his Web site; after a conversation to determine the home(s) best suited to you, he'll send property details for your perusal (44-207-936-9611; rentals@blandings.co.uk; blandings.co.uk).