Last minute availability exists at Chateau de Plessis an exceptional holiday rental in Pays de la Loire, sleeping up to 8. After an expensive and painstaking restoration by American owners the result is a beautiful and exceptionally well-kept house. Set in 20 acres with lots of grass around and interiors are delightful. Equipment excellent throughout. 25% discount for last minute bookings. More details about this chateau in the Loire.
A word we never usually use is stunning, but that is the result of the full top-to-bottom refurbishment of La Chenoiserie, a luxury villa at Beauvallon near the superchic St Tropez. All rooms are beautifully furnished and designed in light shades. The contemporary comfort sits very nicely with the traditional French style of furnishings. A full staff of driver, chef and housekeeper will help with everything including picking you up from Nice or Toulon airport (while the others are queuing for their hire cars). Views across the Bay to St Tropez (where you can see the boats in the harbour) are beautiful. Walk to the beach in about 10-15 minutes, drive to the night spots of St Tropez (or rather, be driven) in a few minutes, or get the salt in your nostrils by taking the powerboat that runs across the Bay of St Tropez several times a day. Pros and cons: some may wish to be closer to St Tropez but very few other villas in St Tropez (and none in this price bracket) offer this quality of design or this level of staff.
Quinta do Lago has some of the best villas in Europe set alongside a National Park among 72 holes of championship golf, all individually designed and constructed and with the lowest building density of any such development in Europe.
For this summer there isn’t much left but there are a few odd weeks and availability is not limited to the super-expensive houses. If you want to just see all that are available for a week between mid-July and end-August then click here: Quinta do Lago summer holidays.
Here are some picks in the under-£5000 per week bracket:
Sotavento: recently added for 2008 so many peak weeks available. Exceptional value for money at just £3600 per week. Sleeps 6. Satellite TV, walking distance from the lake. Sotavento, Quinta de Lago
Moja: at time of writing, available from 9 August onwards: a very attractive villa in a nice part of Quinta do Lago with golf all around, tennis, beach and lake all about 1km. Moja, Quinta do Lago
Lima: one of the very nicest houses in the area, now only available from 16 August onwards. Very comfortable, recently refurbished. Villa Lima, Quinta do Lago
Cancellation bargain: Villa Leopardo is one the nicest villas in Quinta do Lago, built in a modern architectural style with very good furnishings and equipment. The living room on two levels is spectacular with tall and wide glass walls giving views of the large garden and pool. Due to a cancellation it is now offered at £3200 instead of £4000-plus. Click for more details on this villa in Quinta do Lago
Just added is our newest feature: a 3-D walkaround, an interactive tour of Villa da Rocha in the Algarve which enables you to see all around you as you move around the villa. It gives you a much clearer idea of what is where, furnishings and which rooms lead to which. Does it work for you? Let us know what you think (email or leave a comment below). It’s not quite a substitute for going on holiday at a villa in the Algarve, but it might give you a better idea of what it is actually like.
Villa Sundowner is now reduced from £5270 to £4210 (£1060 or nearly 20% off) per week for all available weeks between 15 March and 15 May. It is a personal favourite - it is perfectly located in Parque Atlantico, Quinta do Lago near the sea 
and it is within walking distance of the beach and the Quinta do Lago Hotel. It is new with excellent furnishings and decoration and golf facilities all around are among the best there is anywhere.
Rooms are all large and equipment is excellent throughout. A separate TV room with sofas has large flat screen and surround sound. The dining room is served from a well equipped kitchen with its own small breakfast terrace. Each of the bedrooms has either an en suite bathroom or a shower room. Outside is a built-in gas barbecue and dining area, the pool is heatable and there is a shower, terraces, a small lawn and a mature garden. Broadband and cable TV. Currently available all dates 6 March to 15 May.
Umbria in many ways the most rural of Italy’s regions. It may be less visited and less-touristed than some other parts of Italy (such as Tuscany) but there is no shortage of excitement with year-round festivals and special events. Food really matters in Umbria and festivals are held all year round celebrating the unique tastes and delights of Umbrian produce and cuisine.
A food festival is known as Sagra (plural Sagre) and the best ones are small and celebrating a single dish. You will often see brightly coloured posters advertising them by the roadside.
Here we offer a roundup of just some of the region’s year-round festivals devoted to food and wine.
(more…)
Umbria is the Italy’s most central region, the only one that does not have an international border or a coast. Within easy striking distance of all the cultural sites of Umbria and surrounded by panoramic views that must be among the finest in Europe are Le Camelie, a beautiful pair of farmhouses recently restored to the highest standard. It is ideal for large family groups , sleeping up to 14 (although there are sofabeds for a couple more). The housekeeper will cook and restaurants are everywhere around. More about villas in Umbria.
New for 2008 is Villa Pines in large grounds surrounded by the pines that border the Millenium golf in the very popular town of Vilamoura. 
(more…)
Villa Cidalia is one of the better holiday villas in the exclusive area of Quinta do Lago (72 holes of championship golf, beautiful tranquil setting in the Ria Formosa National Park, some of the best rental houses in Europe). (more…)
