Floridian Vacation Villa
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Gecko Villa - Thailand
Surrounded by rice paddies and plantations, and typical farming village.... / FIND OUT MORE
VistaRoyale
Luxury honeymoon/vacation rental getaway. Private infinity pool for your exclusive use. Breathtaking panoramic view overlooking Gr... / FIND OUT MORE
Villa Bellavista
Villa Bellavista stands in spacious grounds completely un-overlooked and with panoramic views of the countryside and Coin. This v... / FIND OUT MORE
Silverwood Villa
Luxury 5 bed/3bath villa with private, screened pool, near Disney.... / FIND OUT MORE
Holiday accommodation articles
How a villa holiday allows you to explore an area more than a package holiday
A private holiday villa makes an ideal base from which to explore an unfamiliar area, or to get to know a favourite place even better. With complete freedom to come and go as you please, and no set timetable to follow, you can spend all your time enjoying whatever interests you the most.
More Locations
If you´ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in a Spanish town that has no souvenir shops or English bars, a French alpine valley away from the ski resorts, or an unspoilt Portuguese fishing village, privately-owned holiday accommodation can help you to find out.
To experience the authentic character of a country or region, look for holiday lets in small towns and villages that are regarded as ordinary by the people who live there but fascinating by visitors who are lucky enough to find them.
Unlike hotels and modern holiday complexes, most private holiday rentals were not originally built to attract tourists. This is why they are not confined to holiday hot spots but can be found in locations as diverse as remote farms, national parks and the outskirts of large cities.
Many were once homes for local people, some have been converted from old agricultural or industrial buildings such as stables and mills, and then there are the unique properties including castles, lighthouses and follies …
Meeting the locals
On a package holiday you might meet only other holidaymakers and the resort staff. In contrast, staying in private holiday accommodation will bring you into closer contact with the wider community.
For example, in a self-catering holiday villa, cottage or apartment you can choose to eat out, which will mean visiting nearby restaurants or cafes, or you can prepare your own meals from locally-sourced ingredients. Shopping for food in markets, small shops, or even a foreign supermarket can be quite an adventure! In rural areas you can often buy fresh produce direct from farms, and if you’re near the sea you might be able to get fish straight off the boat. It’s the best way of learning about regional specialities and meeting the people who supply them.
Seeing the best sights
A guided sightseeing tour can be a good introduction to the main attractions of an area but it’s frustrating to glimpse something interesting and have to move on because it’s not on the itinerary. When you rent a holiday villa you can plan your own routes, go at your own pace, and stop where and when you like.
Of course you don’t have to travel miles every day of your holiday to appreciate your new surroundings. You could simply admire the view while you enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your balcony or terrace, take a stroll to the beach that only the locals know about, go back to the villa for a siesta, then have a refreshing dip in the private pool before dinner at a wonderful restaurant that you discovered by accident and isn’t in the guidebooks – yet!