Booking.com announce 2016 guest review awards

Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, is honouring its accommodation partners that consistently deliver great guest experiences with a 2016 Guest Review Award.

Based on over 110 million reviews, this year 355,535 properties in 205 countries and territories are being recognised with the following countries taking home the most awards:

Italy (53,005) 

United States (24,761)

France (23,003)

Germany (18,221)

Spain (18,037) 

UK (16,514) 

Austria (12,659) 

Greece (12,439) 

Croatia (12,219)

Poland (10,399) 

In the UK, 16,514 properties, from all types, received the award, with an overall average score of 8.8 in guest reviews. 56 properties achieved a perfect 10 score, demonstrating their dedication to offering an unforgettable stay. Among these, 20 are holiday homes and apartments, reflecting continued global increase in the demand for holiday rentals.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

St. Ives votes to ban second homes

VILLAGES and towns in popular holiday areas across Britain are preparing to follow St. Ives in #Cornwall by banning the sale of new houses as second homes, The Times reports. Government ministers are to oppose the ban, however, amid fears that it will be regarded as unfair and discriminatory.

#StIves residents voted in a referendum by a majority of four to one to require all new housing to be sold as the buyer’s principal residence under a legally binding covenant. The new owners would be expected to provide evidence, such as an entry on the electoral register.

The measures were introduced as part of a neighbourhood plan, but government sources said yesterday that the Localism Act 2011, which introduced the plans, was never intended to help councils to block ownership of second homes.

The new rules, which are subject to a legal challenge by a firm of architects in Penzance, will come into effect once they have been adopted by Cornwall County Council. Government sources conceded that ministers might have to act if the judicial review failed. But in the Lake District, Derbyshire Dales, North Devon, and the Isle of Wight are looking at similar schemes.

St. Ives has attracted seasonal visitors including artists and writers for generations. More than a quarter of houses in the town are second homes, many owned by wealthy Londoners who spend just a couple of weeks a year there. The town – once a small fishing village – is regularly voted the most desirable place in Britain to live. Even parking spaces can change hands for £70,000. The new rules will not affect existing holiday homes, although some residents are worried that they will drive up prices by restricting supply.

People who grew up and work in the town have complained for many years of being priced out of the housing market. Linda Taylor, the town’s mayor, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted. We have been working for this for three years.’

More than 30 percent of houses in Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast are holiday homes, a higher proportion than in St Ives. Michael Kiff, the town’s mayor, said the council would wait for the issue to be resolved in Cornwall before deciding whether to introduce similar restrictions. “

Matt Thomson, head of planning at the Campaign to Protect Rural England said: ‘The residents of St Ives have identified the impact of second homes and holiday lets on their quality of life and come up with an innovative but proportionate way to meet their aspirations.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Take a break ... with Bond

ANOTHER 007 movie … and another opportunity for holiday companies and exhibition venues, among others, to try to cash in on Bondmania.

UltraVilla has three privately-owned holiday homes that have been seen – perhaps only briefly – in #Bond movies: Roaring Pavilion (Jamaica) was glimpsed when Ursula Andress emerged from the sea in  ‘Dr No’;  Corfu 1D (Greece) made an appearance in ‘For Your Eyes Only’; and Torre di Talaminaccio (Tuscany) was in ‘Quantum of Solace’.

Corfu 1D was also the summer house of the last king of Greece, and the birthplace of Prince Philip, (also known as the Duke of Edinburgh). On eight acres of gardens and woodland in Kanoni, the villa is 80-feet above the Ionian Sea. With a sea-water swimming pool, it sleeps 12 in the main house, four in the guest house, and two in ‘The Nest’. Eight full-time staff are on hand to shake and stir cocktails.

 Set on the beach where Ursula Andress walked from the sea to meet Sean Connery in the first James Bond film, Dr. No, the Roaring Pavilion has more than 8,000 square feet of living space to accommodate up to 10 guests in four king-size bedrooms and one additional bedroom with a twin bunk.  The villa has a home theatre and games room. Celeb guests have included Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Jack Nicholson.

 Filmed as Mathis’ house in Quantum of Solace, Torre di Talamonaccio was originally a medieval watch tower. It sleeps 12 in six bedrooms, and has a swimming pool and a walkway down to a rocky beach.

 www.ultravilla.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: www.ultravilla.com

Interhome expands French network

INTERHOME, the Swiss specialist in holiday homes, has expanded its service network, with two new regional agencies. 

They are in Carnac (Southern Brittany) and Saint Aygulf (French Riviera). 

The agency now has 60 offices, 31 of which are in France. Customers can complete all the check-in and check-out formalities, as well as get advice from staff on local events and activities.

It manages 33,000 vacation properties in more than 30 countries.

www.interhome.co.uk

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34920308@N07/6873312392">Villefranche-sur-Mer</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Live like the stars in Palm Springs

FAMED for being Hollywood's playground of the stars, the Californian city of #PalmSprings has a huge selection of celebrity holiday homes that can be rented by holidaymakers.

Palm Springs has a rich celebrity history that dates back to the 1920s when the 'two-hour rule' of Hollywood kept stars within a two-hour drive from the studio for last-minute film or photo shoots. Palm Springs thus became a Hollywood hide-away for the likes of Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe. The Rat Pack vibe is still strong in neighborhoods such as the Movie Colony, Old Las Palmas, Deepwell, and the Racquet Club.

The historic homes of the stars offer a retro-chic stay in Palm Springs with all the comforts and privacy of home, plus the frills of a holiday with outdoor pools and mountain views. They include:

Twin Palms Estate, the original home of Frank Sinatra – Visitors can take a dip in Sinatra's piano-shaped swimming pool. Prices start from $2,600 (£1,700) per night.

432 Hermosa, designed as a luxury retreat for Dinah Shore – A mid-century property with floor-to-ceiling windows. Prices start from $4,500 £2,890) per night.

Sand Acre, a five-bedroom Spanish estate located in The Movie Colony district – Built in 1933, this is rumoured to be where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio spent time together. It is walled and gated, and has vast lawns and tennis courts. Prices start from $1,299 (approximately £860) per night.

Lemontini Retreat, a party spot for Dean Martin in the 1960s – This private retreat has the white baby grand piano given to the film star. The three-bedroom house was often referred to as The Tea Dance House, enjoyed by some of Hollywood's most notable stars of the time. Prices start from $650 (£430) per night.

Hacienda Las Palmas, believed to have been frequented by Katherine Hepburn – This six-bedroom estate has a French Country Kitchen with direct access to a BBQ area. Prices start from $1,350 (£890) per night.

With more than 1,600 houses to rent in Palm Springs, prices range from the upper level for celebrity homes to more affordable rates for smaller homes, bungalows, and condos. 

For more information, go to VisitPalmSprings.com.
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: "Marilyn Monroe House" by Visitor7 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Super-lodges for sale at prestigious Osmington Park redevelopment

OSMINGTON HOLIDAY PARK, a five-star luxury lodge park which offers both holidays and holiday home ownership on Dorset’s Jurassic coast, is being re-developed. 

Two new lodge developments – The Oaks and Cedar Falls – will open this summer.

Their cedar-clad lodges will sell for upwards of £300,000, will have hidden roof terraces, saunas, hot-tubs, glass-fronted verandahs, and luxury bathrooms, and will be decorated according to the buyer’s specifications.

The park is in the village of Osmington Mills, near Weymouth.

www.watersidelodgesales.co.uk

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95672737@N00/9607422484">Jurassic Coast 2013 - 043</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

New for 2015 . . .

New on the books of Latitude 50 is Clouds Hill, Polzeath, #Cornwall. A newly-built, spectacular holiday home with stunning sea views of Polzeath right over to Stepper Point from the main living areas.

Located just beyond the South West Coast Path, the house is only 5 minutes from the popular surfing beach and a further 3 minutes to Polzeath shops and restaurants, perfect for beach lovers.

We can deliver everything you need to your property, set up and ready for your arrival.We can provided a maid service, or a more frequent daily maid service.

To add an extra, special dimension to your holiday, we've teamed up with a provider of visiting organic spa treatments who, by arrangement, will come to your holiday home to give you a special holiday beauty treatment. 

http://govillasandcottages.co.uk/property/9077084089048079065061061/latitude-50-rock-wadebridge.html

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: www.latiitude50