Spend it with Branson!

RICHARD BRANSON’S #Majorca estate – Son Bunyola – is on the holiday rental market. 

It comprises:

• Two villas with a total of nine bedrooms 
• Two swimming pools 
• 680 acres of vineyards, citrus orchards, and olive groves 

How much? If you have to ask, you can’t afford it, but the answer is a mere £26,000 a week, which includes accommodation for seven nights, all drinks including wine, beer, spirits, and soft drinks, daily continental breakfast, lunch and dinner for six days, concierge staff for help in arranging activities and restaurant bookings, and a daily housekeeping and pool service.

Interested? Go to www.virginlimitededition.com/en/son-bunyola

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Expert advice busts myths about vacation rental homes

WYNDHAM VACATION RENTALS sets the record straight on self-catering holidays. 

‘With so many different types of vacation rentals available, travellers can have trouble navigating their options,’ says Mary Lynn Clark, president of Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America. ‘Feeling mis-informed or overwhelmed can dissuade those travellers from trying something new. To help, we want to confront the myths that tend to surround vacation rentals.’

Myth #1: More space = a higher price tag. Many travellers assume vacation rentals are more expensive than traditional lodging options. Think again … Break down the per night, per person pricing while factoring in the space amenities and you can get great value. Rental homes can be even more cost-effective by allowing travellers to leverage convenient amenities, such as kitchens to save money on meals or washers/dryers to cut down on baggage fees by packing less.

Myth #2: I need to have a large group. Vacation rental homes come in all shapes and sizes, from studio units and condos in resort-style communities to larger, private homes with four or more bedrooms. Solo travellers, couples, and small families often enjoy rental homes for the convenience and can find the right-sized home for their needs.

Myth #3: I have to stay for at least a week. Not true … many vacation rental homes offer flexibility when it comes to length of stay. Travellers can often find rentals for weekend stays, especially during off-peak travel periods.

Myth #4: You have to book far in advance. False … there is no set timeframe in which you must book a rental home before your trip. While booking further in advance can give you a greater selection to choose from, there are often great last-minute deals in many popular destinations for those who can't plan as far ahead.

Myth #5: If I need help during my stay, I'm on my own. Quite the contrary; although, it does depend on how you book your rental home. If you book through a professional manager, there is typically someone available 24/7 to assist you with any problems you might have. If you book directly through a homeowner, you'll need to ask them how available they'll be during your stay.

www.wyndhamvacationrentals.com

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Luxury villa specialist gets £1m funding

EDGE RETREATS, a London-based tech start-up specializing in #luxury villas worldwide, has closed a seed funding round of close to £1 million. 

Launched in 2015, the company says it is the first global curated marketplace for booking both luxury villas and concierge services online. It provides access to the world’s most #exclusive #villarentals – whose owners rarely want to use mass-market products.

The company was founded by travel journalist turned tech entrepreneur, Luke McCormick, who estimates that the value of the luxury villa rentals market will be at least £23 billion by the end of this year. With online travel sales growing at 12% annually, he sees plenty of room for growth.

McCormick says: ‘After getting great support from Forward Partners over the past year, we’re excited to be partnering with Lean Investments to accelerate the growth of our company. This investment will allow us to continue to build a world-class product while increasing the number of properties and countries that we feature.

‘We’re pleased to be simplifying the process of finding and booking luxury villas around the world while offering exceptional concierge service.’

The company currently has more than 2,000 upscale holiday properties in 35 countries from the US to Australia … and some of them are on private islands.

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Let the renter beware!

THE arrival of spring kicks summer vacation planning into high gear – for many that means finding a self-catering rental. But before booking that dream holiday home, travellers need to think twice about who they rent from as it makes a big difference when it comes to safety, service, and peace-of-mind, according to a survey in the US by Wyndham Vacation Rentals. 

Almost 90 percent of do-it-yourself hosts secretly dread doing the things needed to guarantee a great holiday: dealing with guests, handling inspections, and cleaning the apartment or house. As a result, almost 70 percent of travellers who have tried both would prefer to rent from a professional management company as opposed to an owner during their next stay.

The private space and home-like amenities of vacation rentals have strong appeal; 89 percent of those who never tried a rental would consider doing so, but tales of vacation rentals gone bad when booking directly with a homeowner weigh on renters' minds. Sixty-two percent of all vacationers worry about not being able to get problems solved quickly and nearly half (46 percent) are not confident that they'll get what they anticipate when renting directly from an owner.

‘The survey underscores that travellers want to know their vacation is in the hands of someone they can trust,’ said Gail Mandel, CEO, Wyndham Vacation Rentals. ‘Being a homeowner doesn't necessarily make you qualified nor interested in running a bed and breakfast. The reality is most homeowners don't have the time to adequately meet guest expectations when it comes to safety, cleanliness, and assistance, and as a result they find the tasks daunting.’


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They’ve inspected them, so you don’t have to

LOVE COTTAGES has what it claims is Britain’s largest collection of personally inspected holiday cottages. The site has launched with 9,500+ UK holiday homes, and a further 6,500 committed properties will be on its books by April. 

The agency says that all of the holiday homes have been personally inspected.

Love Cottages co-founders are independently the owners and directors of Cottage in the Country, The Original Cottage Company, Dorset Coastal Cottages, Wight Locations, and Classic Cottages.

‘Love Cottages provides accommodation as advertised,’ says the company’s chairman, James Ellis. ‘No more hoping and guessing what you'll get on arrival … just quality holiday cottages you can trust from search to stay. In addition to personally inspecting all of the cottages listed, the majority of properties also carry a Visit England or Visit Wales accreditation.’

In a poll of 10,000 cottage rental customers, Love Cottages found that 63 percent of holidaymakers rated property inspection as the most influential factor in the choice of company they booked with. The second most influential factor was the availability of secure payment methods.

www.lovecottages.co.uk

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Book a mansion in the Orlando

LUXURY RETREATS announces the expansion of its portfolio of high-end vacation rentals with 25 private #villas for holiday lettings in #Orlando, #Florida.

Highlights of the agency’s new Orlando portfolio include:

• Muirfield 460, a custom-built seven-bedroom luxury villa in the Disney Parks area. It has Mine Craft game room, tiered cinema, golf views, swimming pool and spa, and a wheelchair-accessible ground-floor bedroom. 

• Radiant 1239, a nine-bedroom vacation home that sleeps 20, with A-list amenities that include a private pool with a waterfall, grotto and spillover spa, and views of the Independence golf course by Tom Watson.

• Gathering 7433, a nine-bedroom mansion that sleeps 24, with seven master bedroom suites and two themed bedrooms, swimming pool, spa, movie theatre. 

www.luxuryretreats.com

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Island hide-aways

THE #MUSTIQUE COMPANY is flagging up holiday rental properties it says would suit couples and small families planning breaks on the privately-owned Caribbean #island …

Lavender Hill Cottage – At the northern tip of the island, this retreat is newly available for rental. It has colonial style interiors, an infinity pool, and unrivalled views.  

Samambaia – Set in tropical gardens, it has great views and an easy-going Caribbean feel.  

Messelia – Bright, breezy, and beachside, this recently refurbished house is in Britannia Bay.

Cotton Hill Residence – An opportunity to rent a private villa in the grounds of the Cotton House Hotel. It has a private pool … and a butler service.

Flights from London to Barbados are available from £520 per person return, with return flight transfers from Barbados to Mustique costing £350 per adult and £270 per child.

www.mustique-island.com

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Premium Paris

VACATION rentals provider LuxuryVilla.com is now offering private #luxury #apartments in some of the best locations in #Paris. The apartments have views of iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Seine, and the Champs Elysees.

Samuel Cohen, CEO of LuxuryVilla.com, says: ‘Our Paris vacation properties are perfect for couples who want to get away from it all and live luxuriously in one of the most famous cities in the world. Whether they're doing the tango on the Seine, listening to blues in the oldest jazz club in Paris, or eating in a sidewalk café, couples will love the endless adventure that the city has to offer.’

The company also manages holiday rentals in the US and Jamaica.

www.luxuryvilla.com

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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

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Spin those discs!

LUXURY rental firm Chic Ibiza Villas has introduced an optional extra for wannabe DJs.

When booking a villa, guests can add-on a DJ masterclass on the basics of mixing, spinning, fading, and all the other stuff DJs do. Lessons are held in one of Ibiza’s underground clubs, the late-night Experience Bar.

Over each two-hour tutorial, guests will learn to spin with one of the club’s resident DJs.

Co-Founder of Chic Ibiza Villas, Nick Reid says: ‘Where better to learn DJ techniques than #Ibiza, the world’s home to house, dance, and techno.’

Chic Ibiza Villas manages 40 rental properties, from three- to 12-bedrooms.

www.chicibiza.com

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Luxury villa firm collapses

A HOLIDAY firm specializing in #luxuryvillarentals in #Ibiza, Majorca, and Formentera has collapsed at the start of the peak summer season. Families arrived on Ibiza to find their holiday plans ruined after Essex-based International Villas stopped trading and went into voluntary liquidation.

The company’s website confirmed that #InternationalVillas had ceased trading and that a rescue package was being worked on.

Roberto San Esteban, president of an Ibiza-based holiday lets' association, told the Daily Mail that three British families were among five groups which contacted members on Saturday after flying to the island to find they had nowhere to stay.

‘Some of the home-owners who co-operate with us say they've received only 30% of their full payment, or a week instead of two, and they're not prepared to let holidaymakers in unless they receive what they're owed.

‘We're helping out where we can, but in cases where International Villas were managing a property on an exclusive basis it's impossible sometimes to track down the home-owner so we can attempt to reach a solution.’

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'Magaluf effect' warning for Canary Islands

THE CANARY ISLANDS could succumb to the ‘Magaluf effect’ unless they move away from mass tourism. The warning came from the islands’ new president, Fernando Clavijo. 

He has suggested limiting the number of tourists to #Tenerife and #Lanzarote to preserve its environment and halt the rising number of all-inclusive holidays.

Clavijo told The Times: ‘The pursuit of the largest number of tourists is killing quality in Spain. It is the Magaluf effect. Lots of people come from Britain and what they need is a quality resort. We may need to put limits.’

Of the 11 million tourists who visited the #CanaryIslands last year, almost four million were from the UK, the largest group by nationality. The total number of tourists rose by eight percent from 2013.

Pedro Quevedo, head of tourism in Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria, told the newspaper: ‘We should limit the growth of the industry, ban building in some areas and protect the environment.’

Authorities in the islands have already banned 50,000 private flats being rented to holidaymakers in a bid to control the sector.

Tourism accounts for 30 percent of the islands’ gross domestic product.

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Self-catering cuts costs

COST savings, peace of mind, and flexibility are among the reasons why many people find holiday rental stays more relaxing than other lodging accommodations, according to a poll by Wyndham Vacation Rentals in the US. 

Renters report having saved an average of $740 (£475) over the course of a week by preparing some meals in their holiday property.

Said Mary Lynn Clark, president of Wyndham Vacation Rentals North America: ‘While you might think you'd never cook on vacation, it can be a tremendous source of savings. That added value along with the extra space and flexibility a vacation rental offers can make for a more relaxed vacation experience.’

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France … for loafing about

A BRITISH start-up firm which aims to bridge the gap between the designer boutique vacation and traditional family holidays has added three properties to its portfolio.

French Loaf – founded by Cambridge-based design obsessive and mother-of-two Emma Tumelty – concentrates on delivering characterful and practical self-catering villas in the Lot and Dordogne regions in France.

Emma says: ‘We’ve done detailed research designed to take the guesswork out of finding the perfect holiday destination. All our homes are set in or near beautiful French towns with a choice of gourmet restaurants and fresh bread, local cheese, produce and wine from independent outlets or markets. They are also close to adventure – a pool, the countryside, the sea, and the French way of life.’

The company can provide English-speaking babysitters and pre-ordered home-made meals cooked by a local chef.

www.frenchloaf.co.uk

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Gas check warning for holiday rentals

EVEN though British families can take advantage of a strong pound, with the exchange rate against the euro now very favourable, a prevailing recessionary mindset is encouraging people to take their holidays in the UK rather than abroad. 

Research by Travelodge indicates that approximately three quarters of all British families will holiday at home this year. Other factors reinforcing the continued popularity of ‘staycations’ are the decline of the traditional two-week break, with more holidaymakers opting for a one-week holiday coupled with shorter breaks throughout the year and taken in the UK. 

This means families will be renting apartments and cottages in the British Isles, which is why the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) has issued safety advice, saying that it’s important that holiday homes with gas appliances have are regularly checked and serviced. 

B&ES spokesman Mark Oakes says: ‘Holiday home owners or their letting agents need to be aware that if they have an old boiler or other gas appliances such as cookers in their holiday accommodation, some of these will be potentially dangerous. 

Gas appliances in rented accommodation should be serviced annually in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions by a Gas Safe registered installer in addition to having annual gas safety checks carried out on them. 

‘Landlords and letting agents must realize that failure to maintain a boiler puts holidaymakers’ lives at risk – poorly maintained or defective gas appliances can leak potentially lethal quantities of carbon monoxide. As additional safeguards, landlords or their letting agents should supply comprehensive operating instructions for all appliances and should also fit carbon monoxide detectors.’

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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

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Turkey set for golf boom?

GOLF resort developments in Turkey have the second strongest mid- to long-term growth potential of all countries in the European Mediterranean region, according to the accountancy firm, KPMG.

While Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France have higher levels of supply, Turkey has led the way within emerging markets and now accounts for seven per cent of the pan-regional supply, with the fifth highest number of coastal integrated golf resorts in the region.

‘The vast majority of the golf resorts in Turkey feature hotels only,’ says Julian Walker at Spot Blue International Property. ‘Most privately-owned golf property is not actually on the fairway but in residential developments near to one or more golf courses. But, as the KPMG report states, Turkey is capitalizing on strong tourism demand, aided by competitive pricing, so further growth and new resort projects can be expected in the future. This will reinforce the diversity of the Turkish real estate market.’

The KPMG report said that across the European Mediterranean region, golf resorts that offer accommodation in rented villas or apartments, often alongside a hotel, now account for more than 15 per cent of the market and continue to grow in numbers.

In an attempt to grow its share of global golf tourism, Turkey’s Western Mediterranean Development Agency and Turkish Airlines this year launched a scheme to attract more French golfers to the Antalya region, home to the country’s golfing hub, Belek. It is hoped that many of the million-plus golfers in France, some of whom travel to Morocco and Tunisia to play, will consider Turkey as a new destination.

‘The knock-on effect of more golfers, whichever nationality, is a good thing for the local property market,’ said Mr Walker. ‘Belek’s reputation as an international golf hub is snowballing, and more visitors mean more demand for accommodation, which increases demand for lettable property.’

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