View in : Italian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese

Ideal Home March 2008

Escape to the Sun

Marrakech, Morocco.
Morocco has some beautiful rental properties and the good news is that they won't break the bank. A riad - traditional house with a courtyard hidden in the middle - offers relaxing oasis away from the bustling city streets. Riad Lili, in the heart of the Medina (the ancient quarter) in Marrakech, is a fine example, with three bedrooms, air conditioning, a tranquil terrace and helpful staff. The riad is intimate enough for a romantic break, but there's more than enough space for a family. Its great, central location means a few minutes' walk will get you to the famous El Fina square in Djemaa, the Bahia palace and Marrakech's countless souks, hammans (traditional bath houses), bars and restaurants. You'll be able to immerse yourselves in the sights, sounds and smells of this colourful, unique destination.

Riad Lili, Marrakech. Sleeps six. Rates (per week): from £654.
Book through www.homelidays.com (ref. 68529)

Need to know
When to go : as an inland city the heat in high summer can be almost unbearbale in the centre of Marrakech. Early spring, late autumn and winter are more comfortable times to visit, with temperatures still rising into the early 20's in the colder months.
Getting there : many airlines fly direct to Marrakech from London. British Airways offers return tickets from £99 (including taxes). Marrakech Menara airport is 11 miles from the city centre.
Useful information : Check out www.visitmorocco.org.

Monsters and Critics 02/12/2007

Online portals can help with the search for holiday homes

Berlin - Holidaying in fincas in Mallorca or a short break in a penthouse in London are two of the trends that continue to enjoy popularity at present. It's not just families who are taking advantage of this form of independence, singles and business travellers are also opting to forego hotels and pensions. Together with the supply of mainstream commercial holiday-homes, a growing number of private individuals are advertising their homes in newspapers and online. Although many of the private deals on offer at the moment look very promising, Sabine Fischer of Germany's Consumer Advice Centre in Potsdam recommends spending a little extra time examining online holiday home advertisements. Fischer says the final price should include the cost of cleaning, electricity and VAT. It's also important to know the address of the landlord. You should demand a written contract including every detail before you begin your journey, says Miro Morczinek who runs the online holiday home agency www.fewo-direkt.de. Potential holiday home renters should also be aware of the general terms and conditions that apply. 'The landlord is not liable to point out which law of jurisdiction applies,' Sabine Fischer explains. If nothing else is agreed, the terms of contract on a holiday home rented within the European Union are governed by the laws of the country where the residence is located. It's also essential to immediately inform the landlord of any problems that occur. Otherwise you may end up in the situation where the landlord says, 'You approved that at the time of renting.' Private holiday homes are especially attractive because there are no transaction costs involved in an online booking. The homeowner must pay any charges connected with the deal. It's often the case that holidaymakers and homeowners have direct contact with each other through email. 'Some 99 per cent of enquiries are by email,' Morczinek says. But it's not just consumer advisers such as Sabine Fischer who view that method of contact sceptically. Professionalholiday home agencies are wary too. 'Anyone who books a holiday home exclusively online or by email should be careful,' says Oliver Frank, president of Germany's Association of Prefab Home Agencies (VDFA). It's always a good idea to ring the landlord directly and not just over a mobile telephone number. It makes sense to ask exactly where the property is located; whether it's near a road, in a residential area or close to a shopping or entertainment district. If you're not sure if the property exists, then try entering the address and the name of the homeowner into an online search engine. Some online forums can help you find out if the deal is serious or not, according to the VDFA.

One way to avoid disappointment is to choose a holiday home with more than one recommendation, according to the French portal www.homelidays.com. Everyone who rents a home through the portal is asked for feedback, according to Florent Mamelle, the portal's manager. 'That feedback compensates for the fact that we have not seen the property ourselves,' he says.

Grazia  22/10/2007

10 Hot Holidays with friends

Fancy a big get together with your closest mates, but with no planning, no taxis, just a big log fire and a comfy bed you can fall into at the end of the night? Here's our pick of the best weekends for friends.

[...]

Best for living like a Royal
Sleeps 27
If a holidays villa's too pedestrian for your tastes, how about taking over a French Chateau for a few days? The Chateâu de Montalègre in southern Averyron is a 13th-century castle complete with all mod cons, which also has a bonus in the form of a private swimming pool and large sun terrace with fab countryside views.

From £2537 per week : www.homelidays.com/rental38919.

www.homelidays.com

A Place in the sun  October 2007

House on wheels

If you're looking for a unique and unforgettable holiday family holiday in the heart of the French countryside, then this property should interest you. Dubbed 'The house on wheels', this gorgeous wooden caravan is in a wonderful countryside location - it's by an orchard and overlooks a pretty lake. Ideal for a family holiday, this property sleeps up to five people and is equipped with a DVD player, Internet acces, children's games, a baby's cot and a high chair. The Burgandy region offers stunning countryside, scattered with Medieval towns and villages. The Nearest major town to the property, La Charité-sur-Loire is a charming, historic walled town which boasts magnificent views over the river Loire.

Contact details www.homelidays.com/rental90940.

www.homelidays.com

The Sunday Times 15/07/2007

Hotels? So Last Year...

Based in France, Homelidays.com, based in France claims to have more than 34,000 properties in 95 countries. Although written in broken English, the site is well designed and allows you to view testimonials from previous renters. In Prague it has a two-bedroom apartment in a historic building in Mala Strana (ref 46647) from £374 per week.

Woman's Own 09/07/2007

SOME LITTLE KNOWN GEMS

Life on the islands is amazingly varied. What they have in common is good food and great beaches

San'Anticco harbour

SANT'ANTICCO, of Sardinia has lovely beaches and food. Great for wines and walking. Sample price Homelidays www.homelidays.com.
offers a villa from £300 per week. flights to Caglian from £124 with Flightline (0800 541 541, www.flightline.com)

The Guardian 30/06/2007

Down by Loire

You can keep your feet firmly off the ground by staying in a caravan near the Loire river in Burgandy, surrounded by countryside and overlooking a lake, for £52 per night. But we're not talking about the beaten-up white wrecks that drive motorists mad all over Europe. La Roulotte de Menou is a converted gypsy-style caravan decked out with modern amentities: fridge freezer, a baby cot and high chair, children's games, DVD player and internet access. The nearest major town is the historic La Charité-sur-Loire, 30km away. Activities include rafting, canoeing, go-carting, kayaking and horse-riding.

For more information visit www.homelidays.com/rental90940.

Eurostar from London Waterloo to Paris Gare du Nord and then connect for a two-hour train journey from Paris to Cosne, which is 30km from the property. Car hire is recommended.
www.homelidays.com

The Times 28/06/2007

Island Retreat that Parisians adore

An exclusive island resort, where the oyster is king and the bicycle is the best means of transport, lies off the west coast of France within sight of La Rochelle. Ile de Ré is little known in Britain but is beloved of Parisians and other French city dwellers, who will be heading there in droves in August.

So now is the time for Brits to beat them and there are deals on offer, although at prices in keeping with the island’s elegance. Just 5km wide (three miles) and 28km long, it boasts numerous cycle paths, beaches, forests, markets, pretty villages and an attractive capital, St Martin, with a harbour lined with restaurants and shops.

The island is reached by a toll bridge, which is an experience in itself. The best way to travel from Britain by car is with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen or St Malo, or from Plymouth to Roscoff.

The company’s holiday arm has a first-floor apartment for four available for a week from July 7 in a complex with an outdoor pool, near the beach in the resort of La Couarde. The total cost for a family of four with a ferry crossing with car is £1074.

Wake up in France has flats for up to six on the same development for £1126 for a week from July 21 and 28, excluding travel. If you prefer not to drive, the nearby airport at La Rochelle is served by Ryanair from Stansted and Flybe from Birmingham, Manchester and Southampton.

Impressive villas, sleeping eight in four bedrooms, are available at a discount with Wake up in France for a week from July 7. Villas Rose and Charlotte are in a quiet part of Bois Plage, 1.5km from one of the island’s best beaches. The cost: £2127.

A range of cheaper options and one or two more expensive ones are available on the French Homelidays website. If you’d like to stay in the style the island deserves, book a room or suite in the Hotel de Toiras on the quayside at St Martin. Built for a 17th century ship owner, the hotel combines intimacy, elegant décor and personal service and has a dynamic young chef, Thomas Urbanek whose signature dishes include scallops foie gras and a langoustine salad cooked with cognac. Rooms for two with breakfast cost from £390 a night in July.


www.homelidays.com.

The Observer 30/04/2007

The Surf Break

While mastering the waves in Biarritz, you can stay in the apartment used by surf champions Kelly Slater and Gabe Davis. The modern Les Grandes Vagues apartment is in the centre of the town and sleeps 10 people, from £950 a week. One-on-one lessons with Davies can be booked at his Surf Solutions school.

For more information visit www.homelidays.com/rental126400.
www.homelidays.com

The Guardian - Weekend Travel 31/03/2007

Surfing in style

Surfing and camping go together like football and pies but if the idea of sleeping in a tent seems too much of a hardship after a day paddling out to catch the waves (and there's always more paddling than surfing), Les Grands Vagues, a smart surfers' pad, on the beach at Hossegor, near Biarritz, should appeal. The world's best surfer, Kelly Slater, and our own home grown champ, Gabe Davies have both crashed at the apartment which has five double rooms, two shower rooms and a huge balcony overlooking the beach. It costs from £950 a week - so, £95pp for 10 sharing, leaving plenty of change for the bars and restaurants along the seafront. Surf Solutions (surfsolutions.info), run by Davies and fellow geordie Joel Gray can provide equipment and surfing lessons.

More details on the apartment at www.homelidays.com/rental126400.
www.homelidays.com

Living Spain March/April 2007 - Issue 29

Going Underground

Staying naturally cool in the sometimes intense heat of Andalucia

If the doom and gloom merchants of climate change are to be believed then the hot summers of southern Spain are set to get even hotter. What we save in heating costs in winter could soon be outweighed by the cost of air conditioning in the summer months. A cheap (and eco friendly) option is to opt for a cave home. The province of Granada in Andalucia is home to more cave dwellers than the rest of Europe and smart cave hotels and holiday rentals have sprung up over the last couple of years. For anyone thinking of going underground to live, or for a holiday with a difference, there are a couple of options: a cave home or a cave house. A cave home is where the whole of the living area is contained within the caves. A cave house on the other hand id where a sort of extension is tacked on to the front of the cave giving it a more conventional look. Until you step inside, of course. Cave homes were the only option for our ancestors and the Altamira museum up in Cantabria gives a fascinating insight into how we lived in those days. The modern equivalent, however, is quite different and we are mile away from either a Flintstone existence or those cave paintings from history books. The average cave now comes with electricity, water and mains sewage as standard. And although us northerners may crave the Spanish sun, the intense heat of southern Spain can get a bit too much in the summer. In these unusual dwellings, though, you are completely protected against the elements with an almost constant 18C temperature indoors, even though outside temperatures can be freezing or, as happens sometimes in Andalucia, over 40C, and set to get hotter it seems. In a cave, though, you are living in one big cool box. But then again, a box it is not. The irregular features of cave homes give them a charm that your off-plan apartment down the coast will never have and, unlike many urbanisations popping up, no two properties will ever be exactly the same. And if you need to extend, that’s no problem. You’ve often got a whole mountain to get through before you get to the back door and the average excavation takes about six months, the time it takes to fins a builder in the UK.


Sympathetic Renovation

A cave carved out of the hillside in the Baza region over 100 years ago, has been transformed by a French family into an extraordinary holiday home. Flawlessly integrated into the wild landscape, it oozes peace and tranquillity. When Eloi Compoint and her brother and sister in law discovered the site in 1995, they immediately fell in love with it. Previously a hamlet of around 15 rural dwellings, or cuevas situated between Murcia and Granada which had been abandoned for over 20 years, the caves were created as a result of an environmental phenomenon after a lake dried up. The oldest caves are around 300 years old, carved out of the hillside, and harmonise perfectly with their surroundings. They were first used as a Moorish refuge when the Christians were on the march trying to boot out the Arabs that had bought civilisation to many parts of Spain. They were later used by rural folk who made a living from growing almonds and olive trees. Eloi and her family were hands on with all the renovations to create a holiday home, first installing electricity and a water supply.


Preserving Originality

The original layout was generally preserved, although some rooms were enlarged or knocked through and windows added. The animal troughs were transformed into alcoves or storage spaces. It was imperative that the round windows were kept for structural support. They, like the walls, have been lined with a metal framework which moulds to the curves of the ground and rock face. This was then sealed roughly with cement and whitewashed to protect against leaks. The ground was covered in coloured cement or incrusted with pebbles to form a geometric design. The northern section was completely remodelled. The lounge was enlarged and now extends over the whole hillside, which allows the light to enter from both sides. The huge chimney was used by several families to make bread and nowadays radiates heat during the cold winter months. Although the summers can be scorching hot; the winters can be extremely cold at this high altitude. The interior of the house has also been carefully decorated using authentic colours and materials, making the cave house a unique setting for an unforgettable holiday.


Try a Cave

For a taste of the troglodyte life, Eloi’s stunning cave can now be rented.

The cave sleeps 8-14 people. A cleaning service and babysitting service is available. Bikes can be hired to explore the stunning scenery of the area.

To book this property and for further images and information visit: www.homelidays.com/rental7062.
www.homelidays.com

Living Spain March/April 2007 - Issue 29

Surf Spain

We are all travel agents these days, putting our own deals together through the internet, and the web has revolutionised things for anyone who wants to rent out their place in Spain.

We caught up with Florent Mamelle, CEO of Homelidays.com to find out more about online lettings and rentals:

“We live in an age where we want to do things ourselves-to have more control. Owners want to make the most money out of rental revenue and if they can avoid going through an agency, they are more than willing to do so. Renters also want more choice and information to be able to choose their holiday accommodation.
The concept is direct holiday rentals between owner and renter with no commission taken by the website. The tendency leaning towards direct rentals, the internet is a great way of cutting out the middle man. We remove the link of intermediaries and commissions.
Thanks to multi-lingualism, an English owner can advertise a property in Spain which is reserved by a French person, for example. This can be done without any effort on behalf or the owner or the renters.
The renter has free access to the most sophisticated search engine around (extensive search criteria, personalised email alerts, etc.) and the owner has access to his ‘personal dossier’ where he can create and manage his property advertisement.
Our aim is to minimise the uncertainty linked with direct rentals, as much for the renters who are wary of nasty surprises when arriving in the property, as for the owners who want to rent to those who will respect their property.”


I wondered how many properties were on the site:

“We currently have 30,000 property advertisements online in 80 different countries, mainly in Europe. Apart from our large presence by the sea, in the countryside and mountains, we also have a lot of properties in European capital cities which are very popular for short stays.”

So who rents out their home with you?

“Generally people with a second home and between the ages of 40 and 75. They want to enjoy their property but also maximise their rental income in order to be able to renovate the property or to repay a loan on it. We also have retired people who rent out their main home and once they have booking, go on holiday while the property is rented! All these owners have internet and have found out about Homelidays through search engines or word of mouth. They discover a fast, serious looking site, with many properties and a large number of reviews from satisfied owners.”


"We also have retired people who rent out their main home and, once they have a booking, go on holiday while the property is rented!"

What do owners get?

“We give owners the opportunity to test all our services for a month completely free of charge. This enables them to experience our efficiency, the management of their advertisements and to see that Homelidays works! If they sign up at the start of the season (from January for the summer and September for the ski season), the month’s free trial is sufficient time to generate contacts and firm reservations. They can renew for 4, 8 or 12 months using the usual methods of payment including secure online payment by credit card. The owners are not necessarily expert web users, but our customer service is available to guide them and answer their questions. 12 months publication costs €125 (4 months €75, 8 months €105), with a 1 month free trial period during which the owner has complete access to all our services. We guarantee that if after one year, the owner has not rented out at least once via Homelidays, we will offer 6 months extra publication for free.”

I assume the service is free to someone renting?

“Entirely free. In order to contact an owner, the only obligation is to sign up to the site (for free) and accept our charter of trust. Being a member also enables you to facilitate your search for accommodation (access to interactive map search, shopping basket, last search criteria saved, email alert service, etc). As for us, we do not receive any commission from the owners. Our job is to publish the property advertisements.”

Advantages to both renters and owners then?

“Certainly. For the renter: first and foremost, the quality of the description and the richness of the information available. Homelidays.com also reassures users, thanks to the numerous photos and feedback from previous renters on the site. Secondly, the variety of destinations (3,000 in 80 countries). Finally the services we have put in place which facilitate the renter’s search, notably the search engine including the new interactive map search on Michelin maps and the email alert service. For the owner: Our exceptional audience (75,000 visits daily) generated an average of 12 weeks rental property in 2005. Also, as the visitors to the site come from so many different countries, the owners benefit from rentals for all the different school holidays periods and thus renting out their properties even in mid and low season. We provide an easy to use interface for owners to manage their property advertisements which are automatically translated into seven different languages. The owners can also consult feedback from previous owners about their next renters.”

I wondered if you get to have a look round a potential pad.

“An advertisement without photos is ineffective these days. 97% of all ads have photos. Renters, therefore, have access to over 100,000 photos. The 3% of ads without photos are generally new ads to which the owners plan to upload photos soon. We have included over 100 different criteria for the description of a property. This way potential renters have access to the most detailed description of the accommodation possible, apart from actually going there! Owners also have an availability calendar in which they can display their rental periods with corresponding rates. Half of out owners accept short stays; some accept different changeover days other than Saturday. 50% of ads have their availability updated on a weekly basis. This avoids useless contacts both for the owners and the renters. The numerous criteria available in the property description also facilitate the renter’s search; they can be used in the search engine. You can choose according to your specific needs: for example, pool, dishwasher, highchair, etc and also activities such as hiking, deep sea diving, golf, etc.“

Check out 30,000 properties online at www.homelidays.com. Confusingly it comes up in French but click on the old Union Jack at the left and surf away.

For more information visit www.homelidays.com.

Scottish Daily Express (Glasgow) 03/02/2007

COUNT ON A GOOD TIME

LOCATED in the Carpathian Mountains, Transylvania is one of the last undiscovered areas of Europe yet best known for its connections to the legend of Dracula. This newly built rental villa, near the pretty village of Bran is flanked by the dramatic peaks of the Carpathian Mountains and the 600-year-old "Castle Dracula". The house sleeps 6-10 and is fitted with modern amenities, including a double Jacuzzi bath. There is more to Transylvania than the legend of Dracula : great scenery, medieval towns, several ski resorts and the city of Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site has one of the greatest cityscapes in the world.

For more information visit www.homelidays.com/rental120951.
www.homelidays.com

The Evening Times (Glasgow) 03/02/2007

Going Places

With a promise of absolutely no sign of Dracula, holidaymakers are being urged to explore Transylvania. The region is the most beautiful and inspiring of Romania's provinces. Located in the Carpathian Mountains, Transylvania is considered one of the last undiscovered areas of Europe but is best known for its connections to the legend of Dracula. A spectacular new villa near the picturesque village of Bran is flanked by the dramatic peaks of the Caràpathian Mountains and the 600-year-old 'Dracula's Castle'. it has a double Jacuzzi bath and sleeps six to 10 people. Rental costs start from £607 a week.

For more information visit www.homelidays.com/rental120951.
www.homelidays.com

The Sun 22/11 2006
Travel
All we want for Christmas
For the kids

WHERE TO TAKE THEM SEND the kids wild with a stay in a treehouse in the heart of France’s Dordogne. A week for a cabin sleeping six costs £430 on December 22. See www.homelidays.com/rental57033.
www.homelidays.com

The Sunday Telegraph 22/10 2006
Travel
Hotstuff

Do you find paradise holiday resorts just a little too crowded? Then how about renting you own island in the Bahamas? Kamalame Cove is an all-inclusive private-island retreat, reached via Andros or by helicopter from Nassau. The villa, which has a pool, easy access to the beach and a tennis court, sleeps eight.

It costs a breathtaking £21,436 per week through Homelidays www.homelidays.com/rental45140. but at least you won't have to share your paradise with strangers.
www.homelidays.com

The Times Online 16/10 2006
"USA"
No 7 Snowline, Maple Falls, Washington

If your idea of a cabin in the woods is something a little more sophisticated than the Yellow Mule (see above), then head for Maple Falls in Washington state. This is classic Pacific Northwest terrain – a place of dramatic peaks, smouldering volcanoes and thick pine forests – and No 7, Snowline, is a great base from which to explore it. It’s comfortable, modern, sleeps six and comes complete with dramatic double-height sitting room, wraparound deck and hot tub. What’s more, Vancouver, Seattle and Puget Sound are all within easy day-tripping distance if you get bored of all those trees. One week starts from £963 for the whole property.

With whom? Homelidays www.homelidays.com/rental5338.
Based in France, it’s Europe’s biggest holiday home rental website. Strong on Orlando, it also features a smattering of properties across the rest of America.
www.homelidays.com

The Observer 24/09 2006
“Escape's picks of the week”
The Holiday Home

Now it's getting a tad cold for the cottage in Dartmoor, how about hiring your own riad in Marrakesh.
Homelidays (www.homelidays.com) offers the Riad Timmel, in the heard of the medina, with gardens of fragrant citrus, olive, palm and jacaranda trees and beds for 14
From £3,625 per week; £259 per person.
www.homelidays.com

The Guardian 02/09 2006
“Best Family Deals”
France

At Moulin de Maitre Cornille, an 18th century windmill near Avignon, activities include mountain biking, horseriding, fishing, canoeing and tennis.
£370 per week (sleeps 5-7). Available Sept 23-Oct 21 and Nov 4 onwards.
www.homelidays.com/rental709963
www.homelidays.com

The Guardian 28/08 2006
“The Green Rooms”

If you can't do without modern technology, nearby in the Perigord Noir region are a series of wood cabins that come fitted out with washing machine, dishwasher, TV and DVD player. The cabins sleep six, overlook the Dordogne river and are available for hire through property rental firm Homelidays. www.homelidays.com/rental57033
www.homelidays.com

The Guardian 06/08 2006
“Breaking away”
Andalucia
Keep cool underground in Spain by staying in a cave house in Andalucia. Alcobas was once a Moorish refuge in Granada and now sleeps up to 14 comfortably with a huge garden and terrace. It's available for the week beginning August 26 from a total of £480 through Homelidays. Yabadabadoo!
www.homelidays.com

The Daily Express 05/08 2006
“Branch out and relax at a hideaway in the trees”
Les Cabanes du Tertre, Dordogne, France
Not actually in the trees but free standing in a forest, Les Cabanes du Tertre comprise three Shaker style wooden cabins, with tiled roofs, connected by three paths, in the heart of the Perigord Noir region of South West France.
These tree houses sleep up to five and include a modern kitchen, TV and DVD. Croissants and supplies can be found in the village of D'Urval 6km away. Nearby there is hiking, horse riding and of course, excellent wine tasting
Only available online (www.homelidays.com)
Seven nights room only from €230 (£157) to €1,400 (£960)
www.homelidays.com

The Doncaster Star / The Sheffield Star 22/07 2006
“Holiday Shorts”

A place of Truffles and Castles.
Located in the heart of the Dordogne the so called "perigord" noir region, known for its truffles, these wood cabins in the trees are overlooking the Dordogne river and are situated between Sarlat and Bergerac, for hiking, horse riding, tennis, golf, canoeing or visiting the vineyards, museums or historical sites in the area.
The cabins sleep up to 6 people. The kitchenette is fitted with modern amenities including a dish washer, washing machine, oven and a barbecue. Sheets and towels as well as TV, private parking lot, games for the children and a DVD player are included.
From £154 to £957 a week for a cabin. Book at www.homelidays.com/rental57033
www.homelidays.com

The Sunday Times 09/07 2006
“The away game”

For private villa listings search for Mexico at Homelidays.com : it features for example, Rayo de Luna, a 3 bedroom adobe house on a working ranch in the mountains of Jalisco from £278 per week.
www.homelidays.com

CITY to CITIES June 2005
“Click on it”
Homelidays for Holiday Rentals
Looking for a chateau boat or villa? Then look no further than Homelidays, a company which provided you access to over 13,000 seasonal rentals and short trips in over 57 countries The company takes no commission and provides you with direct access to the owner of the property to confirm your booking. Making something a little different a whole lot easier.
For more information visit www.homelidays.com