Villa Rentals Offer Romantic Luxury
Rent Villas in Europe to Live as a Local in Europe and the Caribbean
Jan 26, 2010 Melissa Adams
Unlike many other types of upscale lodgings, a villa rental enables travelers to enjoy a “self-catering” vacation not possible with packaged tours and other luxury group travel options. While ensconced in finery and grandeur, guests are free to sightsee, dine and enjoy other activities at their own pace, without intrusions from tour guides or leaders. In many historic venues, they’ll find themselves surrounded by magnificent vestiges of the past that recall eras when royalty frolicked amidst opulent splendor, sprawling vineyards and silvery olive groves.
There is one important caveat: since some rental villas and castles were built as long ago as the 11th century, they may not meet stringent criteria for five-star ranking in some accommodations listings—even though they’ve been lovingly restored and modernized by present-day owners. Given the trade-off of historic surroundings, period furnishings and such niceties as original frescoed walls, timbered ceilings and terra cotta flooring, most guests are not bothered by the lack of a few contemporary luxuries.
Tuscany Rentals and Villas in France, Spain, Costa Rica and the Caribbean
Private owners rent villas, castles and apartments in Tuscany and throughout Italy, France, Spain, Costa Rica and the Caribbean. There are options appropriate for families with kids, as well as romantic havens for couples and palatial digs for groups celebrating reunions, anniversaries, corporate getaways or professional workshops.
Large, staffed villas that sleep 40 or more guests are perfect for groups hosting a special occasion or a couple interested in securing accommodations for friends and extended family at a destination wedding. Some farmhouses and private estates are especially suitable for cyclists, tennis players, billiard fans and lovers of the sea who yearn to look out on the French or Italian Riviera.
Air Conditioned Villas for Summer Stays
Air conditioned villas insure travelers’ comfort during the warm summer months in Tuscany, Umbria, Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast in Italy, as well as in Provence, Paris and the Riviera in France, and Barcelona, Seville, Madrid and Catalonia in Spain.
Romantic choices for two include numerous options in Lucca, Chianti, Sienna, Venice, Sicily and the Italian lakes, plus other possibilities in France, Spain, Costa Rica and the British Virgin Islands. Some offer heated pools, separate guest cottages, sprawling gardens, private terraces and art studios where painting students can aspire to become latter day Van Goghs or Picassos.
Doorways, Ltd.: A One-Stop Resource for Villa Vacations and European Apartment Rentals
If planning a villa vacation in a distant locale sounds daunting, it need not be. There are numerous agencies that work with American travelers to secure the perfect venue for their foreign affair. Among the best is Doorways, Ltd., a Pennsylvania-based firm that has been matching holiday planners with private estate owners in Europe since 1994.
Headed by founder and president Kit Burns, who works with her staff in personally inspecting every luxury property the firm represents, Doorways caters to independent travelers who want to experience a foreign culture on their own terms, free from the constraints of organized tours.
One-on-One, Personalized Service for Villa Vacations
From arranging housekeeping, personal chefs and concierge services to providing advice about train schedules, car rentals, sightseeing, cell phones, laptops and every other detail a foreign vacation entails, Doorways custom-tailors villa vacations to meet the specific needs of clients.
To help independent travelers live as locals, the firm can offer tips about delectable dishes at that bistro few tourists know about or that breathtaking garden tucked away behind a neighborhood monastery. For maximum trip enjoyment, they might offer suggestions for books to read or films to see that will heighten a sojourn in a distant land. While guidebooks can provide general advice about overseas travel, they can’t offer this kind of one-on-one, personalized service.
