Saturday 23 October 2010

Winter Sunshine in Vilamoura Algarve Portugal

It has got a lot colder in the last couple of weeks in northern Europe. On the 10th of October it was 18 degrees on the Sunday evening in London.
The temperatures have dropped and there is frost at night. Is winter approaching too quickly?

What about some warm winter sunshine in Vilamoura, the “In Place to be this year”?


The most popular resort in the Algarve this year was Vilamoura and it has taken over its rivals by far. Could this be because of its fabulous and very stylish Marina and the new extension?

Perhaps because of the pristine “Blue Flag” beaches. Of course there are 5 excellent championship golf courses to test your mettle. Not to mention the difficult and challenging Tennis Club and the more gentle, but not so easy Lawn Green Bowling Club.

If that’s not enough then try your luck at the International Casino with its marvellous Night Club for all ages and all tastes in Music. The town also offers some amazing restaurants especially around the Marina. Wonderful Bars with live music and lovely cafes for morning coffee and cakes.

Are you seaworthy? Big game fishing, chasing Sharks, Marlin and giant Tuna fish, that takes a lot of nerve and stamina. Maybe you can catch one? Scuba diving and windsurfing isn’t as easy as it looks…but being a spectator is also a lot of fun. For relaxation go on a cruise on a Catamaran or a replica of a Portuguese discovery ship.

Then you can have a sunset champagne cruise or go and visit Sir Cliff Richard’s vineyards for a taste of the good life. Dolphin shows or to see the other sea creatures and animals at the Zoomarine are not to be missed!

A local agent has negotiated discounts for the above activities but also on the accommodations. That includes apartments directly on the Marina, townhouses in The Old Village and fabulous Villas within easy walking distance to the amenities such as the Marina and beaches. Needless to say they have lots of other luxury properties along the coast that are featured on the jmlvillas.com website.

The agent can also arrange Wedding and Banquets, Stag and Hen do’s, special events such as Anniversaries, Birthdays, Golf parties, weekend trips and any activities you wish can be custom designed.

For more information Visit Portugal at jmlvillas.com

Tignes is an ideal destination for overseas property buyers who like skiing


According to a posting on the Intasure Holiday home and second home insurance website blog:-

France's Tignes is an ideal destination for overseas property buyers who like skiing.
Off-piste skiing in Tignes during Spring is "very famous" and is a "perfect time to taste the area", according to Tignes Developpement.

A spokeswoman from the Tourist Office of Tignes Developpement, said during this time of year the French destination is warmer and still has very good snow, holiday home insurance customers may be interested to hear.

Directski.com named the resort in the Alps as the best European ski destination for high altitude skiing.

The spokeswoman said that because Tignes is an high altitude skiing area, the snow is guaranteed.

"Because we are very high and have the glacier, the winter season ends on May 8th," she said, adding: "Tignes has the Grande Motte glacier as well, where it is possible to ski all year long, in the summer too."

She added that it was a sports resort popular with Brits and the younger skier.

For more information about Intasure Holiday Home and Second Home Property Insurance CLICK HERE

Tignes is near Val d’Isère in the French Alps.Tignes is basically three areas made up of Tignes-Le-Lac at 2100 metres, Tignes Les Boisses at 1850 metres and Tignes Les Brevieres at 1550 metres and Val Claret is full of French, British, Dutch and other nationality ski companies running chalets and ferrying skiers about in Land Rovers and mini buses.

I went there in Easter 2007, a time when most ski resorts would be closing because of the late time of year. However because of the glacier, as stated earlier on this page the skiing goes on longer.

At that time, unless you were actually on the pistes the snow was disappearing fast and the air was warm with daily temperatures reaching 23 degrees. Although it was Easter the Christmas feeling is still there with Christmas decorations in the restaurants, up in the streets, Christmas lights on trees and buildings. The “12 days” of Christmas are well extended!

The car parks were full of Belgian, British, Dutch, German, Swiss and even French registered cars whose owners were taking a skiing break over the Easter vacation.

Find out More Here about Tignes

Going skiing soon? Don't forget your travel insurance - Visit this page for more information

Monday 18 October 2010

La Cordonnerie self catering holiday Cottages in St. Antonin-Noble-Val France



This delightful self catering holiday rental is being promoted on the jmlvillas.com holiday lettings site.


One visitor who stayed there said "Over the past 40 years of independent holidaying in France, in hotels and houses and camp sites I have never found anywhere so absolutely perfect as La Cordonnerie.This delightful cottage has been so well restored and appointed with the things that are really necessary to make the time spent there such a memorable pleasure. So many places only have the bare essentials but here we had everything we could possibly need to make our stay as comfortable as possible. To be able to BBQ and have dinner on the terrace just outside the door in the cool of the evening was so relaxing we didn't want to go out to eat in the evening. The pool is stunning and to have this facility just a few steps away from our door quite amazing.


For those who love the gentle lifestyle of the remote French countryside - look no further - it is here in abundance.


To gaze masses of stars in a moonlight sky at night and to wake to the sound of the church bells drifting over the hills and see the autumn mist in the valleys is difficult to adequately describe. As an added bonus during our stay, we were delighted to meet the owners and spend a fascinating time just chatting with them over a very nice bottle of wine.So many memories for such a short stay - we will be back."


Q:So when you go there what do you have? A: A farmhouse and Cottage. The farmhouse sleeps 8 and the cottage 4.

Acacia, walnut and fruit trees border the tranquil, sunny garden overlooking the countryside and offering plenty of space for family games and a superior 6x12 metre swimming pool, 2.5m deep, with diving board, plenty of loungers, poolhouse and a childproof locked fence standard to French safety regulations.

Plenty of loungers, a table and chairs are supplied around the poolside. The pool is located in a very sunny open position, but remains private and shielded to outside viewers. On balmy summer evenings a swim in the flood lit pool is exciting and invigorating.

As the pool is not heated, the season for swimmers lasts from mid-May to early October.

The hamlet consists of 9-10 houses, most of which are permanently inhabited and is overlooked by the church of St Pantaléon. There are no shops or other amenities and only local traffic, guaranteeing tranquillity and a peaceful enjoyment of your holiday. Passing the hamlet is the GR 46, part of the great walking routes in France. The area is attractive to lovers of nature and birdsong and in spring becomes a haven of wildflowers and orchids.

The hamlet is generally very quiet, but comes to life in summer during the feast of St Pantaléon on the last Sunday of July, with a grand fête inclusive of a meal, dancing and Musette. Everyone can join in and for €13, take part of a 5 course meal à la champêtre, including plenty of wine! A very good humoured and enjoyable evening!


Q: How do you get there if you are driving from England or Ireland? A: The quickest and most convenient way to reach the property near Vaour is from St. Malo. The roads are all dual carriageway or motorway until Montauban. Total one way cost of Peage (motorway toll) is roughly equivalent to £25.

The journey down (approx. 500 miles 800 kms) will take about 7 to 7.5 hours.

Other information:

Vaour 5 km Penne 5 km St Antonin12 km Bruniquel, Puycelci, Castelnau de Montmiral 15 km Cordes 22 km Gaillac 35 km Albi 42 km Najac 40 km Montauban 40 km Toulouse 80 km Cahors 65 km


Located between the cities of Cahors, Albi and Montauban and within easy reach of the famous " Bastide" towns of BruniqueI, Puycelci, Castelnau de Montmiral, Larroque, Penne, Cahuzac and Cordes, it is an ideal location from which to visit the many historic sites in the region. Albi, a beautiful regional capital on the river Tarn, is very worthwile a visit with its historic cathedral and museum dedicated to the artist Toulouse Lautrec. The fairy city of Carcassonne is 2 hours drive south, the Pyrenees can be reached in 2 hours. The Mediteranean is 3 hours drive away.


The surrounding countryside is rich in wildlife, with a wide variation of landscape from cultivated fields to a forest that is said to be the least polluted in Europe. Walkers can use the nearby GR46, or the many tracks and paths which lead off in many directions. The quiet road and tracks are ideal for cyclists, with a terrain to suit the reasonably fit. Several bicycles are kept on the premises and are provided at no extra cost. St.Antonin has several centres for canoeing on the beautiful river Aveyron. Other sports catered for nearby are horseriding, caving, tennis and golf. Leisure centres are approx 30 mins drive away.


Q: How do I find out more? A: Visit jmlvillas.com Here

Sunday 17 October 2010

Paying the price for poor parking in France


Anyone taking the risk of parking their cars illegally could face a fine double what they would have to pay today if the National Assembly vote gives the nod to a new proposal.


Parking fines will double in price if the amendment is passed.An amendment put forward by the ruling UMP party was voted on by the Finance Committee in France’s Lower House, and the proposal now goes up before the French deputies as part of upcoming budget debates.


Read the full story in The Riviera Times (from the south of France) by following the link below.
Paying the price for poor parking - The Riviera Times Online

If you are thinking of visiting the south of France in the next few weeks, take a look at our cotedazur rental site. Full of information and self catering accommodation for the Riviera. Eat - Drink - Stay and wake up in the Riviera.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Villa I Poggioli, Bocca di Magra (Ameglia) SP Italy


These lovely sea front apartments offer a breathtaking sight of the Alpi Apuane in the heart of the Mediterranean nature. They have just been added to the jmlvillas.com Self catering holiday home advertising site.


The location of the Villa makes it perfect as a base for both beach holidays and one day excursions. It is only 10 minutes away from the border of Tuscany and in a couple of hours through the motorway, Florence, Pisa and Lucca are easy to reach.

The well- known elegant Portofino and Le Cinque Terre are recommended tours, but for anyone wishing to discover Liguria’s lesser known charms, enchantig medieval hilltop villages in the unspoilt nature are also suggested.

The special dishes from Liguria can be tasted in the lovely restaurants along the river, where they cook fresh fish that local fishermen daily provide.

The villa is located 50 metres from the sea at the mouth of the River Magra. The sandy beaches are only 5 minutes walking distance. The drugstore is in the village, by the small port. The supermarket is only ten minutes walking distance from the villa


The nearest airports of Pisa and Genoa are about 50 minutes drive through the motorway A12 Villa I Poggioli

Qualunque sia la ragione, la vita frenetica e il logorio di tutti i giorni svaniscono nel momento in cui si trova relax in questo angolo di Paradiso nel Parco Naturale del Magra e del Montemarcello.
Questi deliziosi appartamenti fronte mare offrono una vista mozzafiato delle Alpi Apuane nel cuore della vegetazione mediterranea.

La villa è ubicata in maniera perfetta sia per chi la sceglie per una vacanza al mare sia per chi desidera una base per escursioni nelle vicinanze. Infatti percorrendo la strada lungomare, in pochi minuti troviamo la Toscana, con le città di Firenze, Pisa e Lucca raggiungibili in breve tempo.

L’elegantissima Portofino e Le Cinque Terre sono mete turistiche imperdibili, ma per chi avesse voglia di scoprire il fascino celato della Liguria, si consigliano quei paesini in alto sulle colline immersi in una natura incontaminata.

Per scoprire le specialità gastronomiche della Liguria basta scegliere uno dei tanti graziosi ristoranti lungo il fiume, dove ogni giorno si gusta pesce fresco fornito direttamente dai pescatori del luogo.Villa I Poggioli


Quoi qu’il en soit, la frénésie et le stress du quotidien disparaîtront sitot arrivé dans ce coin de paradis du Parc Regional du fleuve Magra et de Montemarcello.

Les jolis appartements en face de la mer font profiter d’une vue étonnante des Alpi Apuane au coeur de la nature méditerranéenne.

Cette charmante villa est située de façon à ce qu’elle puisse servir soit pour des vacances à la mer, soit comme une aire de repos pour des excursions aux alentours. Elle se trouve juste à dix minutes de l’entrée de l’autoroute qui mène aux villes de Florence, Pisa et Lucques.

Les charmantes stations de Portofino et le Cinque Terre sont les destinations les plus connues, mais pour ceux qui ont envie de découvrir le charme caché de la Ligurie, nous vous conseillons les petits villages perchés dans les collines et abrités par une nature saine.

Pour découvrir la Ligurie gourmande, il suffit de choisir l’un des nombreux petits restaurants le long du fleuve, où l’on peut trouver chaque jour dans son assiette des coquillages et du poisson frais rammenés par le pecheurs du village. Villa I Poggioli


Будни, лихорадочный ритм и усталость от повседневности - все исчезает во время отдыха в этом райском уголке Национального парка Магры и Монтемарчелло.

Из прелестных аппартаментов у моря открывается захватывающий дух вид на Апуанские Альпы с пышной средиземноморской растительностью.

Удобное расположение виллы позволяет провести не только каникулы на море,но и совершить экскурсии в находящиеся поблизости города. По бегущей у
берега моря дороге можно быстро добраться до Тосканы, с ее легко досягаемыми Флоренцией, Пизой и Луккой.

Элегантный Портофино и Чинкве Терре давно являются излюбленными уголками для туристов, а вот для тех , кто хотел бы открыть для себя неповторимое очарование Лигурии, можно посоветовоть посетить построенные высоко на холмах деревушки,окруженные целомудренной природой.

В прекрасных ресторанах, расположившихся на берегу реки, можно попробовать блюда лигурийской кухни, здесь всегда свежая рыба , которую доставляют местные рыбаки. Villa I Poggioli