There are certainly many good new Devon holiday cottages that have recently become available to be rented this year for your holidays. It’s an excellent area of the country to visit for a holiday, with plenty of attractions for the family to see and do. Here are just some of the brand new holiday cottages that have recently been added on Widmouth Farm in North Devon.
Widmouth Farm Cottages are a small set of cottages based on a 35 acre farm on the North Devon Coast, sleeping from 2 to 6 adults in each cottage. Ideal for a romantic getaway for a couple, or perfect to hire a few of the cottages together for a larger group break! Nearby are the theme park of Watermouth Castle, Exmoor Zoo, Exmoor Steam Railway and the wildlife and dinosaur park. The local scenery is certainly magnificent and the area welcomes bird watchers and painters and for the sporting holiday maker, activities including sea fishing and golfing opportunities are near by – that should be enough to keep all members of the family happy and entertained one way or another!
The self catering cottages have been converted from various barns and workers’ cottages that date back around 200 years. They are situated on the owners’ 35 acres of property, with part of the well known 180 mile Tarka Trail coastal footpath running around the border of the property. This makes it an excellent opportunity for walkers and ramblers to explore Exmoor and the North Devonshire coastline.
Out of the cottages, Wren Cottage is the smallest of the cottages with one double bedroom and sea views. Three of the cottages, Kingfisher Cottage, Swallow Cottage and The Round Barn are all slightly larger than Wren Cottage, sleeping up to 4 people, all having a double bedroom and a twin bedroom, although Kingfisher Cottage has a slightly bigger sleeping area as it can also have a divan to accommodate an extra person if required. Both of the smaller two cottages, Swallow Cottage and The Round Barn feature an open plan living room / dining room with kitchen and shower whilst Kingfisher Cottage also has a short bath with shower over.
Slightly larger than these is Pheasant Cottage, sleeping 6 adults, although not all adults will appreciate sleeping in the bunk room! The accommodation in Pheasant Cottage comprises of a double, twin bedroom and a bunk room for two people plus a spacious sitting room / dining room along with a gas coal burning stove, a bath with shower over and a kitchen along with a stable door out onto the garden.
Further afield attractions include The Milky Way Adventure Park, an all weather theme park full of rides, entertainment and live shows with lots to do for the whole family. The Museum of Dartmoor Life is beautifully set around a cobbled Victorian courtyard to tell the story of the local people of Dartmoor and how they lived and survived over 100 years ago. If you are considering a North Devon holiday cottage, then Widmouth Farm Cottages could be just what you are searching foryou’re your next summer holiday.
This article is one of set written after our own recent experiences when choosing a holiday villa in Casares Del Sol, in Spain’s Costa Del Sol. The path to holiday apartment purchase abroad has many routes and along our path we have picked up some knowledge.
Specifically this article briefly looks at the two types of property purchase. My sound advice is to engage an English speaking lawyer to lead you through the purchase maze. In Spain a property lawyer is called a Notary. The law in Spain is not like elsewhere and at first will seem daunting and complex but you will soon pick up the process. It does make life much easier if you can speak to your Notary.
Very basically there are two types of holiday property purchases abroad. ‘On plan’ where you buy a resale or newly completed holiday property and full payment is quickly due as in a normal house purchase, and ‘Off plan’ where you buy a holiday property still to be built or which is not yet completed. Payments are in stages.
In Spain ‘On plan’ deposits are normally referred to arras, deposito, fianza, and reserve. Whilst the deposit sum is negotiable allow for paying about 10 per cent of the purchase price, the balance is paid upon completion. Check as to whether your purchase contract, contracto states plainly whether the initial deposit is to be refunded in the event of non-completion. Expect there to be conditional clauses attached to a purchase contract, and are called clausulas abrogatorias.
‘Off plan’ is often the preferred choice both for the vendor and vendee. From the point of view of both parties the deposit can very low, in some cases 3-4,000 Euros. There is typically a 30 day cooling off period after which time normally 20-30% of the purchase price has to be paid, minus the initial deposit. The vendor loves ‘off plan’ since it is easy to sell the dream.
Our friends have been privy to this poetic license taking place when purchasing their own specific holiday properties ‘off plan’.
Example 1: The internal floor space appeared smaller when they obtained the keys than on the original specification, no less than 7 sq meters less in fact.
Example 2: The apartment block was lower down a hill than on the original plan, and consequently nearer to noise and the associated distraction from road traffic.
Lastly, before you decide which type of purchase is for you do plenty of research! And once you have decided on your apartment, sign up with a company that specialises in villa furnishing and get them to show you suitable villa furnishing packs that are within your budget.
The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa representing the best in Malaysia travel, recently received a highly acclaimed award in the Large Hotel Category at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organized by responsibletravel.com.
Launched in 2004, the awards are run in association with partners World Travel Market, The Daily Telegraph, Geographical Magazine and BBC World News Service. They are the most prominent and competitive of their kind in the world. This year a record 1,976 nominations were received from travelers around the world voting for tourism ventures that provide outstanding holidays that also benefit local people and destinations.
At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Mart (WTM) held in Docklands, London, the Awards were handed out to the recipients. The judges commented on Frangipani Langkawi Resort that: “More than 80% of Frangipani’s workforce is from the local community and 40% of its food is produced on the island. The resort also has a large environmental management program designed for progress
, extensively planting native trees and maintaining a wetland in the resort.”
Justin Francis, founder of The Responsible Tourism Awards and Managing Director, responsibletravel.com, said: “In this, the fifth year of the awards, the bar has been raised for responsible tourism yet again. What inspires me is the efforts that businesses and destinations are making in order to ensure that responsible tourism lies at the heart of their programs and plans. Without a doubt, this is the only way for the future – responsible travel is not a passing fad or a niche travel trend for marketing purposes. It is an entire, holistic approach to tourism operations.”
The award also creates awareness amongst hotels, resorts and tourism operators that there are greener operational policies that ultimately reduce environmental impacts. Resort owner, Mr Anthony Wong, said after acknowledging the award: “The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa has implemented various greening programs to streamline its daily operations and to minimize environmental impacts. Since the resort’s inception in 2006, we have set out to bring about various policies to reduce our impacts upon the environment. Some 100 initiatives are in place and listed on our website and we hope these will become a model for other resorts to follow.”
Mr Wong remarked that various methods have been introduced at the resort including reducing consumption especially wastage, effectively managing energy usage to reduce wastage, using environmentally-friendly detergents, filtering the resort’s ‘grey water’ through a wetland and working with the local authorities to reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to the island’s limited landfill.
“Everyone in the Frangipani Langkawi Resort community from the owners to management, staff and guests is encouraged to participate in our programs and we find that we have the full support of all. Being an island, Langkawi has many sensitive environmental variables that need to be carefully managed if tourism on the island is to be sustainable,” said Mr Wong.
The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa is a secluded and eco-friendly resort located along 400-metres of beautiful golden sands at Pantai Tengah, in Langkawi, a popular island resort in Malaysia. The resort is a 15-minute drive from the Langkawi International Airport and just a short walk to the island’s top restaurants, cafés, bars and shops at Pantai Tengah.
The 118-room resort offers spacious rooms, villas and suites with modern amenities. The Mentari Grill restaurant serves Asian and international cuisine, while the Coco Beach Jam bar offers stunning views of the Langkawi sunset.
Popular among families with young children, the resort’s other facilities include two swimming pools, outdoor jacuzzi, reflexology path, meeting room, recreational activities, room service, babysitting laundry, tour desk, transport services, souvenir shop and internet facilities.
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My partner and I had decided to purchase a villa in Spain. Talking with some friends who were also considering buying a villa it was suggested we join them at a villa exhibition in Birmingham.
To cover more ground, we split from them deciding to meet at lunchtime and recommend suitable stands to visit. They were late back however and a phone call revealed that they had brought an ‘off-plan’ apartment on the Costa Del Sol, west of Malaga, and were just finishing the necessary paperwork.
Frankly we thought them to be out of their heads to make such a fast decision. However, they knew that area of Spain well. We were more cautious. However upon their recommendation we visited the same stall and hey presto we had agreed a viewing flight to Spain before you could say ‘tapas!’. I must say though that the thought of a cheap break in Spain was quite appealing though. A weekend trip cost £95 each.
A few weeks later we flew into Malaga airport and were very impressed with a warm greeting from the sales person, Virgina. We were even more impressed that she knew our names. Our very own escort was very friendly and we were whisked away from the airport in a nice BMW company car.
After visiting lots of apartments and developments at both ends of our budget, we visited a development we liked at Casares Del Sol approximately half an hour from Gibraltar. It seemed to have everything we were expecting. It promised luxury apartments with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a high tech kitchen, set amidst tropical gardens with 7 swimming pools. Being British we displayed the ’stiff upper lip’ deciding to mull over the prospect during the course of the evening.
We did however see some other developments with Virginia so as to be 100% sure. There was no pressure placed upon us, the developments almost selling themselves. Virgina gave us sufficient help in seeing the various benefits of exactly where to purchase on a development. Consider for example things as views, noise levels, access as we get older (lift, stairs etc), proximity to pool, rental opportunity
We signed the purchase documents for Caseras and parted with 4,000 Euros. The lovely Virginia treated us to a slap up meal at Casares. Casares is a lovely traditional white washed mountain village from which our development gets its name. At this point she felt more like a new friend than a sales representative. As you can imagine we had many queries about[/apin]] what was to happen next and she was very patient [spin]answering them all.
We came back to the UK excited with dreamy thoughts of having many holidays in our home in the sun. Virgina kept in touch sometimes informing us to progress on the development and even sent the odd photographs of our plot.
My own advice is to carefully select which organisation you book your viewing trip with. Ask where you will stay for the visit and, of course, what is the cost. Finally ask plenty of questions, put together a list before you fly and have each question answered. And once you have selected your property, sign up with someone that specialises in villa furnishing and get them to show you options of villa furnishings packages that are within your price range.
Once a upon a time, (all good stories start like that), my partner and I were on holiday relaxing on a sun drenched beach. As usual our minds wandered to thoughts like ‘Why can’t we do this all the time?’ ‘Why do we cram in pleasure into a 2 or 3 week each holiday a year?’ ‘How could we make money to make our dreams a reality?’ After talking about it the answer was simple. Why not buy a holiday home abroad? It appeared to have lots of advantages. We could use it when we wanted too for weekends or holidays. We could offer it to family and friends and or even go with them and spend some quality time together. We could winter in Spain. We could rent it out to help pay the outgoings. The list advantages seemed endless.
Where to buy? After much discussions we finally agreed on Spain since it has lots of sunshine, with temperatures in the order of 7C/21c in the spring to 16C/34C in the summer, 10C/23C in the autumn and 2C/17C in the winter. It basks in an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. It has miles of beaches, lovely food, lots of green golf courses, friendly people and the flights from the UK are reasonably accessible. Another huge benefit was perceived to be the fact that a great many of the residents speak English. A major factor was the long list of activities and facilities the area offered.
We agreed finally on the Costa del Sol to purchase our property. We simply felt it was the place for us. Spain is a vast country and if you purchase for rentals some 8 million plus tourists visit each year. The scenery is dramatic, the coastline being backed by high mountain ranges. The coast is green and lush and the region virtually had everything on our wish list
Eventually we travelled to Spain, the end result being that we selected a property at Casares Del Sol and once set up with the required villa furnishing we have had several enjoyable trips there this year.
The process from concept to reality took about 2 years and we chose to share the experience with others thinking about tryinga similar life changing path. If we learnt one lesson to share with others, it is that villa furnishing packs really do take the stress out of the buying process.
If you are considering holidaying in Spain this summer you might consider staying at one of the popular apartments in Calahonda in Calahonda on the Spanish Costa Del Sol. Calahonda is a favourite destination for holiday-makers, due to its idyllic location set on the Mediterranean Sea mid way between the popular resorts of Fuengirola and Marbella (both about 10 minutes’ drive away). Calahonda’s has masses of facilities for tourists with an excellent bus service for those not wishing to drive, and a very wide variety of excellent bars, restaurants and a good many shops.
Interested? You will need to find a suitable rental villa or apartment property. We highly recommend staying at Las Palmeras de Calahonda a new apartment complex set at the top of the hills majestically overlooking mountains and rolling rural countryside down to the sea. Properties at Las Palmeras have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, each bathroom being well equiped having a bath with shower over and double sinks. The apartments can comfortably sleep 4-6 persons. There are some luxurious penthouse apartments which have an inbuilt Jacuzzi!
You will find Las Palmeras de Calahonda is easy to reach, being just 25 minutes from Malaga International Airport for starters. Either take the coastal road or the toll road. There are plenty of car hire facilities at Malaga Airport. If you do not wish to drive a hire car, a taxi will cost approximately 50 Euros each way. One can also fly into Gibraltar International Airport, some 60 minutes away by road. We regularly fly into both airports, depending on the cost of flights. Whilst the beaches in the area are lovely what else is there to do on a two week holiday? Well the Costa Del Sol has a great variety of attractions to suit all members of the family and keep them quiet. Here are just some of our favourites.
Tivoli World -Benalmadena
Tivoli World is the biggest Theme Park on the entire Costa Del Sol region. Open on weekends from 12pm, and Children under 1meter height get free entrance.
Sea Life Benalmadena
A magical marine experience. It has over 500.000 litres of water in which swim more than 5.000 different aquatic creatures, including species from the Mediterranean and some native to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and even creatures normally found in the Red Sea.
Selwo Safari – Estepona
Selwo brings the African wilderness to life and has Elephants, Tigers,Lions, Buffaloes and lots more interesting animals to view. Selwo is an experience for everyone from young to old.
Plaza Mayor – Malaga
A new concept of the traditional shopping centre has arrived in to the town of Malaga. This is the Plaza Mayor, which is now the biggest shopping and entertainment centre in Malaga.
Hippodromo – Fuengirola
The Hippodromo (racecourse) makes an entertaining day out for the whole family with a lot of excitement. Entrance and ample car parking is free.
So if you wish to stay in a Calahonda apartments and visit some of the attractions on offer consider renting an apartment at Las Palmeras de Calahonda on the Spanish Costa Del Sol
If you are contemplating holidaying in Spain you might consider staying at one of the popular Calahonda apartments on the Costa Del Sol. Calahonda is a favourite destination for holiday-makers, due to its idyllic location which is set on the Mediterranean Sea between Fuengirola and Marbella (both about 10 minutes’ drive away). Calahonda’s has masses of facilities for tourists with an excellent bus service for those not wishing to drive, and a very wide variety of excellent bars, restaurants and shops.
Interested? You will need to find a suitable rental villa or apartment. We highly recommend staying at Las Palmeras de Calahonda, which is a new apartment complex that is set at the top of the hills majestically overlooking mountains and rolling rural countryside to the sea below. Properties at Las Palmeras have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, each bathroom having a bath with shower over and double sinks. The apartments can comfortably sleep 4-6 persons.
For those holidaymakers who just want to relax one can do worse than visit the local harbours of Marbella and Puerto Banus. One of my favourite haunts is Calahonda’s own harbour, Puerto Cabopino, just 5 minutes along the coast road towards the island of Gibraltar. If sport is your thing or you just fancy having go at something new, play tennis at the Aztec Sports Centre or you could try the new Club Del Sol. Try the water sports at nearby Cabopino, or instead play golf at one of the local golf courses, Club Siesta, just two minutes from Las Palmeras, or Cabopino Golf Course. Although there are quite a few more nearby if you want plenty of variety. Why not go shopping for a day for the latest fashions in the modern shopping centres of Fuengirola, Marbella and Puerto Banus or simply try to haggle for a bargain at the local markets. If you find that you spend too much one can always try and win some back by having a flutter horse racing at Hipodromo Race Course.
If you do not fancy moving too far from where you are staying, Calahonda has three good commercial centres, which house most of the development’s 45 excellent restaurants, cafeterias and pubs as well as seven banks, and several supermarkets. Calahonda is known as one of the leading and most popular residential communities on the Costa del Sol, whose population swells from just 14,000 to around 45,000 in the high season. This, of course, ensures the population is well catered for.
Las Palmeras de Calahonda is very easy for tourists to reach, being just 25 minutes from Malaga International Airport. You can either take the coastal road or the toll road if you are collecting your hire car at the airport. There are plenty of car hire facilities available at Malaga Airport. If you do not wish to drive, a taxi will cost approximately 50 Euros each way. One can also fly into Gibraltar International Airport, some 60 minutes away as an alternative method of travelling. We regularly fly into both airports, depending on the cost of the best available flights. Calahonda is also very well serviced by buses.
So if you wish to stay at a Calahonda apartments for your holiday consider renting an apartment at Las Palmeras de Calahonda on the Costa Del Sol.
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The Algarve is probably the most well known tourist destination within Portugal, favoured for fabulous beaches, wonderful weather and picturesque villages. The sporting activities are numerous and the well known golf courses plentiful and of a standard to keep the keenest golf satisfied. But if you are considering an Algarve Villas, then where are you going to choose to stay in? Well, one option is Acoteias.
Acoteias in the Algarve
Located in the central region of the Algarve, Acoteias is certainly a pretty village that is perfect for peaceful holidays. It enjoys valuable access to one of the best beaches in the Algarve region and as it is located a few kilometers inland, rather than on the water’s edge, it still maintains the traditional village feel. But this does not necessarily mean that it is short on important facilities for the visiting tourists as most of the accommodation is set closer to the coast with easy access to the sandy beach.
Acoteias – With Access To The Longest Of Portugal’s Golden Beaches
Acoteias village is just 10 minutes away from the long golden beach at Praia de Falesia, which is the longest beach in the whole of the Algave region, stretching for a whole 6 kilometers, or 4 miles. It runs from Quarteira to Olhos d’Agua and because of its huge expanse you should always be able to find your very own, individual spot. To reach the beach you pass through a scenic drive of pine trees, finally reaching the Blue Flag awarded beach and accessing it through a set of steep steps. The beach itself is picturesque as it is lined with red tinged sandstone cliffs and pretty thatched wooden umbrellas. There are various playgrounds for the children to entertain them and beach bars to entertain the adults.
Relax in Acoteias
The area is best suited to those seeking quiet, relaxing holidays. Nightlife is not too noisy, although Albufeira is just a few kilometers away for the all-night bars and a busier night life. The large beach offers a wide selection of watersports, including sailing, diving and deep sea fishing and other sports are available locally such as tennis, cycling and walking. Being the Algarve, excellent golf is also available to the enthusiasts, with the very well known Vilamoura just 10 minutes away. Other resorts are near by and are also easily reachable by car if you want to explore the region in more detail.
Acoteias With Ideal Weather
Because it is located within the Algarve, Acoteias benefits from the glorious typical Mediterranean climate with long hot summers, yet mild winters. As with other areas of the Algarve, Acoteias typically has 300 days of sun each year. Although the daytime temperature can reach 30 degrees in the summer, there is also a wlcome sea breeze to help make the heat bearable. The wonderful sun without the pain of the scorching heat make Acoteias a perfect destination for a holiday, so well worth considering if you are planning an apartment in Algarve holiday. Don’t miss out.
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If you are considering one of the many Algarve villas on offer for this year’s holiday, then what activities are you going to find when you get there? Well a lot actually, including golf, tennis, water sports, wind surfing, water skiing, diving, deep see fishing, family days out and much, much more.
Golf
The Algarve is certainly one of Europe’s top golfing areas, with around twenty top quality golf courses to choose from for the visiting golfer. The weather gives ideal playing conditions throughout the year and the golf courses are top quality themselves, some would even go as far as to say amongst the best in Europe, maybe even the best in the world. The Algarve’s golf courses attract amateurs and professionals alike to take advantage of the mild sunny climate and the picturesque settings of the golf courses. Golfers of every level are welcomed in the Algarve throughout the year.
Tennis
There are also a good range of tennis courses to take advantage of around the Algarve region, with the idea climate permitting playing throughout the year. There are plenty of clubs and facilities in which to practice your game in the wonderful sunshine.
Horse riding
Horse riding is another sport available to enthusiasts and beginners in the Algarve. It’s an excellent way of exploring the local countryside and coastline, without putting too much effort into actually getting around. There are many stables offering one hour rides for beginners up to full day hacks for the more experienced riders. Although many of the stables are located inland, plenty of them can transfer their customers to and from the resorts and stables for those without a hire car or not wishing to drive.
Water sports
If you are wanting to try your hand out at water sports in the warm, sunny climate then the Algarve has plenty for you to choose from thanks to the friendly weather. Most of the beaches can offer some sort of water based activities, being popular ways of relaxing down on the beach.
Diving
Some people consider the Algarve to be one of the best scuba diving locations in Europe, thanks to its rocky coastline. Divers can witness the many wrecks, reefs and caves on offer that act as hosts to different fish species. Most of the beaches in the Algarve are suitable for beach diving from, with dive schools offering a range of services, from try dives, PADI Open Water certification, Advanced Diver and specialty courses and on to guided dives for qualified divers.
Deep-sea fishing
Another claim the Algarve has to the best in Europe list of sports is that for deep sea fishing. Trips on offer allow the chance to fish for shark, bass, blue fish and tuna. Trips depart from a variety of locations along the Algarve coastline.
Family days out
If you are on a family holiday and want a break from the sports, there are plenty of family days out to try as well. From theme parks to water parks, go karting or sea trips on the boats for all of the family, there’s plenty to be seeing and doing when staying in one of the many villas Algarve on offer to the tourists.
The Algarve is no doubt Portugal’s most popular and well known tourist region and there are a fantastic choice of villas Algarve to choose from in the various areas. It is a picturesque holiday location that attracts a good mixture of families, couples and keen golfers to the fabulous sandy beaches, beautiful villages and top class sporting facilities. The location of the Algarve resting on the tip of Portugal facing into the Atlantic Ocean gives the area a perfect climate with over 300 days of sunshine and hot, dry summers combined with warm, pleasant and enjoyable winters. There are over 100 sandy beaches to choose from over the coastline, which are accessible from a wide choice of resorts.
A picturesque coastline
The main pull for attracting many visitors to the area is this coastline with its limestone cliffs, sandy beaches and interesting rock formations. There are around 100 miles of coastline, stretching from Cape St Vincent in the east, along to Vila Real de Santo Antonio. Much of this coastline has been developed into the wide selection of tourist resorts on offer to visitors to the area. Many of these started life as traditional small fishing villages, but are now filled with quality hotels and apartments along with plenty of busy bars and seafood restaurants. Some of these traditional villages still maintain the feel and charm because of the traditional white washed buildings and cobbled streets.
Excellent choice of resorts
Depending on what you want from a holiday destination, you might prefer to choose a resort with plenty of busy nightlife, noisy bars, clubs and English food restaurants. Or you might prefer to choose to spend your holidays in a resort with easy access to the best beaches on offer in the area or a quiet inland town or village, which may just show you a side of the Algarve that you were not expecting to see. There are also resorts offering truly top of the range sporting facilities, mainly the well known golf courses of the area.
Plenty of sport
Golf is the number one sport in the Algarve, with approaching twenty courses to choose from. Some of these are considered to be amongst the best available to play on in Europe. Golf isn’t the only sport on offer. There are plenty of watersports on offer from the beaches including diving opportunities. Cycling and tennis are also available across the region.
An ideal destination
So if you fancy spending a summer holiday in a sunny, friendly country with plenty of relaxation and sandy golden beaches and meals featuring locally caught fish and seafod, then one of the many villas Algarve on offer could be right up your street. With day trips inland offering another view of the picturesque region, there is plenty to see and do on a holiday.
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