Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Thinking of this old song and watching the news reports of snow in England makes
me think of warmer climes such as Morocco where the temperatures at the moment
are in the mid 70°s. As you sit and shiver and listen to the doom and gloom of more
snow on the way then cast your minds to a Morocco luxury villa right on the beach.

We have villas in Aglou Plage and with 3 more villas in the pipeline to go onto our website in this region near Agadir so start thinking about your winter sun holiday now.

Equally, you could start to think about your summer holiday in one of our South West France farmhouses or luxury villas on the Cote D’Azur when our new brochure becomes available just after Christmas.

Whatever you choice you can be assured of a Quality Villa for your winter or summer holiday.

We have been taking bookings for next summer for a few weeks now and some of our most popular houses are getting booked up so hurry and book your French villa holiday or Beachside Morocco villa holiday now!

If you would to talk to one of our experienced staff about our luxury villas in France and Morocco contact our office on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillas.com

If you would like a copy of our new 2011 brochure call our office on the number above or order a copy via our website www.qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove
Regional Manager
France & Morocco

Exciting new villas in Oualidia & Essaouira with Quality Villas

I have just returned from another trip to Morocco and this time I visited Oualidia and Essaouira which are on the coast between Casablanca and Agadir.

Due to the success of our Aglou Plage portfolio which features luxury beachside villas in Agadir Quality Villas are keen to expand into additional coastal regions whereby families and adults can experience the long sandy beaches, memorable sunsets and have a wonderful relaxing beach holiday.

Morocco still retains its history and culture and it remains remarkably inexpensive and with its all round sunny climate and high temperatures it’s a must to visit for your Morocco beach villa holiday.

My first port of call was Oualidia with its fabulous lagoon and long sandy beach. The town is small but big in impact and a surfer’s paradise. Fresh caught oysters and crab are a speciality here and a perfect accompaniment with a delicious Moroccan salad. I found two excellent restaurants whereby I enjoyed fresh squid for lunch and in the evening a feast of fish, ranging from sole, dorade and red mullet. Both meals were amazingly inexpensive too! I visited two new villas that I feel will be perfect for our Morocco family villa portfolio.

My next seaside destination was the adorable town of Essaouira with its blue & white painted houses, excellent food, medina and the harbour. A must is to go early in the morning to see the catch come in and then wander to many of the cafes for your morning coffee. Freshly caught fish and seafood is a speciality here as well as many restaurants cooking excellent Moroccan tajines and couscous. The long sandy beach is perfect for families with miles of sand for children to play. I visited a charming Riad which has its own plunge pool, a rarity in Essaouira, and within walking distance to the beach. This Riad will be perfect for your Morocco beach villa holiday.

These new villas will be on our website later this year so keep logging on to our web site www.qualityvillas.com or www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk and consider your next holiday in this new and exciting addition to our Morocco portfolio.

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

Christmas is coming.....

As Christmas starts to approach (even though it is November!) we forget all about our French family holidays in France we had this year and focus on the festivities. Whereas UK has one long holiday that stretches from Christmas Eve to New Year in France it is quite different!! When I first moved here 17 years ago there was nothing – no Christmas trees, no decorations, no Christmas lights in the towns or villages and no turkeys! Now, it is quite different with all these things but France still retains its own traditions.

Most French homes decorate their homes at Christmas time with a Nativity scene or crèche with little clay figures called 'santons' or 'little saints' that are still made from moulds that have passed down since the 17th century. Christmas markets have now begun and this year marks the second of these in my area of South West France. Generally, the Christmas markets, with their little wooden huts selling gifts were traditionally in the North of France around the Alsace region. Some of our family farmhouses in South West France are available at Christmas & New Year with a roaring log fire and warm home comforts.

Food in France at Christmas time is quite different from UK. However, there is a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the Buche de Noel, meaning 'Christmas Log.' The main Christmas feast is quite grand and is known as 'Le Reveillon', served as a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Different regions have different traditional menus and in the South West it is oysters, turkey and foie gras. French families also bake a Three Kings Cake with a bean hidden in it on the Twelfth Day after Christmas. The lucky person to find the bean in their slice is crowned the King or Queen, for the day.

We at Quality villas enjoy our Christmas and New Year but we are still on hand to discuss your 2011 summer holiday. So, when the holiday programmes come on the TV on Boxing Day it will be your reminder to call us to discuss your French villa holiday!!

If you would to talk to one of our experienced staff about your luxury villa in France contact our office on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillas.com


Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

Ships of the desert...

The allure of Morocco goes hand in hand with the images and culture of caravans of camels and their owners trekking across the desert. Even though the camels of Morocco are not used as a method of transport, they have become vital in the tourism industry and to the income of many locals. In Aglou Plage where our luxury beachside villas in Agadir are based, camel trekking along the shore is a pastime most visitors enjoy.

Traditionally camels have two humps on their backs but the camels used in Morocco only have one. Camels in Morocco are therefore known as Dromedaries, are rarely found in the wild and most of those seen walking around the landscape have owners. Often herds that have not been domesticated to a certain degree can be seen, but they will still follow their nomadic owners from one feeding ground to another.

These very gentle creatures are highly intelligent and extremely patient. They have long thick eyelashes and very hairy ears that protect their eyes and ears from the sand. Full-grown camels can stand at a height of between six or seven feet and their lifespan ranges between twenty-five to fifty years of age. Owners and locals respect the Dromedaries for their natures and their ability to survive in the desert with very little food and water. Their amazing ability to survive the desert heat is by being able to increase their own body heat.

So, while the women at Aglou Plage are learning the skills of making a Moroccan tajine, the men are trekking on their camels dreaming of being the next Omar Sharif !
We have new villas in Aglou Plage and on two different domains. All of our Agadir luxury villas are on the beach and with the excellent year round climate is perfect for your winter and spring break.

If you would like to speak to a specialist on a Morocco villa holiday do visit this site on line: http://www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk or contact our office or email us.

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

A fishy tale....

I have just returned from a week’s holiday near Agadir – Aglou Plage to be precise where we have beachfront villas in Aglou as part of my Morocco portfolio for Quality Villas.

As the villa I stayed in was right on the beach then what better idea than to have freshly caught fish for supper. All along this coastline from Agadir to Mirleft are fishing boats and many single fishermen casting their fishing rods from the shoreline. The Atlantic Ocean offers some great sports fishing. Tunas and marlins are among the main game fishes here, and both deep-sea and coastal fishing are available. Fishing is Agadir is good throughout the year, and there are several charter boats available for fishing trips.

The first morning I was there the local fisherman knocked at my door selling fish. I settled on a large sole and it did not disappoint even though I probably paid well over the odds for it! It was delicious and this whetted my appetite for more.

In the village of Aglou Plage where our luxury villas in Aglou are located is the local fish market which is government controlled. You visit in the morning depending on the weather to witness the catch being brought in. Then the bargaining starts for a good price for anything from shark, tuna, sole or marlin, to name but a few. The fish is so fresh and perfect to BBQ or coat in seasoned flour and pan fry until golden.

A trip to the fish counter in Tiznit market is indeed interesting where a good variety of fish is sold. Here you can get your choice of fish gutted, descaled and cleaned and even told a tale about the fishing industry along this coastline. For me, squid is my favourite jewel of the sea and I have had love affair with this wriggling, ugly specimen for years! I love it whether it’s grilled, fried or stuffed. I had the best squid of my life in a small restaurant in Sidi Ifni which is about 45kms from Aglou Plage where our luxury villas on the beach are. It was so fresh, so yummy that I could have eaten platefuls!

If fishing is your “thing” or just eating it then a holiday in Agadir is just for you. You can fish for your own supper! Why not think about an autumn or Winter break now in one of our Morocco luxury villas in Agadir.

Contact us now to discuss your autumn and winter sun holiday on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

It’s not all sunbathing in Morocco!!

When people think of a beach holiday in Morocco they think of sun, sun bathing and getting that golden tan. There is so much to do and see in this wonderful country ranging from camel riding and skiing!! Our portfolio of villas can encompass all these things thus making your Morocco villa holiday a little different.

All these activities are available all year round so why not think about your Winter Sun holiday now with a beach villa in Agadir or a Morocco luxury villa in Marrakech.

Golf
Golf flourished under King Hassan II, who was an accomplished player, and has continued to grow in popularity. With all year of blue skies and sunshine, golfers can enjoy a round at any time of the year in extremely attractive locations, enjoying pine and eucalyptus lined fairways or spectacular mountain views. Green fees are far less expensive than European courses too.

Walking, hiking trekking
There’s no better way to get to know Morocco than on foot. No matter whether it’s a gentle city stroll or a climb up Toubkal, Africa’s highest peak. In Summer, hiking provides an escape from the heat of the towns, Winter’s ideal for exploring southern deserts. Trekking can be arranged to suit all abilities, providing an opportunity to get away from the usual tourist areas, while mules carry food, equipment and personal belongings.

Horse and camel riding
There are excellent equestrian centres throughout the country catering for riders of all abilities. For some people, riding a camel is just downright painful, for others it is the only way to explore the desert. Either way, it is an experience that won’t be forgotten.

Skiing
When people think of Morocco, it is unlikely they’ll think of skiing, but the High Atlas Mountains have two ski resorts with gentle slopes for beginners and real challenges for advanced skiers.

Fishing
Morocco has almost every kind of fishing. Boat trips can be arranged on the Atlantic coast where there are sea bream, tuna, swordfish, marlin and barracuda. And there are gentle and fast-flowing inland rivers, wadis and beautiful lakes where the angler may land pike, perch, roach, trout, carp, eel and barbel.

Water sports
Every type of water sport is catered for along Morocco’s 1100-mile plus coastline from sailing, yachting, windsurfing, surfing and kayaking. There are good centres for scuba diving and the resort of Essaouira offers particularly good surfing and windsurfing. Inland, there’s white-water rafting on the rivers of the High and Middle Atlas.

Sightseeing
Morocco’s museums are often works of art themselves, palaces of mosaics and marble, while the souks are not just places to buy and sell but the focal point of Moroccan life. Away from the towns, there is much to explore in the mountains and deserts and the Berber villages, where the culture has remained almost unchanged for hundreds of years.

If you would like to speak to a specialist on a Morocco villa holiday do visit this site on line: http://www.qualityvillas.com or contact our office or email us on info@qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

The Morocco adventure continues.....

In late Autumn I will be off again to Morocco again and this time I will be travelling to Oualidia and Essaouira which are on the coastline between Casablanca and Agadir. Ideal destinations for your luxury beach villa in Morocco.

Due to the success of our Aglou Plage portfolio which features villas in Agadir Quality Villas is keen to expand into additional coastal regions whereby families and adults can experience the long sandy beaches, memorable sunsets and have a wonderful relaxing beach holiday. Morocco still retains its history and culture and it remains remarkably inexpensive and with its all round sunny climate and high temperatures it’s a must to visit for your Morocco family villa holiday.

My first port of call will be Oualidia with its fabulous lagoon and long sandy beach. The town is small but big in impact and a surfer’s paradise. Fresh caught oysters and crab are a speciality here and a perfect accompaniment with a delicious Moroccan salad. We have 2 new villas that we hope to procure and as always they will be quality villas as our name applies.

My next seaside destination is the adorable town of Essaouira with its blue & white painted houses, excellent food medina and the harbour. A must is to go early in the morning to see the catch come in and then wander to many of the cafes for your morning coffee. Freshly caught fish and seafood is a speciality here as well as many restaurants cooking excellent Moroccan tajines and couscous. The long sandy beach is perfect for families with miles of sand for children to play. I will be visiting a lovely Riad which has its own plunge pool, a rarity in Essaouira.

These new villas will be on our website later this year so keep logging on to our web site www.qualityvillas.com or www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk and consider your next holiday in this new and exciting addition to our Morocco portfolio.

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco