Many Happy Returns!!

In the past few weeks I have had a few of my favourite villas come back to Quality Villas and all I can say is Many Happy Returns!

These popular villas have given many of our clients holidays to remember for their each individual appeal, whether it has been a classy beachfront villa in Sete or a Perigourdine estate in the Dordogne or a spacious Maison d’ Maitre in the rural countryside of the Tarn et Garonne.

All of these properties are perfect for your family villa holiday in France.

In Sete, that jewel in the Languedoc, is Villa Mont St Clair which faces the sea and very well appointed. The house stands out amongst the others around it with a particularly unusual green tiled tower which houses part of the principal bathroom. The property has been lovingly restored with marble floors, Italian style ceiling, and grand staircase with Art Deco cast iron and cherry wood finish and stained glass windows. This Languedoc beach front villa is rather special with a champagne reception on arrival to the new additions exclusive to our clients.

Our second property is La Tonnelle which is an imposing Maison d’Maitre situated on the outskirts of the medieval village of Castelsagrat. The whole area is rich with fertile countryside, rolling hills and valleys. This house is spacious, well furnished and very comfortable. It has large rooms and furnished with antiques yet has a relaxing ambience about it. Many attractive features adorn each room, making this property rather special south west France holiday rental. A large mature garden and swimming pool is always a popular choice for couples with the added bonus of being able to walk into the village to the local restaurant or for your morning croissants.

Lastly, we have welcomed the return of La Perigourdine which is a large estate that has been renovated into a wonderful magical home yet still retains many original features. Beautifully furnished rooms, high beamed ceilings and a stunning Salon is sure to delight all who stay here. The estate comprises of four buildings with the Barn and Farmhouse as the main rental accommodation. A 25 metre lap pool, extensive grounds and a 12 flag golf course completes the picture. On site guardians on hand to assist clients comfort ensures a family farmhouse holiday in Dordogne to remember.

If you would to talk to one of our experienced staff about the above properties or any others in our extensive range of luxury villas in France please contact our office on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove

Manager

France & Morocco

A seafood experience in more ways than one!!

I am, once again, dreaming of Morocco and mentally organising my next trip to this wonderful country. All areas of Morocco excite me from the bustling cities to the dramatic coastline and coastal towns. I adore the buzz of Essaouira and the calmness of Aglou where we have an array of stunning beachside villas perfect for that Agadir beach villa holiday. One of the 6 villas we have on a private domain is Dar Takama which is beautifully furnished with Indonesian artefacts and extremely comfortable furnishings and colourful fittings. The infinity pool faces the beach so soak up the sun and enjoy the sea views. This Morocco beach family holiday villa is just 2 miles from the seaside village of Aglou Plage. http://www.qualityvillas.com/agadir/tiznit/dar-takama

Another wonderful town is 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 spider crab are a speciality here and a perfect accompaniment with a delicious Moroccan salad. On my last visit to Oualidia I found two excellent restaurants whereby I enjoyed the freshest squid I have ever tasted. Calamari is my favourite seafood dish and I don’t care what form it takes in the cooking! Deep fried or dusted in flour and pan fried. In the evening I went to my second restaurant and ordered the set menu which came with oysters (I love them!) so much seafood and a feast of fish, ranging from sole, dorade and red mullet. I could hardly walk home after all this fabulous food to my Morocco villa near the beach.

Shortly we will have a little gem of a property in our Morocco portfolio. This delightful small town house is situated in a development of similar properties near the lagoon and sandy beaches. The domain has 3 large swimming pools and situated close to the shops and weekly market. This house is perfect for 2 adults and a small child and is brightly painted with Moroccan furnishings and its own flower filled courtyard garden. This great value house will be available soon on our website for your villa holiday in Morocco. Not only is this house great value but its only 3 minutes walk to the two restaurants above where you can enjoy the best seafood and freshly caught fish you have ever had!

Contact us now to discuss your sunshine holiday in Morocco on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk

Gill Woolsgrove

Manager

Morocco

Feria Fever in Beziers and two new villas.......

Having just come back from the Languedoc whereby I procured two new super family villas in the Languedoc I visited Beziers and looked at the cathedral that overlooks the River Orb and though I would read up about this lovely town. Little did I know that Beziers is famous for its annual Feria, which for those who are not familiar with, is the annual festival of bullfighting.

This annual event takes place in mid August when partying takes place from dawn ‘til the following dawn in some cases! The lovely brick arena becomes the focus of the festival where bullfights take place several times a day.
Love it or loathe it, bullfighting is enduringly popular in the south of France, particularly in the Languedoc, and is very much part of the culture here. It has been a tradition for centuries, due to the close proximity to Spain.
Much pomp and ceremony takes place during a bullfight, it is basically a test of courage, strength and skill between a bull and a matador, or torero. The torero must read the bull and anticipate his actions. His job is, admittedly to stay alive, but most importantly to entertain the crowd. Depending on his prowess (and the applause in the arena), the dignitary of the day may award an ear, or two ears, as a mark of his performance. For some though, it’s the natty little costumes they wear and those very, very tight trousers …....

If you can’t bear the spectacle of the bull fights, or corridas as they are called here, you don’t have to. You can still glean all of the excitement, admire the culture and soak up the atmosphere on the roads of Beziers after the arena empties. There is so much to do and see you will find that you want to be in two places at once. There is the enchanting horse show, the Spanish flamenco dancers, concerts, processions of floats and bands and much, much more. The Feria offers many different types of entertainment which suit all ages. There is always something going on, and most of it is free.

My first new villa is in Argeliers, a bustling little village south of Beziers in the heart of the Minervois wine growing region of the Languedoc. This family villa rental is a delight with such a pretty garden and pool – perfect for those lazy days by the pool, or if you fancy a day at the beach, its only 25 minutes away. The house is bright and light and very comfortable with the added bonus of full air conditioning.

My second villa is in the charming village of Autignac which is north of Beziers and just 15 minutes to the beach, perfect for your villa holiday in the Languedoc. The scented garden to the front leads you to a comfortable villa which affords lovely views across the countryside. This villa has a relaxing atmosphere with the air conditioning and a pretty rear garden and pool.

These new villas will be on our website soon so keep logging on to our web site www.qualityvillas.com

Call us now to discuss your villa holiday or ask for a copy of our new 2011 brochure on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

Long sandy beaches, warm Mediterranean waters in the fabulous Languedoc region

Reading the news today is nothing but doom and gloom so I decided to turn my thoughts to summer holidays. I am travelling to the Languedoc shortly to visit new villas for our Languedoc portfolio of luxury houses and farmhouses near the coast.

Picture the Languedoc and you imagine Carcassonne with its medieval city with jousting and troubadours; the fabulous Corbiere Valley with endless vineyards; the Ariege with its breathtaking backdrop of the Pyrenees to pretty coastal towns of Port Vendres and Collieure famed for their fabulous seafood. For those wine buffs amongst us there are no less than 4 main domains in this area offering heady reds to sample and to buy. The beaches are long and sandy and perfect for children to play or for Mum & Dad to sunbathe. Water sports are also an option should you feel energetic.

All along this region we have family villas to rent in Languedoc still with some availability. Two of my favourites fairly new to our programme are Villa Natalya & Villa Olya both with modern interiors, private pools, gymnasiums, saunas, private cinemas and a speedboat! Both villas are right on the beach near Sete, a pretty coastal town famous for its canals and oysters.

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

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

We are proud to announce our new arrivals......

We have 3 new luxury villas to add to our collection in Aglou Plage, south of Agadir. They are right on the beach and all in a residential domain that offers quality accommodation with comfort in mind. Interest is growing already with these beach side villas in Morocco so read on and get booking!

Our newest recruits are Dar Takama http://www.qualityvillas.com/agadir/tiznit/dar-takama The style of decoration has an Indonesian flavour and oozes comfort with big settees and luxurious bedrooms. With comfort and style in mind this villa will delight all who stay here. Most of the rooms have sea views and a large first floor terrace that overlooks the beach. The villa has a patio next to the kitchen so perfect for breakfast as well as a large terrace that surrounds the pool area for poolside lunches or evening meals under the stars!

Our second arrival is Dar Kamar http://www.qualityvillas.com/agadir/tiznit/dar-kamar The villa is spacious, comfortable and furnished with white wooden furniture giving it a beach style ambience. Most of the rooms have sea views and a large first floor terrace that overlooks the beach. The villa has a patio next to the kitchen as well as a large terrace that surrounds the pool area for al fresco dining or just lazing in the sun listening to the waves coming in – pure relaxation!

Lastly, we have Dar Zidana http://www.qualityvillas.com/agadir/tiznit/dar-zidana Designed slightly differently from its sister villas on the domain, it has been decorated and furnished extremely well. This is a stylish villa in a modern style incorporating Moroccan furnishing with bright colours here and there. The front garden is stocked with palms, flowering shrubs and succulent plants. The first floor bedroom has sea views and a large terrace that overlooks the beach. The villa also has a private infinity style swimming pool and poolside terracing.

Contact us now to discuss your sunshine holiday on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillasmorocco.co.uk

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco

France - No: 1 destination for 2011

A new report shows that France is predicted as the country that most will want to visit in 2011 according to a report from the World Travel Organisation.

I have lived in France for 17 years and while food has almost doubled in price, eating out is still very cheap and public transport is efficient and cheap too!! Not only this but it is a relaxed and beautiful country whereby the French have a philosophy – you work to live and not live to work. The sheer fact of the lifestyle, beauty and most of all an unhurried way of life is exactly why it’s the number one place to visit.

Whilst many cannot up sticks and move here – you can come on holiday here and stay in one of our family villas in France from Brittany to the Cote d’ Azur.

The classic image of Brittany's coastline is that of massive Atlantic breakers bursting over defiant granite rocks, but Brittany's coastline actually offers a wide range of seashores, from small sandy or pebbly coves to sand dunes and broad sandy beaches; it also offers a wealth of inlets and harbours, making this region the most popular in France with sailing enthusiasts. The south-facing coast of the Morbihan benefits from a particularly mild climate. One of most popular villas rental in Brittany is Cottage on the Beach and its sister property House on the Beach.

The Dordogne with its 101 chateaux steeped in history to the lush green countryside and famous Dordogne River. Hire a kayak and pack a picnic for a glorious day out before having dinner in one of many fine restaurants or Auberges that are plentiful in this area. We have many superb villas in this area plus new villas that will surely please. View our family villas in Dordogne to sample other delights in this region.

Provence is a region of contrasts and colours. This delightful region of the French Midi (the South) is associated with warm breezes, a mild climate, and rolling hillsides covered in the gray washes of olive trees and lavender. The lavender fields are truly amazing to see with not only their beauty but the heady perfume that is in the air. View our villa rentals in Provence for your next holiday.

People in the hundreds of thousands flock to the Côte d'Azur or French Riviera for its sun and dazzling blue waters. This coastline is a constant hub of activity and excitement. The Riviera attracts an international group and jet-setters here to see and to be seen. If you want glamour and maybe spot a famous face or two then this is the place to be. So, to be one of the “in set” visit our website www.qualityvillas.com for your Cote d’Azur family villa rental now.

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

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

New Year and looking forward to the sun!!!

New Year is one of the oldest and most observed celebrations in countries all over the world and France is no exception! New Year's Eve is a great opportunity for families and friends to dine together once again at Le Réveillon or Fête de Saint-Sylvestre. At midnight streets fill with everyone moving outside to continue the celebration. In the Midi Pyrenees, where I live, the local tradition is to attend evening mass and then follow a procession to the vineyards and pick grapes at midnight.

Just after New Year, on Twelfth Night, we celebrate with King's cake (la galette des rois) which consists of a puff pastry case filled with frangipane. Frangipane is made with eggs, sugar, butter and ground almonds. The cakes are sold with a paper crown on top. A dried bean, small coin or ceramic figure is hidden in the filling. The person who finds the bean, coin or figure in their portion is 'king' for the day and wears the paper crown.

New Year is also the time when we start to think about our summer holidays and after weeks of snow and freezing temperatures it’s time to think of sun and your family farmhouse in South West France or your modern family villa in the Languedoc.

We have many new properties on our website with more being added daily – from a penthouse in St Jean de Luz to luxury villas in Agadir. As always, our villas and country houses in France, Italy or Morocco are of the highest standard that is the Quality Villas philosophy.

Call us now to discuss your villa holiday or ask for a copy of our new 2011 brochure on 01442 870055 or visit our website www.qualityvillas.com

Gill Woolsgrove
Manager
France & Morocco