Hideaway holiday homes
What better way to escape the crowds than staying in someone else’s secret holiday hideaway for a truly authentic travel experience? In January, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk asked its 14,500+ holiday property owners to share their secrets about the best places to get away from it all. The responses were numerous and varied, with owners keen to share the delights of their undiscovered treasures with other travellers.
From properties a short hop away in Europe to little-known gems in the Caribbean, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk lists hundreds of secluded holiday homes in unspoilt destinations for a trip full of discovery, peace and tranquillity.
The site now also lists numerous eco-friendly, solar-powered, and organic-themed properties.
Thanks to its easy to use interactive maps and intuitive search tools, these hidden treasures are easy to find on Holiday-Rentals.co.uk. The ‘Advanced Search’ enables travellers to search for properties in villages, the mountains, rural locations or near the sea, and also for properties that are ‘away from it all’.
Below is a short list of recommended destinations and properties, but we encourage you to find many more by browsing Holiday-Rentals.co.uk for inspiration.
Europe
Lunigiana, Northern Tuscany, ITALY
Holiday-Rentals.co.uk lists 47 properties in Lunigiana, the ‘hidden Tuscany’, including apartments in converted mills, farmhouses and stately stone country houses. With rates from around £250 to £2,000 per week.
Lindsay Norris, owner of property 16289 and a Lunigiana resident since 1996 says, “Lunigiana is a magical, unspoilt area, free from tourist crowds, where medieval castles and villages perch high above green wooded valleys. It has a mild climate, a calm and soothing atmosphere, and hills criss-crossed by crystal clear streams. The area offers something for everyone, with museums; thermal waters; sport centres; skiing at Cerreto Laghi, the largest Appenine ski resort; fishing and trekking on horse back or by foot. Added to all of this is the folklore, traditions, the cuisine, the local handicrafts and last but not least the wonderful, friendly people.”
If you fancy a trip out of the countryside, Florence, Genoa, Pisa and the Cinqua Terra are all just a short drive away.
holiday-rentals.co.uk/16289 - 18th Century former water mill next to a pretty waterfall.
Dimora la Cascata is situated in a lovely spot on the edge of a vibrant, old Italian village with a huge fairytale castle and medieval look-out tower. It has been the owners’ family home since 1996 and has been sympathetically restored, retaining historic features such as chestnut beams, terracotta floors and the original mill doors. Each of the 3 apartments (sleeping 3, 5 & 6) is spacious and fully self-contained and has a private terrace area with views of the stream and the medieval village of Verrucola di Fivizzano. Can also be rented as one large 5 bedroom let for friends and family. Rates from £225 per week.
holiday-rentals.co.uk/56994 - A romantic hilltop getaway with stunning mountain views.
Tuck yourselves away in this romantic 2 bedroom house in Irola, a medieval hilltop village above the town of Villafranca. Escape and unwind in total comfort and tranquillity, with all the modern facilities you would expect. It’s really hard to believe you’re staying in a 16th century house! A paradise for country lovers, at dawn and dusk it is possible to glimpse deer and wild boar as they venture from cover in search of food, or watch golden eagles and other rare birds as they soar above the hills and down the valleys. Binoculars are provided! Rates from £399 per week.
Other rural holiday homes in Lunigiana:
1 bedroom apartments in old stone barn
1 and 2 bedroom apartments in charming stone house
1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments in converted watermill
2 bedroom apartments in barn conversion
5 bedroom stone villa with pool (also offers individual apartments)
6 bedroom house with pool
Lake Vinuela, Andalucía, Spain
Holiday-Rentals.co.uk lists 48 properties near Lake Vinuela, including many beautiful, secluded villas with pools. Situated in the Andalucían Lake District, Lake Vinuela is an area of outstanding natural beauty, surrounded by rolling hills, mountain peaks and an abundance of wildlife. Yet the beach resorts of the Costa del Sol are under 30 minutes drive away, and further afield, Granada, Seville, Cordoba and Gibraltar are all within easy reach by car or train. Weekly rates start from £350 and go up to around £900 per week for a three bedroom villa with pool.
Eileen Bynon, owner of property 52274 comments, “Lake Vinuela is one of Andalucia's best kept secrets and remains unspoilt by mass tourism. The lake is a reservoir and is used for sailing, windsurfing and fishing, but no motorised boats are allowed, which ensures total tranquillity. Our villa sits on a hillside covered in olive trees facing the lake and the Sierra Tejada national park, yet we’re just a short drive from numerous golf courses and the bustling beach resort of Torre del Mar, and 25 minutes from Nerja. It truly is an idyllic spot for a holiday home.”
holiday-rentals.co.uk/52274 - 3 bedroom villa with pool, BBQ, paella pan & fig trees!
This villa is in a very peaceful location on a large plot of land and with 300 days of sunshine per year, is lovely year-round. For cooking enthusiasts there are essentials like a BBQ, paella pan, blender, olive oil and spices. Outside there are two sets of dining tables and chairs, two porches, an enormous terrace and a private pool with six sun beds. Beneath the villa is the original olive grove with over 40 mature trees and fig trees can be found on the back perimeter. Rates from £490 per week.
Other holiday villas in Vinuela:
2 bedroom villas: http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/17185 holiday-rentals.co.uk/70636, holiday-rentals.co.uk/7577, holiday-rentals.co.uk/54181
3 bedroom villas – holiday-rentals.co.uk/67145, holiday-rentals.co.uk/14767
4 bedroom villas – holiday-rentals.co.uk/9026, holiday-rentals.co.uk/53138, holiday-rentals.co.uk/53837
5 bedroom villa – holiday-rentals.co.uk/13645
Gandia, Valencia, Spain
In and around Gandia in the Valencia region of Spain there are many charming, unspoilt villages to stay in, from where you can explore the beautiful landscape of the area. Set between the blue mountain range of Monduver on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other, this is a landscape of mountains and valleys, orange groves, waterfalls, national parks and protected areas. Rates start from around £200 per week for a two or three bedroom apartment, to around £1,000 for a five bedroom villa with pool.
Trixie Taylor, owner of property 63755, a stunning mountainside villa comments, “The landscape in this area is truly breathtaking. The eco-tourist route following the disused railway from Gandia to Alcoi runs past our property and provides 16 km of unspoilt national park, through spectacular scenery, unsurpassed for birds, wildlife and flowers, ideal for walkers and cyclists alike. The blue flag beach at Oliva, with its protected sand dunes is just 10 km away, and the vibrant city of Valencia is a short train ride away.”
holiday-rentals.co.uk/63755 - 4 bedroom riverside villa in a secluded mountain location.
This villa has 4 to 6 bedrooms (including the 2 bedroom studio) and is down an adventurous track, in the heart of the wooded gorge of El Raco del Duc, 100m above sea level on the river Serpis, teeming with trout, carp and barbel. The pool garden, with huge bougainvillaeas, vines, a swing-seat, a tented gazebo with table, sun-loungers & Spanish tiled BBQ, is reached from the house by a romantic wooden Japanese bridge. The back terraces are stocked with mature figs, plum, pear, cherry, persimmon, lemon, walnut, mimosa & nispero trees. The villa and studio can be rented separately. Rates from £609 per week.
Other properties in and around Gandia:
3 bedroom village house – holiday-rentals.co.uk/63673
3 bedroom villas with pool – holiday-rentals.co.uk/50855, holiday-rentals.co.uk/11356
4 bedroom villas with pools – holiday-rentals.co.uk/11337, holiday-rentals.co.uk/6378
5 bedroom villa with pool – holiday-rentals.co.uk/65602
Low carbon, eco-friendly holidays; Portugal, France and Italy.
Holiday-Rentals.co.uk now lists numerous properties that are eco-friendly, or have their own organic gardens to help travellers keep their holiday food miles low.
Lucy Glasser, owner of property 56241 in the Algarve, Portugal says, “Our property is situated in a conservation area, nestled in a tradition Portuguese hamlet. We place a strong emphasis on eco-tourism; we encourage our guests to support local businesses and we sell paintings and ceramics produced by local artists. We also always recommend that guests visit local bars and restaurants. We have a chlorine-free eco pool, solar panels on all our properties, and have used traditional building methods in the reconstruction of our houses. We are also one of the few holiday home owners who welcome families who have children with special needs.”
holiday-rentals.co.uk/56241 - Villa & cottages on picturesque organic fruit farm
A luxury villa and two traditional Algarvian cottages, available separately or together. Set within a conservation area of significant beauty, within easy reach of some of the finest beaches in the Algarve. Clustered around a beautiful swimming pool, each house has its own private walled garden, and access to spacious terraces and wonderful tropical gardens. All three properties are child friendly, and there is an adventure fort, trampoline and paddling pool, which is ideal for babies and smaller children. From £353 per week for the one bedroom cottage and £676 per week for the four bedroom villa.
Eco-friendly properties:
holiday-rentals.co.uk/61391 – 1 & 3 bedroom cottages on a former wine domain, Aude, France.
holiday-rentals.co.uk/65164 – 3 bedroom villa in Pyrenees-Orientales, France.
holiday-rentals.co.uk/61565 – 4 bedroom farmhouse with saltwater pool Pyrenees-Atlantiques, France.
holiday-rentals.co.uk/70819 – 5 bedroom villa in Gandia, Valencia, Spain
Properties with organic fruit gardens:
holiday-rentals.co.uk/11348 – Eco-friendly farmhouse apartments, Lucca, Italy
holiday-rentals.co.uk/71838 – 2x2 bedroom farmhouse apartments, Terni, Italy
The Caribbean
Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia
There are now 27 properties in Saint Lucia listed on Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, but people often overlook properties on the south side, instead favouring the popular north-west of the island.
But Joy Dorr, who owns four cottages on the south of the island says, “Most people think of the area north west of the Island above Castrise when considering a holiday in Saint Lucia. But to get there people have a bus journey of over an hour from the airport to reach their accommodation. My cottages on the south coast are just a five minute taxi ride away. South St Lucia has beautiful bays and being nearer to beauty spots on both coasts and the rain forest trails makes it ideal for nature lovers. The south of the island makes a great base for exploring both coasts.”
holiday-rentals.co.uk/62101 & holiday-rentals.co.uk/68716 - Four charming beach chalets, steps from the sea.
Property 62101 consists of three adjoining beach chalets just a few paces from the sea in Lobster Pot Bay. The chalets provide simple but comfortable and charming accommodation for one to 12 people. Each chalet sleeps four and they can be rented individually or all together by one large group. A 10 minute walk away is the fourth cottage, 68716, which also sleeps up to four people. Relax on the nearby beach, or head to Anse de Sables windsurfing bay around a five minute walk away. Alternatively relax on your porch or experiment with fresh vegetables, fish and fruit bought from the colourful Vieux Fort street markets to prepare yourself a treat. Rates from £259 to £455 per week.
Andros, Bahamas
Holiday-Rentals.co.uk now lists 9 properties in the Bahamas, including holiday-rentals.co.uk/65714, a houseboat in Andros, the largest island in the Bahamian Archipelago, but perhaps the least developed. The houseboat cost £1,250 per week to rent.
Gabrielle Douglas, the owner, comments, “Andros is a scuba diver and fisherman's paradise. With the world's third largest barrier reef located just two miles off our east coast, a 15 minute boat ride takes the diver to underwater adventures which will satisfy the most courageous to the least experienced. Dives are tailored to suit the individual. You can snorkel, dive a wreck or a blue hole, feed the sharks, and swim at 90 feet along the Tongue of the Ocean, where the wall drops off to 6,000 feet; this has to be the greatest natural high. Andros is nick named the bone fishing capital of the world. Fisherman can go fly, flats, reef or creek fishing with top class guides who can guarantee the best fishing in the region.”
“Our Houseboat is located in Fresh Creek and the nearest village is one mile upstream, although easily accessed with a boat or car. Swimming, snorkelling and fishing right off the side of the house is as easy as simply rolling out of bed and a pleasure not to be missed. The visitor to Andros can indulge themselves with bird watching, nature walking, beach picnicking, even a wild boar hunt can be organised. There is so much to do and we personally help our guests organise their days to make the most of their holiday in our undiscovered paradise.”
