Top spots for a Christmas getaway
Europe comes alive at Christmas with festively lit towns and cities, magical Christmas markets, centuries old traditions and tasty local delicacies. Or for a warmer and sunnier option, escape the chill and head to the Caribbean for a tropical Christmas on the beach. CV Travel has villas and houses throughout Europe and the Caribbean available to rent this Christmas and New Year.
Party with friends and family on the Cote d’Azur
Villa Valbois is just 5km from the old village of Valbonne which takes on a magical feel during the festive season as the picturesque 16th century narrow streets and main square come alive at Christmas with festivities, lights and a Christmas market in the run-up to the big day, and a bright red carpet leads shoppers though the village.
Villa Valbois sleeps up to 11 guests and accommodation includes two self contained annexes, both with double beds, en suite shower rooms and kitchenettes, making it suitable for a group of friends or extended family holidaying together.
A week’s stay in December 2011 costs £4275 including maid service and a welcome hamper.
Shop for Christmas dinner in a traditional Provencal market
Shop for Christmas dinner in the weekly market in the Provencal hilltop town of Lauris, with its alleyways, fountains, shops and restaurants, before returning to the grand surroundings of La Maison du Jardinier, a house in the centre of the village for up to 10 guests with private home cinema, spacious gardens, terraces and beautifully furnished with antiques, for a homely but stylish Christmas.
La Maison du Jardinier can be booked for a week’s stay in December from £3715, for up to 10 guests to share, including maid service and a welcome hamper.
13 types of Christmas pudding and a life sized nativity scene
There’s no escaping the Christmas pudding in Aix-en-Provence, which hosts an annual `13 Desserts Market’ where food producers from the region bring thirteen types of dessert for tasting and sale, traditionally served at the `high supper’ on Christmas Eve. This is the most important meal of the year for locals and comprises of seven meat-free dishes, representing the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary, and culminating in the famous 13 desserts, from honey to figs, brioche to biscuits, which symbolize Christ and his disciples.
For a taste of the local culture and tradition CV Travel’s `Notre Dame du Val’ provides grand living for up to 14 guests and is a large country house set in 25 acres of wooded groves and lavender gardens. The house is just 4km from Aix-en-Provence, which as well as being the home of the Christmas pudding also hosts a traditional Christmas market, with stallholders in cosy chalets selling gifts, decorations and crafts, a life-sized nativity scene and its very own Santa.
A week’s stay at Notre Dame du Val can be booked with CV Travel for £9640, was £10,195, saving £555 per week, based on 10 guests sharing.
A private Caribbean beach, a butler and ghosts of Christmas past
Spend Christmas in the former home of Sir Harold and Lady Mary Mitchell who hosted an array of renowned guests at their beachside home of `Frankfort’ in Jamaica, including Winston Churchill, Queen Mary, Prince Edward, Dr. Henry Kissinger and Sir Noel Coward who all slept in this stunning property with its own soft white sand beach.
Those staying at the house over the festive season in 2011 can swim with dolphins on Christmas Day, go horse riding along the beach on Boxing Day and feast on typical Jamaican festive meals of fresh fruits, rum punch, curried goat and stewed oxtail with rice and peas, prepared by the villa’s chef and served by its butler.
Frankfort is a historic 17th Century fortress, brilliantly restored as a remarkable four bedroom home following a quarter of a million pound investment. A 10 night stay at Frankfort over Christmas and New Year 2011 for twelve guests costs £18,870, including the services of a full staff a butler, cook, housekeeper, gardener, laundress and gardener. Masseuses, nannies and drivers available on request.
Hands off Christmas – Andalucian villa with a team of staff on hand
For a classic Spanish Christmas with roaring log fires in a festively decorated hilltop farmhouse with wonderful views of the countryside, close to local Christmas markets, CV Travel’s Casa de la Colina in Canillas de Aceituno, Spain, is full of rustic charm for up to 8 guests.
A week’s rental includes three hours maid service, three days a week, but for a totally hands-off Chrsitmas holiday additional staff can include a chef, concierge, chauffeur and nanny, and visiting masseurs and beauticians, yoga instructors or chefs to provide cookery lessons.
A week’s stay at Casa de la Colina in December 2011 costs £5,315 for up to 8 guests, including villa rental, maid service and a welcome hamper.
Spanish villa with heated private pool for Christmas
Churros and chocolate, a suntanned Santa and festively decorated streets and squares await those spending Christmas on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Marbella’s Old Town and squares host carol services, nativity scenes, parties and parades. Santa hands sweets to children, and story telling events, ice-skating on man-made rinks and busy Christmas markets add to the festive atmosphere.
A few minutes drive from Marbella is CV Travel’s Rodeo Alto, a five bedroom house set amid a palm-filled garden with a large heatable swimming pool and optional cook service,.
A week’s stay in Rodeo Alto in December costs £2,585 for up to 9 guests and includes villa rental, maid service and a welcome hamper.
For more information, cvtravel.co.uk.