Forty fabulous years and five fantastic new brochures
In the `forty fabulous years' since CV Travel started as a villa specialist, the company has become one of the most respected villa holiday companies in the UK with an exceptional collection of villas globally, and a reputation for maintaining high standards of personal service.
With notable growth during the past ten years, most recently adding a British collection in 2009, CV Travel has expanded considerably from its heartland Corfu where it all started in 1972 by offering luxurious villas on the north east coast of the island, first presented in a hand-made pasted-up brochure.
CV Travel's new 2012 villa collection is presented in five very stylish brochures, geographically segregated into France; Italy; Greek Islands; Spain, Balearics & Portugal and The Caribbean. A further choice of properties in Great Britain, Ireland, Africa, Asia and the Indian Ocean can be found at cvtravel.co.uk in addition to CV Travel's portfolio of some of the world's finest hotels.
Over 1,000 individual or luxurious villas, houses, cottages and apartments are included in CV Travel's 2012 global collection, many of them exclusive to the company and all of them featured due to their `wow' factor, whether that is the property's stunning location, unusual history, beautiful grounds, exceptional swimming pool or interior, or the cook's delicious local cuisine.
MD Francis Torrilla said 'The name `CV Travel' is synonymous quite simply with quality service and superb properties. Our clients know and understand this hence we are a very reliable choice for them when it comes to planning their holidays, whether they return to a much loved villa that they have visited many times, or book a new property with CV Travel in the knowledge that if it's CV, it must be good. That's a very fortunate position to be in and a reputation we uphold and protect carefully. Our 2012 collection celebrates our 40th year with the culmination of four decades of personal service and a vast wealth of experience in finding and presenting the best villas from around the world.'
NEW in the Caribbean
CV Travel has added eight exceptional new villas in St. Lucia, Nevis, Mustique and Barbados, sleeping from 4 to 22 guests, with rentals from £1727 rising to £21,818 per week,
At the top end of the scale, La Belle Helene is a palatial home for up to 22 guests, adjacent to St. Lucia's Pitons, with a 40m freeform pool and can be booked from £21,818 for a week, including a cook, maid, laundress, pool man, night watchman and gardeners.
Also in St. Lucia, more modest, but still a superlative and romantic choice for two guests, and ideal for honeymooners, Modas Cottage is a gorgeous and stylish hilltop cottage with sun terraces, an inifinity pool and far-reaching sea views to Mustique. Rental costs from £1727 / week and includes a maid, gardener and night watchman.
NEW in Italy
For the first time, CV Travel is featuring the Italian region of Basilicata located in southern Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Puglia to the north and east and Calabria to the south. Close to Basilicata's UNESCO heritage city of Matera is the imposing Masseria Mimosa Gialla, an extremely stylish house for up to six guests in a jaw-dropping setting on a hilltop with spectacular 360 degree views across the plains spread out below. The Masseria is available from £1490 per week in 2012 and rental includes maid service twice weekly.
Eight other new properties in CV Travel's 2012 Italian collection include a medieval farmhouse, a property in the foothills of Sicily's Mt. Etna, an apartment in the historical centre of Lucca and a family home in Chianti. Prices range from £1017 per week for a heavily beamed, traditional country house for 2 - 3 guests in Sicily's countryside.
NEW in the Greek Islands
Five exceptional new villas have been added to CV Travel's well established Greek islands collection that includes houses on the islands of Corfu, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Paxos and Meganissi.
Villa Glyko Oneiro is a classic example of the high standard of property featured by CV. Unusually for Kefalonia this country style manor house includes maid service and housekeeper (6 days) to care for this exceptional property, set in gardens with shady terraces and a pool. A week's stay for up to 7 guests costs from £3405.
Melyssia House is one of the most luxurious new properties in the 2012 CV Travel Greek Islands collection and is a spectacular house set on the north east coast of Corfu. Built to an exceptional level of comfort, the villa is beautifully furnished with lovingly-sourced art and sculpture and enjoys a spectacular horizon pool, cook service and a housekeeper service (both 6 days / week). A week's stay for up to 10 guests costs from £14,070.
Other new properties include Anilia in CV Travel's heartland of Corfu, an elegant, secluded property for up to 12 guests with a floodlit tennis court, small gym, snooker table and a sauna and Arethusa, close to the sea and the village of Spartia, a new area of Kefalonia for CV Travel.
NEW in Spain, Balearics & Portugal
Nine new villas in Spain and Portugal include `The Olive Tree' near Loule on the Algarve, a sumptuous property for up to 8 guests with panoramic views to the Atlantic, a cinema and games room, a magnificent swimming pool and a cook / housekeeper who prepares breakfast and one other meal daily. A week's stay for up to 8 costs from £3140 in 2012.
A Balinese style gym and summer house pavillions enhance the facilities of the lovely La Palmita, a beautifully decorated house with mature gardens and a private pool 15 mintues walk from Puerto Banus on Spain's Costa del Sol, available for four guests to rent from £1445 / week.
Other spectacular additions to CV Travel's Spanish and Portuguese collection include Casa de La Colina, a former Spanish farmstead in 10 acres with an optional chef and concierge service, and Casita Escondida, a stone cottage for two in an historic country estate near Pollensa, Mallorca, with private pool and complimentary Thai massage for two.
NEW in France
CV Travel has added five new properties in France for 2012, including one in the Bay of Cannes, one in Corsica and a third in Goult in Provence.
Corsica has proved to be a popular destination since CV Travel introduced the island in 2010. New for 2012 is Villa Lecci, a lovely house for up to 8 guests within walking distance of a sandy beach on the south east coast of Corsica, with an horizon pool that blends with the sea beyond. The house is available from £5595 / week for up to 8 sharing.
The south of France retains popularity with CV Travel guests and Villa Sophia is a welcome addition, being within a gated exclusive residential domaine near to the charming hillside town of Biot, with its gentle cobbled streets. Just 12km from Antibes, Villa Sophia offers easy access to the Cote d'Azur. It can be rented through CV Travel from £3285 / week for up to 8 sharing.
Larger houses, for two families, extended families or friends to share, retain their popularity for the value and space they offer. Mas de Robion is a newly built house, in traditional Provencal farmhouse style, set amid lawned gardens and with a magnificent swimming pool. Located in the foothills of the Luberon, the house provides generous accommodation for up to 14 guests and at just £3170 / week, this equates to just £155 per person for a large group sharing.
NEW in North Africa
CV Travel's North Africa collection is featured online at cvtravel.co.uk and includes properties in Egypt and Morocco.
New additions for 2012 include Dar Arbala on the Bab Adrar Estate, a contemporary Moroccan styled villa 28kms from Marrakech in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, set in just under 4 acres of grounds and offering staffed accommodation for up to 14 guests (house manager, cook and maid). A week's stay costs from £3500, including maid service and breakfast.
Also in Morocco is the neighbouring property of Dar Tamazerte, a house for up to six guests with a full time maid and house cook to prepare breakfast and use of a car with an English speaking driver. A week's stay costs from £2450.
Villa Marjina is a remarkable villa in a stunning location, discreetly located within the luxurious Sharm Sheraton 5* resort on the Mount Sinai peninsula in Egypt. Set in a beautifully green garden with private pool and a lagoon-side beach, guests enjoy the facilities of the main hotel, that include 24 hour room service to the villa and a beautiful spa. Up to 8 guests can enjoy this luxurious property from £4500 / week, including a butler, maid and chef.
NEW in Britain and Ireland
In 2011 CV Travel included Irish properties for the first time and for 2012 one of the most impressive new additions to the company's British and Irish collection is Tudor House, part of the Astor wing of Hever Castle, set against a backdrop of the double-moated castle. The four bedroom Tudor House is set in its own grounds, with a private tennis court, and guests have the opportunity to enjoy the castle's award winning gardens, lake and parkland when the grounds are closed to the public, and access to visit the historic castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Tudor House can be rented from £1000 for a two night stay for up to 7 sharing.
Equally impressive is Dartmoor Manor, a stunning country house with superb views of Dartmoor National Park and suitable for both private and corporate gatherings. The house has a large indoor swimming pool, a games room with full sized snooker table, a fully equipped business centre with board room and wif-fi, wine cellar and excellent en suite facilities with every bedroom. A two night stay at Dartmoor Manor costs from £2200, based on 12 guests sharing.
Lovers of art deco will appreciate the newly added Sussex Beach House, a 1930's art deco white washed house with floor to ceiling glass walls and located right on the beach at Shoreham on the south coast. The house sleeps up to 12 guests and blends contemporary furnishings with original art deco features. It has a large heated swimming pool and open sea views and direct access to a secluded pebble beach from the garden. A two night stay costs from £1700 for up to 12 sharing.
For more information, visit cvtravel.co.uk.