France

Unique holiday properties come in all shapes and sizes and today we’re focusing on those at the loftier more lavish end of the scale - the top luxury villas for large groups. Of course it’s always lovely to have a romantic getaway for two or an intimate little retreat with a chosen few, but there’s also nothing quite as exciting as planning an escape with a big team. These sorts of holiday are sociable, fun, celebratory and filled with possibility - and luckily One Off Places hosts a pretty unbeatable collection of large luxury villas…

`The French air cleans up the brain and does good – a world of good`
Vincent van Gogh

It may have been said in the 1800s but remains true to this day, so this week's newsletter is in celebration of France!  A dozen of our favourite French One Off Places are featured in today's newsletter, with almost 200 more to choose from on our website.

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Centrally located close to Uzès, historic cities and the wilds of the Cevennes and the Ardeche, three luxury gites sleeping 2-4 are a perfect base for exploring all the Gard has to offer. We welcome children over 16. Younger children when all three gites booked together. From €550 - €1990 per week.

There are so many reasons why France is the ultimate holiday destination that it’s hard to know where to start. Its proximity to and easy access from the UK is certainly a plus, especially if you’re travelling with a large family in tow or if you don’t have a lot of time to spare. And there’s no question that the countryside is picture-postcard stunning - think vibrant sunflower fields and verdant vineyards dotted with stone chateaux and sleepy villages. Add to that the cosmopolitan cities, university towns, coastal resorts, river valleys, alpine slopes, blue flag beaches and the general sense of ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes it all so magical and you’ve got the recipe for a wonderful getaway!

Everyone loves a holiday, but when it comes to skiing, people really seem to become carefree over-excited addicts. And it isn’t hard to see why - there is an almost endless list of reasons why people love it so much. Is it the crisp pure air and stunning mountain scenery that keeps everyone coming back year after year? Is it the thrill of zipping gracefully (sometimes less so) down a sheet of pure white undulating snow? Or is it the much revered ‘après ski’ scene, which makes it completely acceptable to eat, drink and be merry pretty much all day long? Whatever your motives for planning a skiing trip, it’s important to find the right place to stay and luckily we have a whole host of options available at One Off Places. Read on…

Lee and I have owned a holiday cottage in Lower Normandy for 10 years now, so we are quite familiar with all things “French”, including the stunning architecture.  One thing newcomers to France may notice is a proliferation of Chateaux.  Castles in the UK are few and far between and most are tourist destinations; many are looked after by The National Trust and other similar organisations.  Not so in France where many historic beauties are empty, discarded, unloved and some in ruins!