Rachel's Villa Holidays

02/11/2024

My latest villa finding mission covered Puglia and Provence for 3 families planning a week together in August 2025, including 8 kids of various ages.

It took a while to research and find´the one’ but here it is! Spacious and well equipped, it has a fabulous pool at its heart, as well as a ping pong table, baby football and a boules court - so ideal for all ages. It is easy to see why this superb villa near Lake Cassien in Provence was a clear favourite.

Often villas of this size have too many double bedrooms and not enough single beds for older children, but this one does. The location means easy access to pretty villages, water sports and beaches too - perfect.

If you’re also planning a big get together in a villa next year, do get in touch. I can guide you to the best villa for you in France or Italy.

15/10/2024

Here is a bit of inspiration for your summer holiday 2025. ☀️🥂

This was my client’s favourite villa out of the two she booked in the South of France last August.

Despite being tucked away down a country road, the location of the villa is excellent - it’s just 15 minutes walk away from a fabulous, sandy beach and restaurants. It’s also near St Tropez and Pampelonne beach. The villa was clean and you can see that the style is not flashy but it’s well furnished and comfortable with air conditioning in the bedrooms - ideal for her family of 4. She particularly loved the fantastic view. The rental price was within budget too 😊.

If you’d like to know more about this villa or others in France or Italy, please contact me - link in bio.

19/12/2023

What’s on your wish list for your next villa holiday? No biting/stinging insects? Guaranteed perfect weather? Or something more realistic… here are a few tips for kicking off your search:

2022 villa holiday booking advice and trends from an experienced villa finder specialising in luxury villas in France and Italy.

09/02/2023

I came across this impressive villa near the Tuscan coast while doing a villa search today. Although it's already booked in June when my clients want to go (and it's too big for them), I thought you may like to see it because it's so well equipped for kids in particular and the location is superb.

As well as a private pool, stand-out features include a private tennis court, football pitch and games room, so there's plenty to keep everyone entertained.

It has 8 bedrooms and it comes with a full-time chef so all your meals are prepared for you....and you can walk down a path to the beach.

There's availability still in August so do message me if you'd like more information about it.

13/01/2023

I just know from the quality of this pool photo that the villa is luxurious. Good quality, professional photos have a massive impact on generating bookings for villa owners. The cost of a shoot can be high but if you are hoping to achieve high rental prices and attract the kind of guests who will treat your home with respect, it’s worth every penny.

I’ve noticed this stunning photo appearing on a couple of villa companies’ Instagram feeds recently. The sparkling pool and scenic setting look so inviting. The angle from which it’s been taken is perfect.

Featuring people and even dogs is part of the new trend in villa photography. It can look awful if it’s too posed or close up but this one works well.

As part of my consultancy services for villa owners, I recommend experienced villa photographers I have worked with. As well as static photos like this one, they use drones and make outstanding films for marketing villas.

Find out more about my consultancy services on my website (copy and paste the link): https://rachelsvillaholidays.com/copywriting-and-consultancy

17/11/2022

Recently I had a zoom call with a couple who are organising a three-generation family gathering in a villa in Southern Italy. Their search centred on the Amalfi Coast and Capri, an area they adore.
When we started chatting through their holiday plans though, it became clear that a villa in Puglia or Sicily would probably suit them better, in terms of their budget, the kind of villa they wanted and for easy access to sandy beaches for their young grandchildren. By talking it through, they quickly understood where to focus their search and I could help them find just the right villa.
It reminded me that, when it comes to holiday planning, good, old-fashioned chats with experts are vital, in addition to or as well as emails and messaging.
If you would like guidance on where to stay in Italy or France for your villa holiday, go to my website and blogs for inspiration and please contact me to set up a call: https://rachelsvillaholidays.com/villa-finding-service/

14/10/2022

I’ve been chatting to various clients recently about Puglia and can see that it is now the region of choice for a family summer villa holiday in Italy. Why? There are so many factors which make Puglia hit that sweet spot.

Firstly it’s scenic so olive groves, vineyards and seascapes are your typical villa backdrops. No high rise hotels spoil your view here.

Secondly, there is a great variety of stylish holiday homes to choose from, from super luxury to more rustic, so you are more likely to find a place you will love in Puglia, compared to many other coastal regions.

Thirdly, you are never far from a picturesque historic town and sandy beaches in Puglia so you can easily combine rural tranquility with coast and culture, the things we all love.

Lastly, for Northern Europeans like me, the sunny warm weather in Puglia is a huge plus. Actually there are more positives such as the fantastic food and wine but I won’t go on….

This pretty trullo is one of the few villas I have visited personally which I consider to be truly child friendly. Read more about it on my website. Just copy and paste this link: https://rachelsvillaholidays.com/villa/trulli-puglia-pool/

28/09/2022

Why use my villa finding service and how do I source villas in Italy and France for my clients?

The answer is that for each enquiry, I consult a huge list of villas and contacts that I have built up over the years. I also draw on personal experience of my own travels. This saves my clients time and helps them stay within budget.

Read more about how I do it, with examples of enquiries and villa photos from 2022 in my latest blog post:
https://rachelsvillaholidays.com/how-do-i-source-villas-in-italy-and-france/

07/08/2022

The simple pleasure of a refreshing swim in your private pool is the best way to cool off in the heat. For those of us from Northern Europe, a private outdoor pool feels like such a luxury!

If you have young children, you may prefer to heat your pool too, although you won’t need to in July and August.

Not all villas in France and Italy have a heating option, but I can help you find the one for you.

In France, pools tend to be alarmed or gated by law, a welcome addition for those with active toddlers.

Please get in touch if you would like me to help you source your ideal holiday villa with a private pool in a scenic part of France or Italy: https://www.rachelsvillaholidays.com/contact/

03/08/2022

It’s impossible to stop taking photos of Lake Garda, particularly when the sun sets. It’s just too picturesque!

Fortunately there are plenty of easy going beach bars along the shoreline where you can admire the scenery while enjoying a cool aperol spritz or a pizza, maybe after a dip in the lake.

Book a table for 8pm as the sun starts to go down.

🇮🇹

29/07/2022

Finally my French is good enough to have a business meeting in French! It’s taken a while to get up to speed but I’m there. Speaking English is easier but I think it’s worth making the effort to speak French here.

I met these two charming ladies who run concierge services for guests staying in villas near Bonnieux and Apt. They can provide everything from chefs to bikes, 2CV tours and hot air balloon rides. So now I know who to ask if my clients are interested in booking interesting experiences during they stay.

Some of you may know the two gentlemen who were passing and joined us for a drink or two! 5 minutes later we added another table for more friends and the village priest! I’m learning that this is the way to extend my business network in Provence.

24/07/2022

My celebrity moment yesterday! I must admit that I didn’t know who Cyril Lignac was until we visited his delicious patisserie yesterday! Cyril Lignac is a charming French celebrity chef and judge on the French version of Bake Off. More importantly the bread and cakes he creates are incredible.

If you’re in St Tropez or Ramatuelle, it’s definitely worth a visit for your fresh morning croissants, baguette and a cake or two.

If you just can’t choose a cake, then a traditional Tarte Tropézienne is the one to go for. Bon appétit 😋

15/07/2022

Forget sightseeing in a heatwave in Provence and head for the pool, day or night! ☀️

27/05/2022

I'm currently helping three different families to find their ideal holiday villas in France for this summer. It's not easy. Despite having a good budget for the rentals, many of my favourite villas are already booked up in July and August, however I'm managing to find enough options through various contacts to give them a good choice.

Each of my clients has a unique wish list, from 'must have' facilities such as high chairs, cook service and pool heating to location specific requests such as proximity to picturesque villages or sandy beaches.

Provence and the Cote D'Azur hold a timeless appeal for a villa holiday in France of course. Find out more about the kind of places I recommend there in my blog: https://www.rachelsvillaholidays.com/my-top-5-provence-villas-with-pools/

04/05/2022

What about Puglia for your next villa holiday? Having lived in Lecce in my 20s, I have a bit of a soft spot for Puglia and I am always looking for excuses to return.

Read more about where to stay and what it's like in my article about Puglia: https://www.rachelsvillaholidays.com/top-villas-puglia-private-pool/

Puglia is one of the Italian regions I visit regularly and love. That's why I am recommending these top 5 villas in Puglia with a private pool in this article.

02/04/2022

Every villa has its own unique style and charm. It's my mission to match my clients to the villa they will love for a holiday. In order to do that, I am constantly building my list of contacts with gorgeous villas in Italy and France which have all been checked for quality.

I find that it is always worth visiting villas before recommending them or at least speaking to a trusted contact who has visited recently. By being there in person, you get a real sense of the space, style and the location.

A visit is also a chance to get to know the owners or management team to understand what kind of guests would enjoy their villa.

These photos are of a beautiful, historic and very private villa in Sicily which I have visited. It is particularly ideal for a group celebrating a special event but it is also wonderful as a base for exploring Sicily.

Outside in the extensive grounds I was shown a number of incredible settings for gatherings which I hadn't been aware of before the visit. Its twelve elegant, independent bedrooms are situated around a central courtyard, so I can see that it would be ideal for couples who would appreciate that added degree of privacy. I loved the pool area and spa too.

For more about how I source villas for each enquiry, see my blog post: https://www.rachelsvillaholidays.com/how-do-i-source-villas-in-italy-and-france/

15/03/2022

*Sound on!* You are hearing the tranquil sounds from our poolside in Provence in July 🇫🇷☀️.

If you’d like some help sourcing your ideal villa with a private pool in France this summer, please get in touch and I’ll help you find one to match your wish list. Link in bio.

15/03/2022

If you're considering a villa holiday in Italy this summer for all the family, then Tuscany is a wonderful place to start the search.

I am often asked to source villas there for my clients. Instead of trawling through listing sites, I turn to my reliable contacts with gorgeous villas for advice and recommendations.

Dan from Invitation to Tuscany is a good place to start. He always has sound advice and a wonderful selection of villas with pools near pretty Tuscany hill towns, ranging from affordable to quirky and luxurious. He can also arrange added extras such as cook service or private tour guides, which makes a difference.

Check out this blog post for recommended villas in Tuscany and contact me for advice about finding your perfect villa: https://www.rachelsvillaholidays.com/luxury-villas-italy/

Summer means family holidays! Here at Invitation to Tuscany, we reckon that you just can't beat a villa with a pool in Tuscany for a summer holiday with chil...