Sea Safari Algarve

A great place to start is Vilamoura. The marina, which, as I’ve said before, always attracts some very nice boats, is only a short trip from our brand new Verde Oliveiras Vilamoura luxury villa and, from here, you can hire a boat and set sail around the beautiful Algarve coastline. Once you’re on the water you can swim, snorkel or just work on your tan. One of my favourite things to do is to find a deserted island and get a barbecue going, preferably with some fish we’ve caught ourselves.

If it’s the fishing that you’re really after, you have to try the big game fishing from Vilamoura marina. Hire a trip on one of the sea fishing catamarans, which come with all the deep sea fishing gear, and before you know it, a skipper will be taking you out onto the deep blue sea and you’ll be fishing for shark, tuna, dorado and more. It certainly makes for a hearty barbecue when you get back.

If you’d rather be among the fish than catching them, diving in the waters off Carvoeiro is a must. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a pro, the diving companies in Carvoeiro cater for everyone, and the sparkling, clear sea is just a short journey from our Casa
Sebastiao Carvoeiro premier villa. Once you’re in the water, there is a wealth of marine life and coastline to explore!

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Portugal, contact us on +44 1243 514970 or monica@premiervillas.net.

Porto Cervo, Sardinia

I mentioned the glitz of Villamoura and its boat show in a recent Premier Villas Portugal
blog, so I think it’s only fair to tell you about an even more glamorous resort in Italy: Porto Cervo in Sardinia. Think Russian oligarchs, European royalty and film stars. Oh, and very big boats.

Porto Cervo is where the international jet set hangs out and, while not many of us can actually hang out in the same style, their presence does lend the resort a unique continental glamour. Of course, it’s not just the people that make the place: Porto Cervo, on the Costa Smeralda in the north east of Sardinia, is a truly beautiful place. You don’t have to go far to find white sands and turquoise waters.

But it’s the playthings of the rich and famous that dominate the coastline in Porto Cervo, by which I mean superyachts. An evening stroll around the marina, taking in these huge yachts, as well as the designer shops selling jewellery and clothes whose price tags are equally gigantic, will have you pondering just how you can start earning the billions needed to join the jet set (get a little taste by dropping into the Yacht Club for lunch).

The marina and the beach are just a short walk from our very special luxury villa in Porto Cervo, which also looks out onto La Maddalena islands and Cala Granu, a position that makes it ideal for enjoying the superyacht regattas that are hosted by Porto Cervo. The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta kicks off the season in early June, while the Dubois Cup is another one to look out for (held every other year, the next one is in June 2013).

For a little slice of super living (and super dreaming!), not to mention superyachts and the occasional supermodel, Porto Cervo is the place to indulge your own super cool.

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Italy, contact us on +44 1243 514970 or italy@premiervillas.net.

Aqualand Slide

Staying in a luxury villa in the Algarve can be many things: a romantic break, a getaway for a group of friends or a holiday for all the family, including little ones, and I get a lot of questions about what you can do with kids when you’re at a Premier Villas villa in Portugal.

Well, the answer is lots! If they really are little ones, there are some great water parks to have a splash around in. Aqualand Algarve is one of the best and isn’t far from Casa da Pedra, a beautiful converted farmhouse near Silves. There’s also Aquashow Water Park in Semino, and Slide and Splash in Lagoa.

For a slightly different water park experience, there’s Zoomarina in Guia, near Albufeira. A
short trip from our Santa Lalia premier villa in Praia Santa Eulalia (which is just a few minutes from the beach if you want to keep your splashing-around expeditions very close
to home), Zoomarina has an aquarium and demonstrations and shows with dolphins,
sea lions, seals, tropical birds and birds of prey, as well as slides, pools and rides.

If you’d rather be on the water than in it, then doing a Grotto Tour off the coast of Lagos is an absolute must. The weird and wonderful grottoes and rock formations give it a real Pirates of the Caribbean feel. You can combine these trips with dolphin-spotting tours and, if creatures of the deep (and others) are a popular subject, Zoo Lagos is a great place to go.

Staying on dry land, for slightly bigger kids, you can explore the Algarve on a jeep safari – there are plenty of places you can go exploring from, while a day at Almancil Karting offers another type of four-wheeled adventure. Whatever ages your kids are (including the really big ones), there are karts to race around. After a hard day’s motorsport, the short trip back to the Casa Blanca luxury villa in Almancil (where you can put your feet up in style) will
seem like a breeze!

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Portugal, contact Libby on +44 1243 514970 or libby@premiervillas.net.

Palio of Siena

If you haven’t seen the Bond film, the Palio di Siena really is a horserace like no other – take a look at this video from the 2011 race. Like most things Italian, it is steeped in religion and celebration, and is an event that attracts a unique Italian fervour. The horses and jockeys circle the Piazza del Campo for only around 90 seconds but the race is just one part of a whole of day of celebration, and the after-race celebrations can go on for weeks!

Our Italian premier villa Pieve, in Asciano near Siena, is another great place to stay if you’re intending to enjoy the Palio di Siena for as long as the locals. It is an old Italian farmhouse, or Casale (the Tuscan equivalent of a Masseria in Puglia), that’s been converted into a luxury hideaway.

The excitement that builds up during the day of the Palio of Siena is incredible, and not just because it attracts around 40,000 spectators every July and August. The Corteo Storico pageant that precedes the action is an amazing spectacle all on its own: the procession includes not just the competitors, but musicians, archers, pages, knights and much more, every one dressed in traditional outfits. Take a look here.

And, when the race does start, the jockeys take no prisoners. There isn’t much in the way of rules, so when the riders aren’t concentrating on steering the tight bends and canted track, slowing rivals is just as important as getting up speed. It really is quite extraordinary to watch and the best way to do that is by being right there!

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Italy, contact us on +44 1243 514970 or italy@premiervillas.net.

The Vilamoura Boat Show is due to take place in early April and this nautical extravaganza is the perfect excuse to forget about the big chill here and think about spring in the warm surrounds of one of the most glamorous resorts in the Algarve.

Vilamoura Marina

The hub of the resort, once a Roman fishing town, is the marina, and this is where the boat show takes place. It’s the largest show of its kind in Portugal, so it attracts quite a crowd as well as some very nice boats. If the bank balance won’t stretch to something to cruise the Med in, it’s still great fun to wander among the Sunseekers, Ferrettis and Pershings and dream a little.

Of course, you don’t have to buy a boat to actually enjoy one. There are plenty of sailing trips available from Vilamoura and lots of caves and grottoes to explore, not to mention sea to cruise. Nearby luxury villa Casa Sao Clemente is the perfect place to begin and end a day on the water; if you need to unwind any further, a go in the hot tub should do the trick, while if the legs need stretching a little, you can have a knock around on the floodlit tennis court.

Of course, Vilamoura isn’t just about the marina: there are beaches, golf courses, a casino and plenty of places to indulge in the local cuisine, all of which can also be explored from Casa Melana, a hillside premier villa located close by, near the village of Santa Barbara de Nexe.

But the boat show does make the place come alive; it’s an event that comes naturally to the resort – as natural as sailing, the sea and something sparkling afterwards! Forgotten about the cold weather yet? I have!

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Portugal, contact Libby on +44 1243 514970 or libby@premiervillas.net.

The 12 island tour is one of our favourites. Relax in comfort as you gently meander through the inland waters of the Aegean, passing stunning scenery and stopping at many interesting places. Whenever the gulet is at anchor there is a chance to swim in safe bays with crystal-clear waters, a welcome respite from the sun if you are taking in the rays on the top deck, and a delight for the snorkelers among you.  Be careful though, sunbathing on the top deck can be deceiving with the sea breezes. You won’t notice just how much sun you’ve taken until your evening shower, when it’s time for the lotions! While out on the water, it is not unusual to catch sight of some of the Aegean inhabitants, such as dolphins (who commonly flank the boat), flying fish, and sea turtles. This is an excellent family day out for the family, and villas T2011, T2040-01, T2040-02, T2042-01are perfectly located just a short drive away from the harbour.

Anchored Gulets for Swimming

The gulets themselves (most of which are built in the dockyards of Fethiye) have capacities ranging from 30 up to 150 people, but of course, you can choose your preferred size of vessel. All of them have toilets and a self-service bar. Be ready to make new friends! The tours leave port daily between 10-11am and return to Fethiye at around 5.30-6.30pm. Lunch is always included, and usually consists of freshly prepared pasta, meatballs (sometimes chicken/fish), salad, and water melon.

There are usually five stops in the tour:

Gobun Bay or Cavy Bay

Gorgeous calm bay with 7-10m depth crystal-clear turquoise water – you can see all the way to the bottom! There is also a small local family cafe-restaurant where sailors often stay overnight. Cavy bay is next door and has a fascinating cave in the rocks with a natural staircase!

The bay of Cleopatra’s Baths

A bay surrounded by evergreen pine trees, and again incredible deep-blue waters which become lighter as you move toward shore. There are some ancient ruins here, and according to myth, are of an ancient hot-spring bath built for Cleopatra by one of her friends. The mineral water is said to be good for the skin, which is why Cleopatra was so beautiful. If you want to test it, you are welcome to swim in and around the ruins!

Dockyard Island

This is the first real island on the tour (others are semi-islands). The bay gently approaches the shore and there are some ancient Ottoman Greek ruins. This bay was used to launch ships built on the island due to its shallow nature. Hence the name – Dockyard Island.

The Flat Islands

The Flat Islands

This is a group of islands that are very close to each other, directly opposite from the port town of Gocek. There is a salty ‘lake’ between islands, and in places you can walk from one island to another through the water, as it is only 1.5m deep. Further north on the biggest island there is a long sandy beach where you can buy freshly made pancakes made by locals from Gocek who visit in the daytime. Banana, bingo, and water skiing are available here and there’s also a large boat converted into a restaurant.

Red Island or Samanlık Bay

During your return voyage, the captain will select one of two bays – Either Red Island, where you can swim to the red-coloured shore just a few metres from the boat, or Samanlık Bay. Both of these present the last opportunity to swim before reaching Fethiye some 30 minutes later. Watch the sunset as you cruise.

During your villa holiday, Premier Villas Turkey can arrange your boat trip for you. We have connections with the best boat tour operators in Turkey and can get the best prices. However, that would take all the fun out of haggling at the harbour!

Bon voyage…!

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Turkey, contact Ece on +44 1243 887840 or ece@premiervillas.net.

Masserie and trulli.

I spent a lovely Christmas week in a beautiful old farmhouse in the West Country, doing lots of walking, eating and drinking, and our stay reminded me of the masserie and trulli that have become popular as luxury accommodation in Italy.

Masserie are old farmhouses and trulli are the conical-roofed shelters that often stood beside them to store crops and tools. They date back to the 16th and 17th century and the time when landowners had vast agricultural estates and employed live-in staff to tend to the fields and their families. The masserie were at the heart of a working
farm, with the servants occupying the ground floors and the landowner and his family living on the upper floors.

Masserie and trulli are most commonly found in southern Italy, in particular Puglia and Sicily. Masseria Del Genio, near Grottaglie in Puglia, is a good example of this type of
ancient Italian farmhouse. This hideaway is set amid 30 hectares of peaceful fields, awash with vineyards and old olive trees, and the white beaches of Puglia are not far away.

This luxury villa in Catania, Sicily, is another example of this type of unique Italian accommodation. Sitting at the base of Mount Etna, this old farmhouse dates back to 1700, boasting many of the original features and enjoying panoramic views over a large swathe of beautiful Mediterreanen countryside.

With their extraordinary architecture and surrounded by such rich landscape, both countryside and coastal, you can see why so many of these old farmhouses and shelters have been converted into luxury Italian accommodation, and why they hold their own alongside the premier villas that look out over the Ionian and Amalfi Coasts.

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Italy, contact us on +44 1243 514970 or italy@premiervillas.net.

Azulejos Tiles

A client who recently visited Casa Calma luxury villa in Belmont, near Alvor, has emailed me with a question about the tiles that bedeck the insides and outsides of so many buildings, from churches to houses, in the Algarve. I get asked about them quite a lot, so I thought I’d share the answer with everyone.

The tiles are called azulejos and they date back to the time when Portugal was ruled by the Moors. There are a few theories as to the meaning of the word azulejos, but I think its link to the Moorish word for small polished stone – Al Zuleique – makes most sense. Take a visit to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, which dates back to the 14th century, and you’ll see just how much part of Moorish culture these types of tiles are.

There is also some debate about when azulejos first arrived in the Algarve, and Portugal in general, but it is well documented that their use increased sharply following an earthquake
in Lisbon in 1755. The tiles were found to be effective as damp proofing for houses, and as a result, they were used increasingly, not just in the capital but across the country, to cover buildings.

Take a trip into any Portuguese town in the Algarve, such as Lagos, which is just a short distance from one of our luxury villas, Flor De Lis, and wander the streets and you’ll find plenty of examples of azulejos, whether covering an entire house front or as a plaque marking a piece of local history.

Azulejos are still made today and are beautiful as ever, but they are used more for decoration: in kitchens, bathrooms, around mirrors and BBQ areas, etc. It’s interesting that people notice these tiles so much when visiting the Algarve – something that grew popular for rather functional reasons has become something of a symbol of the region’s charm.

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Portugal, contact Libby on +44 1243 514970 or libby@premiervillas.net.

Villa Oliviero

Ever since I saw the opening scene of The Italian Job, with a soundtrack provided by Matt Munro and a Lamborghini Miura, I’ve wanted to drive a vintage sports car along the world’s most beautiful roads. The Amalfi Drive, which runs along a stretch of the extraordinary Amalfi Coast, is one.

The Amalfi Drive, or the Strada Statale 163, is carved into the mountains, linking the towns of Sorrento and Amalfi. On one side there are the sparkling blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the other picturesque villages that seemingly cling to the cliffs. Secluded bays, lemon trees, deep gorges and sea spray are all part of the scenery (although it’s best to keep your eyes firmly on the road!).

Once you’ve driven the famous road (here’s a little taste), you’ll need somewhere to park your car and hang up your keys. Villa Oliviero is a luxury villa in the nearby town of Positano. Once you’ve relaxed in the Turkish steam room, the hot tub or the swimming pool, you can sit back on the terrace with a view over the stunning coast and reminisce about your drive.

The Amalfi Coast

Of course, the Amalfi Coast isn’t just about the Amalfi Drive. This stretch of coastline is truly beautiful with its string of small towns and fishing villages – whether you’re in a car, a boat or on foot, it is incredible to explore. Villa Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples and with views that include Vesuvius Mountain, the city of Naples and the island of Ischia, is another luxury villa from which to begin and end your adventures.

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Italy, contact us on +44 1243 514970 or italy@premiervillas.net.

Lagos

At the end of my last Premier Villas Portugal post, I mentioned the festive riverside
fireworks in Lagos and how Flor De Lis is great luxury villa to visit them from. Well, looking at some old photos has reminded me just how lovely Lagos is.

The thing that you must do when you go to Lagos, even in winter, is take what the locals call a Grotto Tour. The Atlantic coastline off Lagos is home to the weird and wonderful grottoes and rock formations of Ponta da Peidade and exploring them is like stepping into another world. Hire a boat and don’t forget your camera.

If you want to see more of the Costa d’Oiro, I would recommend making a Grotto Tour part of a larger cruise on a traditional Portuguese sailboat. There are dolphin tours as well for those who like some wildlife with their adventures.

If getting out on the water isn’t your thing or if the weather isn’t quite up to it, a cliff walk is the next best thing. Lagos’ many beaches are connected by a labyrinth of paths, which are the perfect way to explore the coastline on dry land. It’s well worth heading down to a few of the beaches as well – Praia Porto do Mos is a popular one.

After a good morning’s walking or sailing, you’ll want a good restaurant. There are plenty of places to eat on the waterfront but you could also head to the Old Town. If you do, you’ll probably be ready for something hearty – I would order something fishy, maybe monkfish, with a glass of local white.

After lunch, you can carry on exploring the Old Town or head back home, and there are few better places to base yourself in Lagos than Vista do Vale. This Californian-style super premier villa is perched above the town and, if you don’t hit the private infinity pool on your return, you’ll head straight for the Jacuzzi.

For more information on Premier Villas and our villa holidays in Portugal, contact Libby on +44 1243 514970 or libby@premiervillas.net.