Where to rent a villa in Spain.
Sep 9th, 2003, 07:38 PM
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Where to rent a villa in Spain.
I have offered to help my brother find a villa in Spain for his vacation next summer.
He has never been to Spain and this would be a family vacation.
He is interested in having a place where he can enjoy a pool and maybe a little sightseeing. Since he has a small daughter, his days would really be spent relaxing.
The house he rents would be able to sleep at least eight or ten. It can be in the country, but it would be nice to be fairly close to towns to shop. He likes to invite friends and family to drop in if they would like.
I have only been to Spain once and it was outside of Barcelona. I really enjoyed the Costa Brava area.
Can anyone be able to give me ideas on where to begin my search? I do not know how difficult it is to find large modern houses in all areas of Spain.
Can you give me votes for one area over the other for a relaxed, laid back vacation?
Thanks. Sherry
He has never been to Spain and this would be a family vacation.
He is interested in having a place where he can enjoy a pool and maybe a little sightseeing. Since he has a small daughter, his days would really be spent relaxing.
The house he rents would be able to sleep at least eight or ten. It can be in the country, but it would be nice to be fairly close to towns to shop. He likes to invite friends and family to drop in if they would like.
I have only been to Spain once and it was outside of Barcelona. I really enjoyed the Costa Brava area.
Can anyone be able to give me ideas on where to begin my search? I do not know how difficult it is to find large modern houses in all areas of Spain.
Can you give me votes for one area over the other for a relaxed, laid back vacation?
Thanks. Sherry
Sep 10th, 2003, 01:27 AM
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To: Sherry
I think you have to be more specific,
Sea side, country side, Mountain area.
Atlantic or mediterranean.
Budjet...
but if you want an idea to start with
Try for the Puerto de Santamaria area in Cadiz.( COsta Ballena)
I think you have to be more specific,
Sea side, country side, Mountain area.
Atlantic or mediterranean.
Budjet...
but if you want an idea to start with
Try for the Puerto de Santamaria area in Cadiz.( COsta Ballena)
Sep 10th, 2003, 06:34 AM
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I think my problem is I really don't know where to start.
I think what I really don't know if there are a lot of areas in Spain that have large rentals. I imagine some of the less populated areas don't.
But I will start with your suggestion.
Thanks car
I think what I really don't know if there are a lot of areas in Spain that have large rentals. I imagine some of the less populated areas don't.
But I will start with your suggestion.
Thanks car
Sep 10th, 2003, 06:51 AM
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Sher,
Try this website: www.vacationvillas.net
They have a search engine that allows you to select the size, conditions and budget of the house while allowing you to select one or more regions at the same time.
I have rented through them and was very happy with the result. They actually only facilitate the owner a website, but your communication and payment is direct with the owner of the property.
Try this website: www.vacationvillas.net
They have a search engine that allows you to select the size, conditions and budget of the house while allowing you to select one or more regions at the same time.
I have rented through them and was very happy with the result. They actually only facilitate the owner a website, but your communication and payment is direct with the owner of the property.
Sep 11th, 2003, 07:13 AM
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Hi Sher,
Try www.untours.com ; they offer houses in a lovely area between Cordoba and Granada. Last year we had a lovely 5-bedroom, 3-bath house with pool in the middle of olive groves. Be sure to tell them that you want something modern. If you are going to be in southern Spain in the summer, you will need air conditioning. This company will arrange for a rental car and provide guidance on what to see, etc.
Carol
Try www.untours.com ; they offer houses in a lovely area between Cordoba and Granada. Last year we had a lovely 5-bedroom, 3-bath house with pool in the middle of olive groves. Be sure to tell them that you want something modern. If you are going to be in southern Spain in the summer, you will need air conditioning. This company will arrange for a rental car and provide guidance on what to see, etc.
Carol
Sep 11th, 2003, 01:28 PM
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Thanks everyone.
it is a good idea to tell them we want something modern. Sometimes you cannot tell from the sites. And we really need something with a washer and dryer and pool.
We could have used the air conditioning in Nice a couple of weeks ago!
it is a good idea to tell them we want something modern. Sometimes you cannot tell from the sites. And we really need something with a washer and dryer and pool.
We could have used the air conditioning in Nice a couple of weeks ago!
Sep 11th, 2003, 01:34 PM
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Though I have never followed through on a trip which involves a villa stay in Spain, I have researched one at least twice. And I was fairly impressed with the listings on www.interhome.com for Spain. Seemed to be very nicely priced - - of course, this can mean that they are remote - - or worth what you pay for them!
But then, this risk is always out there for any "slowtrav" stay - - which reminds me - - www.slowtrav.com may have a good growing repository of information, even for Spain (it's better known for its Italy and France listings).
Best wishes,
Rex
But then, this risk is always out there for any "slowtrav" stay - - which reminds me - - www.slowtrav.com may have a good growing repository of information, even for Spain (it's better known for its Italy and France listings).
Best wishes,
Rex
Sep 12th, 2003, 09:56 AM
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Actually, www.vacationvillas.net is not a rental agency, just the website operator that gives a platform to the owners of the properties, with all the good and bad that this involves as opposed to a true rental agency that acts as an intermediary. But my experience with the particular owner was great.
Be prepared to not finding many properties with dryer, just washer. Anyway, depending on the season and the area , of course, your clothes will dry in less than a day just hanging outside, every house or apartment provides a place for this. Dryers are just now becoming more common in spanish houses, but about 5 years ago nobody I know owned one, and I live in Seville, a fairly big city...
Sep 13th, 2003, 02:01 PM
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Sher,
You've received many great suggestions already, and I loved GandCT's location in the Subbetica, near Priego de Córdoba, a lovely and relatively undiscovered part of Andalucía. Untours is based in the Philadelphia area, and I have many friends who have happily traveled with them.
With a small daughter, he might prefer the Costa del Sol area to be near the ocean, stables for horseback riding in Estepona or the Tivoli amusement park. Either the Estepona-Marbella-Mijas area (although I'd head straight for the hills above the coast, which is very congested in summer and highly overdeveloped). Or the Nerja-La Herradura side (we know 3 local families with villas in La Herradura). For Nerja, I'd use inter-rent.com
While we prefer to avoid the middleman and rent directly from the owner for the considerable savings, it's easier for us since we speak Spanish, know the country inside out and have friends/relatives who can go check out the properties personally for us.
Another platform for villas rented directly with owner is www.spanish-villas.com
But since your brother has never been to Spain, he might be more comfortable dealing with an American based agency (that is, if he's American!). Many, if not the majority, of the rental agencies specializing in Spain villas are British based, but here are a few reputable American companies that might have just what he's looking for:
www.rentvillas.com
For modern (comfort level of American standards) , large (8-10) properties with pool throughout Spain, I'd look at their offerings.
www.villavacations.com,
called "Doorways", featured on the slowtrav site and located in my neck-of-the-woods.
www.elsolvillas.com
Another local agency whose owner I know quite well, but who handles very pricey, luxury properties,
www.barclayweb.com
Another company whose properties tend to run on the luxury side.
If he doesn't mind dealing with a British agency, then he might find something at
www.spanishaffair.com
It has a wide and more reasonably priced selection in Andalucía and also Green Spain, the northern coast in the regions of Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias, which is a great family vacation spot, attracting a mainly Spanish repeat clientele and much cooler in summer (wouldn't absolutely need a/c).
Or in Catalunya, along the upper (and upscale) Costa Brava, a beautiful, quiet, family resort area, check out
www.spanishHaven.com
www.spanish-harbour.co.uk
Hope this helps a bit more.
You've received many great suggestions already, and I loved GandCT's location in the Subbetica, near Priego de Córdoba, a lovely and relatively undiscovered part of Andalucía. Untours is based in the Philadelphia area, and I have many friends who have happily traveled with them.
With a small daughter, he might prefer the Costa del Sol area to be near the ocean, stables for horseback riding in Estepona or the Tivoli amusement park. Either the Estepona-Marbella-Mijas area (although I'd head straight for the hills above the coast, which is very congested in summer and highly overdeveloped). Or the Nerja-La Herradura side (we know 3 local families with villas in La Herradura). For Nerja, I'd use inter-rent.com
While we prefer to avoid the middleman and rent directly from the owner for the considerable savings, it's easier for us since we speak Spanish, know the country inside out and have friends/relatives who can go check out the properties personally for us.
Another platform for villas rented directly with owner is www.spanish-villas.com
But since your brother has never been to Spain, he might be more comfortable dealing with an American based agency (that is, if he's American!). Many, if not the majority, of the rental agencies specializing in Spain villas are British based, but here are a few reputable American companies that might have just what he's looking for:
www.rentvillas.com
For modern (comfort level of American standards) , large (8-10) properties with pool throughout Spain, I'd look at their offerings.
www.villavacations.com,
called "Doorways", featured on the slowtrav site and located in my neck-of-the-woods.
www.elsolvillas.com
Another local agency whose owner I know quite well, but who handles very pricey, luxury properties,
www.barclayweb.com
Another company whose properties tend to run on the luxury side.
If he doesn't mind dealing with a British agency, then he might find something at
www.spanishaffair.com
It has a wide and more reasonably priced selection in Andalucía and also Green Spain, the northern coast in the regions of Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias, which is a great family vacation spot, attracting a mainly Spanish repeat clientele and much cooler in summer (wouldn't absolutely need a/c).
Or in Catalunya, along the upper (and upscale) Costa Brava, a beautiful, quiet, family resort area, check out
www.spanishHaven.com
www.spanish-harbour.co.uk
Hope this helps a bit more.
