carolina_mom

Family of 12 looking for villa rental with pool and chef (dinners only) in Spain. Had much success with same setup in Tuscany and are now looking to do something similar in Spain. What area would be ideal for home base? Looking for village or area that is within reasonable driving distances to other towns. We have two 4 year olds and 2 teenagers and 2 elderly parents traveling together. A tall order, I know!

Robert2533

There are villas along the northeast coast, on the islands and along the Costa del Sol, but what you're looking for are in short supply throughout most of Spain. There you'll find Casas Rurales, country homes, some quite impressive.

nytraveler

For the kind of luxury villa you're looking for (I assume you'll also want AC) I would look at the Costa del Sol - near Marbella/Puerto Banus. With a rental car there are a lot of day trips available - and you have good access to golf, tennis, beaches, a caasino and a lot of high quality restaurants.

Robert2533

Here is a short list of some of the properties available on the mainland (Spain).

1. Girona - This beautifully restored historic building has been the home to a knights templar, a fortified massia and a priory and is now a superbly renovated 6 bedroom country home built around a charming courtyard. The owners have spared no expense in renovating the stunning building; the interiors are spacious and modern with every possible amenity. The landscaped grounds incorporate a 12-meter swimming pool with Jacuzzi, boules court, table tennis and golf practice area and there is even a small lake.

2. Barcelona - This superb 10-bedroom manor house is just 30 minutes from the centre of Barcelona and 20 minutes from the beaches. The main building dates back to the 16th century and has recently been totally renovated and now boasts the most stunning contemporary interiors. The property has wi-fi Internet, satellite LCD televisions and is fully air-conditioned. There is a 10 x 10 meter heated swimming pool with Jacuzzi in the fully enclosed grounds and there is plenty of parking.

3. Puerto Banús - This extraordinary 7 bedroom villa is situated in one of the most enviable locations being just a 3 minute walk from a major golf course and a few minutes drive from the lively and glamorous town of Puerto Banús, a few kilometers from Marbella. Everything about this villa oozes opulence; from the myriad statues to the exquisite furnishings this is certainly one of the finest properties in the region. A full time butler ensures everything runs smoothly.

4. Sitges - Located close to Sitges on the edge of the Garraf Natural Park is this restored farmhouse, which was once a prolific wine producer. The property has been lovingly restored to create a spacious 5-8 bedroom family house with many of the original features still in place giving it great character and charm. The property has 8000sq meters of private gardens and a splendid 11 X 4.5 meter pool with views across the valley.

5. Sitges - A renovated 9-bedroom Masia located in the hills just 6 kilometers from the stunning beaches of Sitges and 30 minutes drive from Barcelona. This fabulous property with stunning views across the valley is an idyllic holiday destination, with 300 acres of private grounds and 14 kilometers of walking trails through vineyards and olive groves. The property has a games room, home cinema and television lounge with satellite channels, an 18.5 x 6 meter heated infinity swimming pool and a hot tub. There is also a children’s playroom, in fact something for everyone.

carolina_mom

Excellent information and thank you. Robert, would the homes you suggested be listed in a central site or would it be best to google them individually?

Robert2533

The homes listed are handled through an exclusive agency called "Royal Villas Europe" (http://www.royalvillaseurope.com/). You cannot book them from the website, you will have to contact them via telephone (+33 623 894 732 / +33 627 115 613) or via email: [email protected]

There are other agencies, but we consider this to be one of the best overall.

Another agency, located in Wayne, PA and recommended by Condé Nast Traveler, is El Sol (http://www.elsolvillas.com/). They handle both higher end and more reasonably price properties.

I hope this helps.

RLUCIDO

I rented a house in a village near Malaga (Frigiliana) this year and it was wonderful. More of town casa than a villa, but very spacious. 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths, swimming pool, lots of outdoor areas. two living areas, two kitchens. Go to www.frigiliana-spain.com

The location was perfect. 2 hours to Granada, 15 minutes to Nerja beach (great beach), 1 hour to Malaga. Loved the house and loved the owners.

Robert2533

Sorry, but the house in the village of Frigiliana is more along the lines of a CR than the luxury villa carolina_mom was looking for.

The owners of the house in Frigiliana will rent rooms or the entire house and offer breakfast. Even with a pool it's not quite the same as the setup in Tuscany, or the luxury villas listed above.

RLUCIDO

As for a chef, you can have every dinner prepared if you wish at Casa Dona Angela in Frigiliana. We rented the whole house and the guest house and it was very luxurious. It is definitely not a remote villa, but as I have stayed in large villas in several countries, as well as Casa Dona Angela, I actually can compare them. Dona Angela had the advantage, for first time Spanish travelers, of being in a town. The owners stocked our refrigerator before we arrived and had wine waiting for us. Actually, more personal attention than I have gotten in luxury villas I've rented in other countries.

I'm just offering another option for the original poster.

carolina_mom

Thank you for your responses. After a bit of research we're leaning toward a country villa in the Catalonia region. It appears to be less traveled and a bit more laid back than the beautiful and more popular Andalusia region. We've found a 6 bedroom home, http://www.rentvillas.com/PropertyDe...?Catalog=11390
but are not sure about the convenience of the location--it's in the Banyoles and Besalau area. Is anyone familiar with the day trips from this home base? We continue to read that Andalusia is "all that's Spain." ??

mlaffitte

I'm a journalist and am doing some research for an article on how to rent a vacation house/villa in Europe. Rlucido, I was interested in what you wrote and wondered if you'd be willing to contact me by e-mail so I could ask a few questions. my email is cmfriedland at hotmail.com
Thank you!

summer

Hi RLUCIDO, Casa Dona Angela looks very interesting. Is parking available or do you have to walk up a hill to get to it?Which room would you pick if staying on a bed and breakfast basis? Thanks, Summer