Quality Villas reveals luxury market boom

Quality Villas Ltd, a luxury villa rentals agent have reported a large increase in sales to Tuscany, currently at 100% up on 2010 figures. As a whole the company has seen a resurgence in interest in Italy and France together, which is generally attributed to unrest in other destinations in the world at the moment (Tunisia, Egypt, Japan).

However, strategic positioning in the past 12 months have enabled the company to take full advantage of this interest including the release of a new website and larger, taster style brochure.

Average villa rentals are £4000 per week, which looks favourable against St Tropez for example, which records average rentals of £7000 per week, thus it can be suggested that Italy is still showing value for money at the higher end, although it is debatable if the products are comparable.

A typical villa in Tuscany could be Villa Angelica, near Volterra, sleeping 8, this property enjoys a private pool, air conditioning, spectacular views and is walking distance of local shops. Prices range from £2530-£4430 for the complete property per week.

Quality Villas is currently in its 25th year of business, still independant and family owned. Tel 01442 870055 or visit their website for more Italian villas.




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Home of the Pesto Sauce

The finest, most delicious pesto sauce can be found in its home region of beautiful Liguria where basil grows in abundance and the secret Pesto recipe has been passed down through generations.

One of Italy's tiniest regions, Liguria is the long thin coastal strip that curves round to the West, (towards the South of France) at the top of the ‘boot', also known as the Italian Riviera. It is here you may well spot many A list celebrities, particularly in the beautiful town Portofino, a constant feature in ‘Ok' Magazine.

Despite the major publicity constantly surrounding some of these glamorous resorts, the stunning landscape, the medieval hill towns, the tiny fishing villages, the crystal clear sandy coastline and the gourmet restaurants are still mainly only frequented by Italians (another advantage!).

That said, the Unesco World Heritage site of the Cinque Terre National Park contains the famous once isolated five villages that are now connected by well trodden paths hiked by travellers from all over the world. And rightly so because these five stunning Cinque Terre villages are picture postcard perfect, where pastel coloured houses cling to green vine-clad cliffs, sloping down towards the glittering blue bays, harbours and tiny cobbled piazzas. The lovely coastline with its stunning views continues towards the glorious capital, Genoa (a highly recommended city to be visited in its own right), and includes the fabulous Portofino.

We can't recommend this region highly enough as having everything for the most wonderful reasonably priced holiday, for families, couples and definitely, honeymoons!

For more information on Liguria, where to go and renting villas: http://www.loveitaly.co.uk/regions.php?id=9