Tuesday 25 November 2008

Christmas by the sea and other stunning offers from One Off Places this Winter

What could be more romantic than a Christmas spent literally surrounded by sea views and salty air? Grab this incredible opportunity and stay in the stunning Plantation House with One Off Places. Walk into Yarmouth to explore wintery pubs or go further afield and take on the Tennyson Trail cliff walk for a view of the Needles. Or you could just stay home for a week, stoke up the log fire and call in a delivery of locally caught lobster, crab and line-caught bass for a Christmas meal with a real difference!

Plantation House is a unique architect-designed property on the edge of Yarmouth. Featuring 360 foot of sea frontage it provides the opportunity to stay within striking distance of the historic harbour and the attractions of the surrounding area. The house itself was originally built by Lady Caernarvon in 1930 in the grounds of her estate as “a place to enjoy sea views while surrounded by peaceful trees”. The trees have remained while the property was extended in 1988 and then entirely refurbished in natural materials in 2007, incorporating state of the art services. The result is luxury accommodation for up to six guests, with a living room with hardwood floors, an open fire and triple aspect views out to sea. See pictures attached, plus this link for more details: http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/England/Isle-of-Wight/Plantation-House.aspx

Owing to a recent cancellation Plantation House is available for rent over the Christmas and New Year period. Although it sleeps six people in three ensuite bedrooms, it is ideal for a smaller more intimate gathering as the owners are delighted to offer a 50% discount off their standard rate if only two people stay (making it £1450 per week), or 25% off for four people (i.e. £2175 per week). They are also willing to offer a shorter break if required, with a day rate at pro rata the weekly one (£207 for 2 people, or £310 for 4 people) for a minimum 3 night stay.

Getting to Yarmouth is simple. The nearest mainland ferry port is Lymington in the New Forest and the crossing takes only half an hour – upon arrival you either have a short drive or alternatively a bus or taxi from the harbour to the house. Or, if you get the ferry over from Portsmouth on the other side of the island (and you haven’t driven yourself) then the train station is only a mile’s bracing walk from your destination (or there’s always the bus or taxi!)

As well as Plantation House, One Off Places is delighted to offer the following winter break ideas or discounts:

Christmas skiing in the shadow of Mount Etna on Sicily?
Make it the experience of a lifetime - skiing on a volcano offers incredible contrast between black lava flow, white snow and (hopefully) blue skies above. And then you can get to the beach ad the Ionian Sea in an hour’s drive for a real contrast. House of Camellia is situated on an organic farm (providing citrus fruits and produce whenever you need it). It sleeps up to 6 in 2 bedrooms and is offering 20% of its usual rates over Christmas and the New Year making it only €520 / £440 per week. See attached photo and http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Italy/Sicily/The-House-of-Camellia.aspx . Flights* from £370 return per adult from London to Catania over Christmas week.

Thermal spa in Slovenia?
Lie back in steaming water while the snow falls all around you at Vino Cottage, a stunning location in the beautiful Goricko National Park in North East Slovenia. It sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms, has central heating and a wood burning stove and offers nearby access to trips into Austria, Hungary and Croatia plus there is skiing at Maribor, about an hour away. A totally new experience for only £200 per week throughout the winter months (or £50 per night). See attached photo and http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Slovenia/Prekmurje/Vino-Cottage.aspx . Flights* from London to Graz from only £314 return per adult over Christmas week.

Notes for editors:
One Off Places specialises in individual and characterful holiday rentals worldwide and has a wide selection of properties catering for all different tastes, group sizes and location specifications. Its website offers users the chance to enquire about their chosen property directly with the owner. For further information about One Off Places, please visit www.oneoffplaces.co.uk or contact Olly Symonds on Olly@oneoffplaces.co.uk or tel: 01494 881196. Images available on request.
*All flights are estimates, researched from carriers or sites such as Expedia.com, and should be used for guidance only.

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Christmas and New Year Discounts - Get Wild and Wintry on the Isle of Harris with One Off Places

Winter in the Outer Hebrides may be pretty wild, but it will certainly be unforgettable. Whether you are curled up on a fireside sofa listening to the Atlantic winds, or outside enjoying vivid blue skies above white sandy beaches we guarantee that this is one place that will not leave you in a hurry!

Situated just a few miles from Leverburgh on the south west coast of the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, Kyle’s House is a beautiful cottage from which to seek out everything that Harris has to offer. Set on a hillside, surrounded by wild flower meadow and heathland, it overlooks the Sound of Harris with spectacular views across the sea to the islands of North Uist, Skye and the many small islands of the Sound.

And due to a last minute cancellation there are currently discounts available during December and January, meaning that the cost of renting this Scottish bolthole comes down to only £900 per week over Christmas or New Year, and only £540 from January through to March. Kyle’s House sleeps 6 people in three bedrooms, 2 of which are ensuite. Downstairs, there is a fully equipped kitchen, a sitting room and the stunning sunroom that gives far-reaching views over the Sound of Harris –a great place to watch the scenery change in front of your eyes! The Outer Hebrides is a magical place to be at anytime of year but over these winter months it really is in a league of its own. Kyle’s House is a great base for long walks to explore the island, although with its cosy wood burner you'll feel just as content to relax with a good book and a glass of wine to enjoy this exceptional spot. Good pubs and restaurants in nearby Leverburgh allow you a real rest from the daily routine – it really is the perfect place to blow away the cobwebs of 2008 and recharge your batteries in anticipation of an exhilarating 2009.

See Kyle’s House here: http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Scotland/Islands/Kyles-House.aspx

You can travel to the Isle of Harris either on a ferry - Caledonian MacBrayne operates ferry routes to the island from Skye and North Uist. Cost of a car plus 4 occupants is around £90 and the journey takes under 2 hours from Uist. Ferries run roughly every other day – visit www.calmac.co.uk for details. Alternatively it is possible to fly to Stornaway airport in nearby Lewis (price is around £125 for a return over Christmas per adult from London airports)– and from there drive to Kyle’s House. Visit the following websites for more information and prices: www.ba.com / www.flybmi.com / www.highlandairways.co.uk


One Off Places specialises in individual and characterful holiday rentals worldwide and has a wide selection of properties catering for all different tastes, group sizes and location specifications. Its website offers users the chance to enquire about their chosen property directly with the owner. For further information about One Off Places, please visit www.oneoffplaces.co.uk or contact Olly Symonds on Olly@oneoffplaces.co.uk or tel: 01494 881196. Images available on request.
*All flights are estimates, researched from carriers or sites such as Expedia.com, and should be used for guidance only.

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Guarantee a white Christmas in a stunning eco-chalet with One Off Places

La Source is an exclusive, luxury self-catered or catered farmhouse just outside Samoens village in the French Alps. This exclusive and unique retreat sleeps 10 + 4 children in 5 bedrooms and has 4 bathrooms alongside a wealth of features inside and out with old beams exposed and offset against white walls. It is a truly unique venue; an eco-conversion of a 19th Century Alpine farm. Visitors will be bathing in mountain source water heated by wood pellets from the local timber yard. There is a traditional Cedar wood-fired hot tub on the 60m2 Larch deck, and there is a big garden with its own stream, a mill ruin and some spectacular South facing views.

And incredibly, they still have availability for this Christmas (up to 28th December) – and there is currently an amazing deal of £300 off the weekly price (making it £2600 for the whole property for the week - £260 a head based on 10 people) – plus they are offering an 8th night for free!

The owners make sure a stay in their property is a truly unique and exciting experience. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for all mountain sports makes them invaluable guides for the area, while there are also opportunities for yoga, tai chi and shiatsu for those that may not want to hit the slopes every day. The property itself features:

· 130m2 open plan living area with huge sliding doors that open to South-facing views of the Giffre Valley
· FSC oak floors and slate bathrooms with Duravit and Hansgrohe fittings
· Rustic-chic furniture with a mix of antiques and 20th Century designer classics alongside contemporary art on the walls
· all mod cons - a laundry room / broadband points in every room / under floor heating / Italian kitchen with breakfast island
· A cosy quirky TV and music den and library with optional cable TV, a DVD player and an I-Pod docking station

For full details of the La Source, plus photography, please visit:
http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/France/Rhone-Alps/La-Source.aspx

To get to La Source by air, the closest airport is Geneva 42 miles /64 km or 1 hour away. From the UK, Easyjet, British Airways and Air France all fly into Geneva on a very regular basis (flights start at around £140 return*). Transfers can either be arranged locally or a member of La Source’s crew can collect up to 12 passengers for a small additional fee.

Friday 7 November 2008

Get some Winter sun – New Year sunshine deals with One Off Places

Looking to get away from the UK and find some sunshine this winter? No need to travel longhaul to find warmth though – both of these properties are within a few hours flying time of the UK, and they all offer the promise of sunshine and warmth. What’s more - all are offering great deals to make your decision to take a break that much simpler!

Cyprus – Apartment with Spa Treatments Onsite
Why not enjoy the warmth of Cyprus? Larnaca is widely known to be its oldest city, with evidence of habitation up to 6000 years ago! Enjoy the ancient city centre and the promenade – ideal for people watching in the sunshine. And, particularly at this time of year, the Great Salt Lake is home to thousands of pink flamingos! Danae House is a typical Cyprean house, positioned in the beautiful village of Tochni. It has recently been renovated and divided into 8 stunning apartments set around a beautiful swimming pool. This is an ideal base for Tochni, for Larnaca and particularly for those lovely flamingos. The owners are also delighted to offer spa type treatments, plus a sauna and steam room to aid your post-Christmas recovery! If that weren’t enough to tempt you, they are happy to offer a 7 night for the price of 6 deal for bookings between end of November 2008 and end of February 2009 (excluding Christmas and New Year). Prices from £350 for a 2 person apartment for a week. Flights available from London from £190 return, per person*.
See: http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Cyprus/Larnaca-Region/Danae-House.aspx

Turkey – Private Villa with Discount for Early Booking
The Aegean coast of Turkey is a wonderful destination, being not just a fascinating place to visit, but inexpensive as well! This coastline has a rich cultural legacy and is scattered with significant archaeological sites, including Ephesus and Troy, plus its climate ensures the perfect escape from the rigors of a northern winter: even in January and February, the days are sunny and pleasant. Villa Guller is an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of life and is the perfect winter sunshine holiday spot. It is located in the small rural village of Hisaronu Koy, just 20Km from Marmaris and is surrounded by a private walled garden, and a swimming pool for your exclusive use. It’s an oasis of peace and relaxation – why not spend some time in the slow lane this winter? Plus, enquire via One Off Places before 31st December and receive a 10% discount on any bookings made for next year! January 2009 flights available from London from £299 return, per person*.
See http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/Europe/Turkey/Aegean-Coast/Villa-Guller.aspx


One Off Places specialises in individual and characterful holiday rentals worldwide and has a wide selection of properties catering for all different tastes, group sizes and location specifications. Its website offers users the chance to enquire about their chosen property directly with the owner.

For further information about One Off Places, please visit www.oneoffplaces.co.uk or contact Olly Symonds on Olly@oneoffplaces.co.uk or tel: 01494 881196. Images available on request.
*All flights are estimates, researched from carriers or sites such as Expedia.com, and should be used for guidance only.