Playa del Rincón de la Victoria, Costa del Sol, Spain by Cayetano

Whilst many people choose to holiday down on the coast itself, there are a growing number of visitors choosing to rent properties dotted around the hillside towns and rural areas of Montes de Malaga.   Set back from the coast the so called ‘white villages’ offer a glimpse of more traditional Spanish life, of how it used to be before mass tourism hit the Costas.   With breathtaking views from their mountainside perches, often as far as Morocco on a clear winter’s day, village life is peaceful and tranquil with only the ringing of the church bells to disturb your sunbathing.   Here you will still see the occasional donkey or vans traversing the villages selling fresh fish and vegetables and spend a lazy hour over a drink or two and watch the locals as they go about their daily business.

Choose from a cortijo, a small traditional farmhouse or rustic fincas, charming little cottages and rural country houses which have been lovingly restored and designed to provide a perfect holiday home with everything you could possibly need to enjoy your time in the sun.  Fully equipped, often with private pools and barbeques they are a great option for those of you who don’t like the rigidity of hotels or prefer a little more space and privacy.   Satellite televisions, wi-fi, every modern kitchen gadget and tasteful furnishings make these properties a home from home, some so luxurious that you will be reluctant to raise yourself from your sun lounger to venture outside your little haven.

Nerja, Costa del Sol, Spain by Miika Silfverberg

If you prefer to be amongst the action on the coast you will be able to choose from a wide range of apartments and villas, often set in complexes with every amenity you can think of from large swimming pools and gym complexes.  And for those of you who want the flexibility of being in your own property but don’t want the hassle of self catering, properties are available in serviced complexes which have restaurants available for breakfast, lunch and dinner and those all important pool side snacks.  Some of the larger complexes even boast sports centres complete with tennis courts, bowls and golf and evening entertainment too.

So if it is a self catering holiday you are searching for make sure to check out some of the properties available as holiday rentals on the Costa del Sol.

Sue Wright is an avid traveller and writer and has spent many years working with travel companies including Travel and Leisure Group.  She has spent the last eight years living and working in Cyprus.

The post Holiday Rentals in the Costa del Sol | Spain appeared first on Best of European Union.

Luxury villas in Tuscany
If you would like to enjoy your staying in this great region to the maximum, try Luxury villas in Tuscany. Stay at traditional stone farmhouse in the Chianti region and the Tuscan countryside, furnished in rustic Tuscan style or in comfortable apartments in villas with private pools offering unforgettable views over the surrounding landscape.

www.holidayhomestuscany.com

Discover Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), Michelangelo’s statue of David, the Gothic church of Santa Croce or gallery Uffuzzi with the largest collection of Italian Renaissance Art in Florence. Pisa city is world-famous thanks to its Square of Miracles (Campo dei Miracoli) and its 4 buildings – Leaning tower, the Cathedral, Baptistery and Camposanto. Versilia and its surroundings is located in the northwestern part of Tuscany in the region of Lucca, between Alpi Apuane mountains and Tyrrhenian Sea. The historical part of “vera Versilia” includes resorts like Pietrasanta, Forte dei Marmi, Seravezza and Stazzema. Resorts Camaiore, Viareggio and Massarosa are peripheral centers.

Viareggio is a renowned seaside resort, known as the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea”. It is located in the territory between two pine forests and a beautiful lake Massaciuccoli. Among the most famous events is undoubtedly “Puccini Opera Festival”, which is held in Torre del Lago, where Giacomo Puccini lived and composed much of his known works.

The climate of Tuscany is pleasant and mild also during the hot summer since it is influenced by the nearby mountains, and mild in winters influenced by the nearby sea.

View Luxury villas in Tuscany – accommodation tip Italy in a larger map

The post Luxury villas in Tuscany – accommodation tip | Italy appeared first on Best of European Union.