Where British guests are booking, what kinds of properties they want, when they are going and who they are going with

 

As British holidaymakers already turn their thoughts to summer 2014, top villa holiday company CV Villas are finding that their clients are returning in droves to the `old favourites’, rather than aspiring to travel to more exotic destinations.

 

Sun seekers are shunning former hot-spots such as Egypt and Tunisia due to political unrest, and returning to Spain, Greece, Portugal and France, all of which saw much stronger inbound tourism results in 2013 and figures for 2014 are dramatically higher.

 

Greece has adapted to its economic crises, prices have lowered and stabilised, Spain offers the sun-sea-sand combination without having to go too far, France and the Algarve have never lost their appeal but inbound visitors dipped in recent years while other more exotic locations lured British travellers.

 

“2014 seems to be the summer of the returning Brit and of course, the flight infrastructure to get to these near European countries from the UK is very good, with a lot of regional flights from around the UK too, while motorail and self-drive into France is appealing to more people for 2014. It’s nice to see a return to some of the favourite holiday destinations for British guests, such as Corfu, Andalucia, Provence and the Algarve” said Francis Torrilla, MD for CV Villas.

 

Here are the top trends for villa holiday bookings for 2014:-

 

Growth in demand for multi-generation holidays

 

Villas that accommodate two or more families or groups of friends sharing the holiday cost now make up around 40% of top villa holiday specialist CV Villa’s portfolio of villas in Europe. Houses with annexes, studios and separate accommodation for au-pairs and nannies are also under demand for 2014 as families choose villas and holiday houses to give them the option to self-cater rather than have the unpredictable cost of dining out each day.

 

Included among the 800 or so villas offered by CV Villas are around 350 houses and villas with accommodation for 10 or more guests or with annexes or studios. There are also over thirty houses and converted hamlets that will sleep 25 guests or more, including the newly introduced Villa Centinale near Siena, one of the world’s most notorious society houses which for three decades was the home of disgraced MP Lord `Tony’ Lambton who had a much publicised tryst with two prostitutes in the early 1970’s.

 

Constructed in 1680, the magnificent 9-bedroom Baroque villa was designed by Bernini’s master pupil, Carlo Fontana. The grand and once-shabby-chic Villa Cetinale near Siena is now more akin to a 5* hotel and is now available for rental for the first time since a six year refurbishment project was completed in May 2013. The house sleeps up to 27 guests and is available through top villa specialist CV Villas (020 7563 7905, www.cvvillas.com) for £22,260 / week.

 

Where’s `hot’ : Southern Italy – bookings up by 30%

 

In southern Italy, particularly Puglia, CV Villas has seen a marked rise in demand for luxury villas and an anticipated growth of 30% in bookings for 2014 has led to them offering their own British Airways scheduled seats to Bari next summer. Under most demand are the majestic Masserias and quirky, endemic Trulli houses, characteristic of the area, while houses with pools always are in high demand from CV’s clients, with around 90% of the 800 villas in the portfolio having their own private pools.

 

Available for a week’s stay in 2014 is the three-bedroom `Giu al Trullo’, a three-bedroom (sleeps 5) twin-coned trullo with a 12m private pool, situated near the famous ‘white town’ of Ostuni. A week’s stay in May costs from £735pp and in August costs from £835pp, including return direct BA flights and car-hire, based on 5 sharing. Contact CV Villas on 020 7563 7902 and www.cvvillas.com

 

Algarve on the up – over 50% growth expected

 

In southern Portugal, particularly in the Algarve, CV Villas has seen a marked rise in demand for luxury villas and an anticipated growth of over 50% in bookings for 2014 has led to them adding more properties next summer. Under most demand are the properties in prime locations with direct access to the Algarve’s family friendly sandy beaches, long renowned as some of the best beaches in Europe, with a good selection of water sports and excellent beach restaurants. The south facing position of the villas, reliable weather of southern Portugal, a wide choice of flights and excellent value of dining out are also reasons why this region is also showing strong growth. Fabulous houses with direct access to the sea have always been popular with CV’s discerning customers. 

 

Available for a week’s stay in 2014 is the three-bedroom `Beach Cottage’, a three-bedroom (sleeps 6) former keeper’s cottage with a 12m private pool, situated on a historic 3 hectare estate with direct access to the wide sandy beaches with restaurants, near the picturesque fishing village of Ferragudo. A week’s stay in August costs £3555, including maid service based on 6 sharing. Contact CV Villas on 020 7563 7905 and www.cvvillas.com

 

British sunseekers lead the way back to Spain –villa bookings expected to increase by a third
 

Bookings for villas in Spain are stronger than for the past 10 years, according to CV Villas, who are experiencing renewed demand with anticipated growth in villa bookings of around a third in 2014. Particularly sought after are villas with pools in Spain’s coastal regions, as well as inland Andalucia for those seeking more privacy and tranquillity, and also the Balearic Islands, where CV Villas’ Mallorca programme is expected to gain around 25% more bookings than in 2013.

 

The trends are in line with official figures for the country’s tourism growth, as Spain’s tourism ministry has reported the country’s highest inbound number of foreign tourists to Spain for nearly 20 years in August 2013, a 12 month growth of 7.1%, led by the British (2m visitors) in search of sunshine. Spain is the third most visited country in the world (after the US and France) according to the World Tourism Organisation. Spain’s success comes at the cost of tourism numbers to Egypt and Tunisia, both hit by civil unrest in 2013 and causing British sunseekers to look closer to home.

 

week’s stay in 2014 is the four bedroom Rodeo Alto, sleeps 8 with air conditioning, private heatable pool and sauna. A week’s stay costs from £2675, including maid service and welcome pack, based on 8 sharing.  This property is a neighbouring villa to La Palmita, sleeps up to 4 and price from £1645 per week. Contact CV Villas on 020 7563 7904 and www.cvvillas.com

 

French villa holidays – 25% more drivers, 15% taking the train
 

15% more CV Villa clients are taking the direct train from London St. Pancras to Provence, while 25% more plan to drive their cars down to their luxury villa in summer 2014. France vies with the U.S. as the world’s most popular holiday destination, according to the World Tourism Organisation, with the Cote d’Azur retaining popularity as the jet-set destination and growth in bookings for the region of around 10% forecast by CV Villas for 2014. Among the most popular inland destinations in the country is the village of Saint Paul de Vence in Provence, frequented by Picasso and Chagall, where CV has an exquisite selection of family villas.

 

Nearby the village of St Paul de Vence (5min drive) is villa Hacienda a fabulous 5 bedroom house with a private swimming pool, games room and wine cellar. Available for a week’s stay from £3495, for up to 10 to share, including maid service (3 hours, 3 times weekly). Contact CV Villas on 020 7563 7903 and www.cvvillas.com

 

What’s hot : Lefkada, Greece – bookings up by over 40%

 

In Greece, particularly for the Ionian island of Lefkada CV Villas has seen a marked rise in demand for luxury villas and an anticipated growth of over 40% in bookings for 2014 has led to them adding more properties next summer. Under most demand are the properties in prime secluded locations with direct access to glorious pebbly beaches, with a good selection of water sports. The utterly magnificent views over the off shore islands including over Skorpios, wide choice of water sports including water skiing and wakeboarding, and excellent value of shopping and dining out are also reasons why this island is also showing strong growth. Fabulous houses with direct access to the sea have always been popular with CV’s discerning clients.  

 

Available for a week’s stay in 2014 is Kalithea, a five bedroom villa (sleeps 10) with a private pool, situated in landscaped gardens within walking distance of a secluded cove with boat mooring. A week’s stay in August costs £6280, including maid service, car hire and welcome meal based on 10 sharing. Contact CV Villas on 020 7563 7901 and www.cvvillas.com

 

END.
 

For further press information or to order images, contact:-
 

THE CREATIVE CONNECTION (UK) Ltd

Mary Stuart-Miller Tel: 01737 306098

E-mail: mary@mstuart-miller.co.uk

 

 

ABOUT CV VILLAS
 

The UK’s leading villa holiday company, CV Villas, includes nearly 800 individually selected properties in the Greek Islands, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the Caribbean, Thailand, South Africa, the UK and Morocco within its portfolio. Each property is outstanding; offering a blend of location, individuality, quality and style, usually with a fabulous pool, gardens and stylish interiors.

Prices start from £800 per week for a week's stay in a charming property for four in Corfu, close to the beach, with rentals for the most luxurious and exclusive houses rising to thousands of pounds per week.