Rachel's Holiday Villa Blog

Welcome to Rachel’s Villa Holiday Blog.

2023 Villa Holiday Booking Trends
Is it really time to book a 2023 villa holiday? Most villa owners have now set their prices and availability for 2023 so it is an excellent time to find your ideal villa for 2023. The best villas book up early and you have a better range to choose from if you book...

How do I find villas in Italy and France?
How do I source villas in Italy and France? 20 years of experience has helped me build a huge list of reliable villa owners, managers and companies, giving me access to the best villas available.

My Top 5 Provence Villas with pools
Why are villas in Provence so sought after for a summer holiday? As I have discovered, there are many reasons why this region of the south of France is the one to visit. Sunshine, beaches, picturesque landscapes, medieval hilltop villages, colourful markets and...

My Top 5 Villas in Puglia with a Private Pool
Puglia is the sun-kissed heel of Italy’s boot. For the coast, culture and delicious food alone, it makes an excellent choice as a holiday destination. I also love it for the laid back lifestyle, rural tranquillity and welcoming locals. Over the last 20 years, there...
Rosetta bread recipe – a taste of Italy
We had a bit of an Italian food fest yesterday at home. As promised, here is the recipe for the Rosetta bread we made. The quantities are not very precise but you really can't go wrong! Rosetta bread step one Mix around half a cup of water and a dash of olive oil with...

Direct train from London to Provence
Did you know that you can take a direct Eurostar train from London to the South of France in the summer? Not only is it a more eco-friendly way to travel from the UK than flying, but it is pretty quick too. I was amazed to discover that the journey time from London to...

Seven Benefits of using a Villa Finder
1 – Your search is managed from start to finish by your villa finder Your personal villa finder is on hand to answer your questions and offer experienced advice at every stage of the villa search. 2 – You have a better choice A villa finder will give you access to a...

5 Tips for a Harmonious 3 Generation Family Villa Holiday
What makes a harmonious family villa holiday? I have been collecting candid feedback from serial villa holiday organisers to answer that very question. So here are 5 top tips from those who have perfected the art of keeping everyone happy on holiday: 1 - Compile a...

How to Find your Ideal Villa
So you have decided to plan a villa holiday. Where do you start the villa search? Online of course. Just doing a Google search for holiday villas will throw up thousands of results, even if you are specific about the location. So here are my tips to help you save...

Just Italy and France for 2019
After 9 years of finding villas around the world, it’s now time to specialise. Instead of exploring new destinations, my focus for 2019 will be on villas in Italy and France only and a more bespoke service. Setting up Rachel’s Villa Holidays was a natural step from a...