Rachel's Holiday Villa Blog

Welcome to Rachel’s Villa Holiday Blog.
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 15 years, I have...

How do I source 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 over the last 15 years, there are many reasons why this region of the south of France is the one to visit. Sunshine, beaches, picturesque landscapes, medieval hilltop villages,...
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...

Create or Update your Villa Website
I can't emphasise enough how key an effective and up to date website is to renting out your villa successfully. Even if villa companies or listing sites generate your bookings, it is always worth investing in updating or creating your own website. It allows you to...

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...

How to increase your bookings with 5 quick fixes
Why is your holiday villa not booking up as you had expected? There may be a number of reasons. The trick is to identify them, then adapt accordingly in order to kick start bookings again. The rental market can change from one year to the next, so it is vital to keep...

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...

Villa owners – Why you need better photography
Are the photos of your villa really good enough? How inviting and informative are they? Excellent photography is key to successful rentals. Without it, you will end up attracting less bookings than your competitors. With it, your rental income will increase and you’ll...