The villa has a long an interesting history that is over 2000 years old. The first villas we think were built during the Roman Empire; it is amazing to think just how much luxury the ancient Roman civilisation had.

Villas today try to continue the legacy left by the Roman villa designers but add their own unique touch of style and design to create a more modern living experience.

Pliny the Elder, a Roman philosopher (died 79 AD) noted that there where two types of villa the villa urbana and the villa rustica; the latter was a country villa that could be easily reached from Rome for one or two nights (in the urbana or suburbs of Rome), the former was a farm-house estate constantly occupied and maintained by servants.

Villas of course were built for the wealthy upper-class and designed for comfort and style. Interestingly the villa rustica would have been occupied seasonally by their owners to escape the Roman summer heat in the hills surrounding the city. Interestingly the great Cicero apparently owned seven villas set in wonderful botanic gardens.

Does this seasonal inhabitation remind you of any modern practices’, how many holiday makers escape the rat-race to relax the mind, body and soul in the beautiful hills of Southern France, Tuscany in Italy or Ubud in Bali?

In terms of design it is difficult for art historians to discover who the designers and builders were of the ancient villas. The design story starts in Renaissance Italy a time that has so deeply influenced so much design and art since then.

Some of the greatest villas still standing are the Medici villas built in 15th century and designed by Michelozzi and Niccolo Tribolo. The later villas designed by Niccolo Tribolo are outstanding examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. These villas were very big and the opposite to the small boutique resorts you find today.

The first designer to pull the villa into the modern world was Andrea Palladio considered as one of the most influential individuals in the history of Western architecture. He designed and built villas in northern Italy for the Venetian aristocracy. By consolidating the stand-alone farm buildings into a single structure, and organising this structure to have a strong centre and symmetrical side-wings, Palladio was able to give a new breath of life into decaying old villas turning them into examples of deluxe styling accommodation.

In 18th century England a revival in the interest of Palladio and Inigo Jones led to the development of neo-palladian villas being built along the river Thames. At this time the word villa was being used to describe any big suburban house that was detached with landscaped botanic gardens. Eventually the term villa became to loosely used and dropped out of existence to be replaced by bungalow.

Now, the concept of the villa is mostly isolated to southern Europe, Latin America, German speaking countries and on the American west coast.

However, I suggest that there has been second Renaissance in villa design; this second Renaissance is based on transforming huge overpowering villas into small boutique resorts but still keeping the villa feeling. I have stayed in villas all over southern Europe and have felt underwhelmed by what they call deluxe styling accommodation, they tend to be second homes rented out for the summer, the care and attention is just not there.

I spent a one month on the island of Bali and spent two weeks in Bali’s cultural centre Ubud. I had heard that Bali has unbelievable, small boutique resorts and luxury villas for rent and was interested to see for myself. The competitive nature of Bali and especially Ubud villa rental means that all villa owners have to be on top of their game.

I searched Google for Ubud villa rental and found a charming little place called The Purist Villas. I had a wonderful time taking in all the cultural aspects of Balinese traditions in Ubud and my accommodation was the icing on the cake. The owner of this deluxe styling accommodation was also the designer and builder of the villa complex. His name is Alberto Cortes and I very much enjoyed speaking to him about the history of villa design.

Alberto Cortez suggests that European villas are too big and do not cater for the couple on holiday or for a small family that does not need 4 large bedrooms. Alberto Cortez designed a set of 2 bedroom villas in Ibiza that were massively popular. He applied elegant and simple design to this idea and bought it to Ubud. I was also surprised to find that accept for all the original pieces, every piece of furniture and fitting was designed by Alberto Cortez and his wife – the attention to detail is incredible.

I think it’s fantastic that we still continue the 2000 year old tradition of villa building. From the massive stately retreats of Cicero to the small boutique hotels in Ubud, humans really know how to live in style

The French Riviera’s diversity is not just limited to its cities, towns and villages. While each location has its own treasures to offer, the assortment extends even to the types of property for sale in the South of France. From apartments, condos and penthouses, to villas, mansions and manors, to even chateaux, castles and vineyards – the collection will leave you mind-boggled, if you’re not guided by a seasoned real estate agency that deals exclusively in luxury properties of these varieties in the south of France.

While comfort, sophistication, beauty and opulence are common across any type of property for sale in south of France, not all of them are the same. Therefore, regardless of the kind of preferences you have, you are sure to find a luxury home that is just right for you. For instance, if sun, sand, superstars and super-luxury are your thing, then there’s no place for you like St. Tropez; but if you’re looking for a place for your family vacation than Beaulieu with its beaches and water sports, tiny streets through charming old-world buildings and squares, and wonderful architecture is perfect.

Alternately luxury properties in the vibrant twin towns of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins will appeal to tourists who want to experience as much of the Cote d’Azur in as little time as possible. These twin towns are the cultural, historical and nature hub of the French Riviera, letting tourists experience a bit of French-everything. However, a businessman on a quiet holiday in France would definitely appreciate the beauty and charm of a peaceful village like Mougins, the home of many a famous artists and writers on the Riviera.

Confused already? Don’t be. The most wonderful aspect of any property for sale in South of France is that you don’t have to choose; you can actually have it all. With your own luxury villa on the French Riviera, you have the entire coastline, from Monaco to Nice, open to your enjoyment. Most of the well-known cities and villages on the French Riviera are close enough to each other, so that you don’t have to miss out on anything.

As with all investment, scrupulousness and an expert guidance are indispensible when buying property on the French Riviera. Professional and experienced agents can not only help you make the right choice, but offer a plethora of other services like financial and legal assistance, investment advice, property maintenance, servicing and valuation as well as additional services to augment your luxury real estate.

Preparing a list of limousine service providers with their phone numbers, and/or web sites you make yourselves ready for the selection campaign. You can kick start your search activities by checking out the price lists of all the limousine operators. Commonly limousine services have hourly charge rates but there are others who charge as per the number of days you hire the service. Then there are a few companies who use a combination of both pricing options. After looking in to the various pricing options make an estimate as how your prices will pan out based on what plans you have for the trip.

Another factor that will affect greatly the prices and your selection of limousine services will be the model, & the make that you rent. Presently, the collection is wide as regards to limos available for rent and you can hire any type of limousine matching your requirements of the trip. You can hire SUV limos, traditional town car limos, and even pickup truck limos.

CS Paris offers chauffeured cars Paris for all type of occasions such as Airport & Railway Transfer, Business Trips, Sightseeing, Conventions, conferences, Excursions, Shopping, weddings etc. CS Paris ensures you and your guests a safe and comfortable ride.

Cheap car service paris

But why spend a honeymoon in the south of France instead of Paris, for instance?  Paris is a beautiful and romantic city; there is no doubt about it.  However, the south of France is just as lovely.  Moreover, it is extremely suitable for a couple who wants to have a quiet honeymoon in the countryside.

What romantic adventures await a pair of newlyweds on their honeymoon in one of the lovely villa rentals in the south of France?  Below are just some of the delights that newlyweds can partake during their time in this cosy part of Europe.

Private Luxury

Honeymooning in one of the many villa rentals in the south of France is just like combining the comforts of home with the luxurious atmosphere of staying in a four- or five-star hotel.  The decor, the furnishings and the fixtures in the villa are sure to be elegant but with the little personal touches that create a homey atmosphere.

Many villas are also provided with their own in-house staff such as a housekeeper, chambermaid and cook.  The honeymooning couple will be free to enjoy their holiday without having to concern themselves with everyday tasks, their every need catered for by ever attentive staff.

Most of all, the couple’s privacy is assured when they stay in a rented villa.  The couple will be the only ones staying on the premises.  They will not be disturbed by other guests and so can fully enjoy each other’s company in a peaceful envronment.

Activities to Enjoy

Newlyweds go on honeymoon mainly to enjoy each other and to give their marriage a good start.  The honeymoon is also a time to bond and to lay out the dynamics that will make their partnership work smoothly in the long run.  By choosing to stay in a luxury villa in the south of France, they will open themselves to a great range of activities that they can enjoy together.

The bastide villages in the south of France have been there since the Middle Ages and are certainly worth exploring.  They can also stumble upon a good local restaurant and sample the great dishes that south of France is known for.

The honeymooners can also use the villa they are staying in as their home base for day trips.  They can visit the nearby wineries; south of France, after all, is biggest wine country in the world.  They can also go hiking or drive to the beach or go on a river cruise.

A honeymoon in a luxury villa in the south of France can give a newlywed couple a unique experience to remember.  It is a memory that they will definitely cherish for the rest of their lives.

VIP Dream – Browse our luxury selection of St Tropez real estate, St Tropez property, villa Saint Tropez, luxury villa south of France, properties French Riviera, properties for sale south of France and properties in the south of France.
http://www.vip-dream.com

If you like to enjoy comfort and the finer things in life on your camping holidays, France is likely to be the destination for you. It has long been the most popular destination for UK campers looking to relax under canvas abroad, both for its convenient location and the beauty of its countryside. Many of the campsites in France are of excellent quality, allowing you to enjoy all the benefits of camping in the countryside with none of the inconvenience of below par facilities! From sports facilities to entertainment options, the best campsites come as well equipped as many hotels, and can offer a great camping experience without any hassle.

If you are looking to take a camping holiday in France, here are some of the things you can expect from a top quality campsite.

Facilities

From plentiful shower blocks and toilets to food shops and electricity supplies, a luxury campsite will feature clean, top quality facilities that will give you everything you need to live comfortably during your camping holidays in France. Many of the larger campsites feature spacious tents and comfortable mobile homes that can be rented, saving you the hassle of bringing and setting up your own tent or caravan.

Sports

Good campsites will do more than just give you good basic facilities – they’ll also give you plenty to keep you entertained during the day. Heated pools and water slides are standard at the best campsites, and many of them will feature further sports facilities, such as tennis, football and basketball courts. Many will also give you new ways of exploring the countryside around the campsite, such as horse riding and pedalo and bicycle hire. If you want to get active on your camping holiday, a good quality campsite will give you plenty of opportunities to do so.

Kids Clubs

Camping holidays in France are a time to spend with your family – but sometimes a time to get away from them as well! If you need your kids out of your hair for a few hours, your campsite should be able to help you out. Many of the larger campsites in France have their own resident kids clubs for a wide range of ages, running activities, sports and events with trained supervisors, giving you a few hours of peace and quiet!

Entertainment

Finally, a great campsite will have plenty to keep you occupied in the evening. From bars and high quality restaurants, to karaoke events and quiz nights, the biggest and best campsites will be able to lay on a wide variety of enjoyable evening entertainment for you and your family. Many campsites even have their own discos allowing you to enjoy all the natural beauty surrounding the campsites during the day and continue the fun after dark.

Camping is comfortable nowadays, and if you are interested in camping holidays to France, you’ll be able to enjoy getting close to the natural world without discomfort!

I recently went on a Chic Luxury fitness camp, we travelled to Maldives we stayed in a Luxury 5 Star Hotel we were located right on the Beach

Lose Weight on a Fitness Holiday

I had a amazing weight loss experience on a Chic Luxury fitness camp, we travelled to Belize where we we put up in a fabulous 5 star Accommodation located right on the Beach.

One day we did yoga on the beach with the early moring sun very peaceful, then we had breakfast the trainers adviseed what was the healthies to eat, less carbohydrates was key, as these are sugars, which helps you gain weight. After breakfast we had a hr to let are food go down then a body core class on the beach to stregthen the core, which was great really helped get rid of my love handles!
After that class we had a shower ready for some lunch the hotel was top notch and the food was lovely, ate a lot of healthy food and felt healthier for it, a thumbs up so far for the Chic fitness camp.

One afternoon we went for a power walk along the beach mixed with some other exercise a real good all over body workout, it was all in total luxury we would be doing exercises on the beach, looking a multi million pound yahts, very impressive. On are fitness camp we had some top finance guys that had a hedge fund in new york very pleasent people, had a lovely couple who were property develpers in the uk, and some great brits who lived in the south of france.

At about 7 o’clock in the evening, we had a great meal an chatted about during the course of the day, and relaxed some or the other members, mentioned they had been on boot camps before, they said this one wins hands down, top quality instructors, luxury 5 star hotel, own private room,excellent food and the lovely location.

To finish off; the experience included great company, great people and a great fitness camp, will be booking again with my friend, have a look
Chic Fitness Camp

Imagine holiday villas. Imagine sun-soaked destinations such Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Malta, Turkey, but also imagine somewhere a little different: maybe a destination for skiing, walking, culture, golf or a combination of some or all of them: France, Austria, Germany, Ireland, the Czech Republic.

Hiring holiday villas in such wonderful destinations can give you a taste of luxury for one, two weeks or more in a location you might not otherwise be able to sample. Renting gives you the privacy of your own personal space without the worries of ownership. You and your family might never have experienced anything like it before, but it is almost certain that you would want to do so again.

In a hotel you have one room for your privacy, but every other facility you have to share with other guests; the pool, dining room and sun terraces may be at the other end of the hotel and you have to share them all with strangers. In a villa, it is so different: you have many rooms for the use of you, your family and any other guests that you have invited; your dining room is one of those rooms; your private terrace and (in most cases) your own pool is right on your doorstep.

Villas can range from beachside to mountain foothills, from single bedrooms sleeping two to many bedrooms sleeping more than a dozen. The things they have in common are good living and private luxury.

Can you see yourself rising in the morning, getting yourself a glass of chilled juice and watching the sunlight glinting on the sea?

Or is your vision for a relaxing evening barbecue with a backdrop of the beautifully lit mountain landscape after a day spent walking in glorious countryside?

If you don’t want to travel abroad, then there is a great selection of holiday villas in this country too. Some are big enough for either a corporate gathering, a family re-union, or somewhere to relax with your closest and dearest friends. You can get holiday villas luxurious enough to have a formal lounge, a dining room, an indoor heated swimming pool, a sauna, a gymnasium and even a cinema! Such properties could be used for wedding parties, or golden wedding anniversary celebrations, for example. Take advantage of services that can make your stay even more special: a chef, a chauffeur, maids, a marquee … even a helicopter pad! Not all holiday villas are like that, but shop around to find a holiday villa that really does suit your requirements.

There are such a range of opportunities available in holiday villas that you could spend hours surfing the internet and letting your imagination give you a preview! Live the dream! Get yourself booked into a holiday villa for your next vacation.

I have just Been on a Chic Luxury fitness boot camp, we travelled to Bali we stayed in a Luxury 5 Star Hotel we were located right on the Beach

How I lost Weight in Luxury

I have just Been on a Chic Luxury fitness boot camp, located in Belize where we stayed in a fabulous 5 star Accommodation located right on the Beach.

One day we did yoga on the beach with the early moring sun very peaceful, then we had breakfast the trainers adviseed what was the healthies to eat, less carbohydrates was key, as these are sugars, which helps you gain weight. After breakfast we had a hr to let are food go down then a body core class on the beach to stregthen the core, which was great really helped get rid of my love handles!

After that class we had a shower ready for some lunch the hotel was top notch and the food was lovely, ate a lot of healthy food and felt healthier for it, a thumbs up so far for the Chic fitness boot camp.

One afternoon we went for a power walk along the beach mixed with some other exercise a real good all over body workout, it was all in total luxury we would be doing exercises on the beach, looking a multi million pound yahts, very impressive. On are fitness boot camp we had some top finance guys that had a hedge fund in new york very pleasent people, had a lovely couple who were property develpers in the uk, and some great brits who lived in the south of france.

We had our evening meal’s about 7:00 p m chatted about during the course of the day, and relaxed some or the other members, mentioned they had been on boot camps before, they said this camp was much better than any of the others that they attended, top quality instructors, luxury 5 star hotel, own private room,excellent food and the lovely location.

To finish off; the experience included great company, great people and a great fitness boot camp, will be booking again with my friend, have a look
Chic Fitness Boot Camp

You do not have to be a movie star to stay in a Mougins villa. Renting a villa in Mougins does not cost as much as you might think (have you looked into it?). If you want to hobnob with the movie stars on your holiday on the Cote D’Azur, book a villa in Mougins on the French Riviera just in time for the Cannes Film Festival, and you will get to rub shoulders with the luminaries of the silver screen.

However, if you want to experience the movie star life for your vacation without the chaos that accompanies film festivals, you can still book your stay at a luxury villa in Mougin during the off-peak season.

Why Choose a Holiday in Mougins?

You may be asking yourself, “Why rent a villa in Mougins?”

Even when it is not the time for the Cannes Film Festival, Mougins is a beautiful village worthy of a visit in itself. Established by the Monks of St. Honorat in the 15th century, Mougins is a charming, medieval town. It is built on the hilltops of the South of France, with narrow alleyways paved with cobblestones meandering through the village. The vistas alone that you will get to see in Mougins from a room in a villa are real vacation treats.

Many people choose to stay in Mougins rather than in nearby Cannes or Nice. That is because the village is relatively free from the over-development and the commercialism that are sadly rampant in those two other destinations on the Cote d’Azur.

For those who think that Mougins is just a lazy, quiet town that offers no other excitement aside from the chance of being able to stay in a luxury villa, they are very much mistaken. Mougins, for one, is the home to over 40 world-class restaurants whose cuisine is famous throughout the world.

Photography enthusiasts would be able to enjoy the works of Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau and Lartique in Mougins’ Museum of Photography. Automobile enthusiasts, on the other hand, will get their fix from the Musee de l’Automobile, the home of a large collection of classic cars and sports cars, especially Ferraris and Bugattis. For golf lovers, there are a number of beautiful and challenging golf courses around the village. Also, the beach is just a short drive away.

Why Rent a Luxury Villa in Mougins

As mentioned above, movie stars rent luxury villas for their stay in Mougins during the Cannes Film Festival. Obviously, in staying at a luxury villa for your holiday in Mougins, not only will you be surrounded by beautiful things that you probably would not find at home, but you will also be treated to a high level of comfort that is so desirable during a vacation.

Not only that, your staying at a villa in Mougins can offer you a higher level of privacy and security than reserving a room at a hotel. It can also be more economical to rent a villa if you are going with a group on your holiday in Mougins.