December 13, 2008

The Sun

Villa always scores
In a two page spread in the travel section of The Sun, the UK's largest selling national newspaper with a circulation of over 3.6 million, travel editor Lisa Minot tells readers how to 'be a winner on holiday costs'. She writes how many travellers have known the secret for years - book your own private villa DIRECT with the owner.

The article goes on to list the benefits of renting a private property versus a hotel, namely that 'for anything up to 50 per cent LESS you can often get tons more space and your own private pad with the opportunity to cook up a storm and save cash on pricey hotel meals'. It goes on to present a price comparison of 5 hotel and flight packages on Expedia versus 5 properties on Holiday-Rentals booked independently with a cheap flight in some of the most popular destinations on the Med.

December 7, 2008

The Sunday Times

Peak season

From the best parties to new ranges from Stella and Luella, Ruby Warrington guides The Sunday Times readers down the slopes in style, choosing 'La Source' in Samoens for her 'eco-lodge' option, which is available to rent via Holiday-Rentals. See property 403407

December 6, 2008

Sunderland Echo and the Telegraph & Argus

Capitalising on holiday homes abroad

Regional newspapers the Sunderland Echo and the Telegraph & Argus question whether 2009 will bring a switch to self-catering holidays as the big operators slash capacity, whereas the supply of rental properties increases as many more owners look to rentals for extra income during the credit crunch. At the end of each article the journalist reports:

'Holiday-Rentals, the British arm of US-owned HomeAway Inc which claims the self-catering market in UK, France and Germany is approaching £20billion, is launching a redesigned website.'

Holiday-Rentals is giving away a £5,000 holiday to promote the new site. It says October traffic was up 28 per cent, with a year-on-year rise of 40 per cent.'

December 1, 2008

Various

Holiday-Rentals Travel Cookbook

Early in 2008, Holiday-Rentals press team asked our holiday home owners to send us their favourite international recipes and we had a great response! Thanks to all the owners who submitted their recipes and tips, we have now published a wonderful, free-to-download, 'Travel Cookbook' which includes over 90 recipes from 14 countries, providing foodie travellers with plenty of inspiration for the perfect gastro-break. Following the launch, the book has been mentioned on several blogs and websites, including:
» The Foodie List
» Travel Plus
» Spittoon Extra

December 1, 2008

OPP Overseas Property Professional

Irish-UK rental partnership

OPP magazine reports on the partnership between Holiday-Rentals and Irish overseas property website, MyOverseasProperty.ie, whereby all properties listed for rent via MyOverseasProperty.ie will be co-listed on Holiday-Rentals and its network of 10 portals across the world, including German site FeWo-direkt.de and the HomeAway branded rental sites in the USA, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Spain. The portals reach an estimated 40m holidaymakers per year.

December 1, 2008

Candis

Fun in the sun - Competition

Holiday-Rentals offers Candis readers the chance to win a week's family holiday in a luxury villa in Tenerife, plus £800 spending money. The competition ran over a whole page in the magazine, which has a monthly circulation of over 300,000 and targets a key audience for Holiday-Rentals; Mums. The prize was a week in property 72191, a luxury three bedroom villa in the upmarket area of Adeje Golf in the Costa Adeje and the page included details and photos of the property, as well as the property's unique URL on Holiday-Rentals.

If you are interested in providing a free week in your villa as a prize in return for additional publicity in key target publications, please get in touch with our PR team.

December 1, 2008

Harper's Bazaar

The top 10 snow holidays

Upmarket glossy magazine, Harper's Bazaar selects the best winter escapes for every taste in its 'ESCAPE HOTLIST' section. Destinations covered included Switzerland, France and Monarch in the USA, where they suggest Holiday-Rentals as a good resource for accommodation in the nearby historic rail settlement of Salida.

December 1, 2008

Red

Property window shopping

In a property feature on Belgium, women's glossy Red magazine selects Swan Tower in Bruges as the 'holiday rent it' option, in an accompanying column that details a 'rent it', 'buy it' and 'dream on' option. This luxurious, unique apartment rentals is located in the centre of the city and features its own historic tower with city views.

November 30, 2008

The Observer

Your Letters - Ask Tom

In his regular column where he answers readers' questions about worldwide travel, Tom Hall of Lonely Planet recommends Holiday-Rentals 'for a good selection of properties close enough to the beach that your youngsters can stroll there and try surfing and sea kayaking', to a family with children of 14, 12 and 10 who are looking for 'sun, watersports, a little independence and flirting practice!' for their kids, and relaxation for themselves.

November 20, 2008

Travolution.co.uk

HomeAway relaunches Holiday-Rentals site in the UK as market booms
Kevin May, Editor of Travolution, reports how Holiday-Rentals has relaunched its website in the UK as part of a wider programme by parent company HomeAway to align its global brands. He writes how this move comes just weeks after HomeAway received a record breaking $250 million funding round in the US - one of the biggest investments in an online travel company of the past few years.

November 18, 2008

Travolution magazine

Roadtest

As consumers research 2009 holidays, leading online travel trade publication, Travolution, looks at how eight travel sites performed across the critical areas of visibility, usability and trust. The user-test was overseen by Cass Heaphy, online marketing directory at Strange, a creative digital marketing agency and followed the user's purchase cycle experience to see how the sites performed. Sites tested included Holiday-Rentals and HomeAway sister site, Owners Direct, plus Villa Parade, Villa Plus, Direct Line Holidays, First Choice, Finishing Touch and Thomson.

Holiday-Rentals and Owners Direct came 3rd and 1st respectively, beating well-known high street travel brands First Choice and Thomson. Below are the scores:

1. Owners Direct - 71/100
2. Villa Plus - 67/100
3. Holiday-Rentals - 65/100
4. Thomson - 63/100
5. First Choice - 60/100
6. Direct Line - 58/100
7. Villa Parade - 46/100
8. Finishing Touch - 39/100

November 10, 2008

Easier.com

Whether budget or luxury - have yourself some winter sun
Easier.com features a recent press release from Holiday-Rentals about luxury and budget properties in the top 10 winter sun destinations.

November 3, 2008

Easier.com

Lift your spirits this winter in a home away from home
Easier.com features a recent press release from Holiday-Rentals detailing bargain accommodation in the UK and abroad for a winter escape.

November 2, 2008

Sunday Express

Paris in the 10th is becoming first rate

Laura Henderson discusses Paris's up-and-coming 10th district and talks to a couple who rent out their property in the area through Holiday-Rentals and net £560 per week for it in the peak season.

November 1, 2008

Homes Overseas

Case study

The article tells the story of Luke and Heather Bonham who purchased a property in Montenegro and are now renting it out through Holiday-Rentals. The couple are delighted with their investment.

October 10, 2008

Easier.com

Discover the USA with Holiday-Rentals
Easier.com features a recent press release about the addition of 36,000 American properties to Holiday-Rentals from its US sister site HomeAway.com. Benefits of visiting the USA now are highlighted, such as the weak dollar and cheaper flights.

October 1, 2008

Candis magazine, website & newsletter

Head for the hills

Women's magazine Candis teams up with Holiday-Rentals to offer two lucky readers a week's holiday in property 96279, a luxury cottage in the Costwolds. Prizes are worth £1,100 each. As well as running over a full page in the magazine, a link to the competition was also included in Candis's most recent e-newsletter, which goes to over 40,000 subscribers a month, plus it is also featured on their website.

October 1, 2008

Company

Travel... 'bourne to be wild

Jack Osbourne picks top six places to go to for adventure holidays, including Hawaii for surfing and diving. Kelki Beach House, advertised on Holiday-Rentals, is suggested as an ideal place to stay in the area.

October 1, 2008

Property Investor News

European Holiday Homes Review

Peter Hemple reports on the current challenges facing the European holiday home market. A number of quotes by Holiday-Rentals managing director Greg Grant are featured, with his commentary on the market in general and advise to holiday homeowners.

September 30, 2008

Entertainthekids.com

Dolphin watching in the Algarve
Jo Waters highlights the Algarve as a great family holiday destination. She suggests Holiday-Rentals as an ideal choice for large families to book self-catering accommodation, which in her opinion offers families flexibility that hotels cannot. Jo also recommends the apartment where she stayed with her family – property 18653 located near the resort of Lagos.

September 28, 2008

The Observer

10 ways you can beat the credit crunch

Linsey McNeill gives readers tips on how to save the pennies on a ski holiday. She recommends Holiday-Rentals as a place to pick up cheap accommodation.

September 26, 2008

Bella

Chic city living

To enjoy the freedom of your own space on a city break, the article suggests ditching the hotel and renting an apartment instead. Property 1607, a feng shui studio loft in Paris, is recommended "to bring out your inner Bond girl".

September 22, 2008

TNT

Homes for rent in the US

The article suggests living like a native in the USA by renting your very own apartment via Holiday-Rentals, whether it is in Manhattan, Las Vegas, Los Angeles or Yosemite Valley in California. The addition of 36,000 US properties to the website from its sister site HomeAway.com is highlighted.

September 21, 2008

The Irish Tribune

Departures
Shane McGinley interviews Lyric FM presenter Rachel Blech about the holiday home she purchased in Morocco and now rents out via Holiday-Rentals - property 91281.

September 20, 2008

The Irish News

Nothing like Paris in the springtime (or any time)

Gary McDonald writes about his recent trip to Paris and the two stunning and "uniquely individual" apartments he stayed in – property 96748 and property 504424.

September 20, 2008

Ready2Invest

Rental investors advised to make the most of their property
The article urges holiday homeowners to make the most of their properties, and advise by Sarah Chambers of Holiday-Rentals is featured.

September 19, 2008

Easier.com

Go East for skiing on a budget

Easier.com features a recent press release about cheap ski properties in Bulgaria and Slovenia.

September 5, 2008

Daily Mail

What to buy, where to fly

Reporter Liz Rowlinson argues that the squeeze of no-frills airlines should not deter overseas property buyers. She quotes Greg Grant, MD of Holiday-Rentals, who says:

"There are very few places that cannot be accessed via another arrival point served by another airline."

Grant cites the Spanish airports of Palma and Valencia as examples: while Ryanair has cut flights, there are still several alternative carriers. He also advises owners to be more flexible on changeover days, as many holidaymakers organise their trips around cheap flights.

This article also ran on This is Money. Click here to read it.

September 3, 2008

The Independent

Mi casa su casa
As the credit crunch tightens, many second home owners will consider renting out their properties, and Laura Latham gives advice on how to stand out from the crowd. Sarah Chambers of Holiday-Rentals stresses the importance of understanding all the legal aspects before opening your home to paying guests.

"Ensure you are allowed to let your property on a short-term basis and that you understand applicable taxation laws, as you must declare income from holiday lets. You also need liability insurance and, ideally, a booking contract to confirm details of the reservation, deposit or cancellation policies and terms and conditions of tenancy."

Sarah also advises homeowners to make sure they understand the market they are aiming for and what they can realistically charge. She says:

"Research the price of comparable properties in the area. Having your own website is great but there are millions of online portals, so you also need to advertise somewhere where you'll definitely be seen with great photos and descriptions of every room, plus exteriors, facilities and the view."

This story was also featured on several property websites, including:

» Property Showrooms
» Ready2Invest

September 1, 2008

Spanish Homes Magazine

WIN a week for six in rural Andalucía worth £1,900

Holiday-Rentals teamed up with Spanish Homes Magazine to offer a lucky winner the chance to win a week's holiday in property 5311, a luxury villa in rural Andalucía, only a few minutes drive from the fantastic beaches and bustling resorts of Fuengirola and Marbella. The competition ran over a full page in the magazine and included a detailed description and photos of the villa, plus contact details and information on Holiday-Rentals.

September 1, 2008

Living France

All year round

Reporter Louise Taylor looks at French homes with year-round appeal - or at least, two-season suitability. She discusses three categories of properties; mountain homes, homes located next to borders with Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxemburg or Belgium, and city centre pads. In relation to properties in the heart of the city, Holiday-Rentals MD Greg Grant's observations are quoted:

"City-centre properties receive on average four times as many enquiries per property as the average on the Holiday-Rentals site, particularly in popular destinations such as Paris. Investing in a city apartment gives you the chance to attract guests year round, as whatever the time of year, urban locations have plenty to offer and are easily accessible, unlike some holiday resorts where amenities may close down and transport can be non-existent out of season."

To illustrate the benefits of investing in a city apartment, a case study of Brendan Kirwan, owner of property 15300, a 1914-built apartment in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, is included. Brendan bought the apartment in 2003 for £117,246 and spent several months and a budget of £21,389 renovating it, turning the property into a luxury pad whilst carefully preserving its original features. Now this romantic apartment is phenomenally popular, with occupancy rates in excess of 95%. Brendan notes how if he fancies a break himself, he needs to go when there is a cancellation, or snatch a couple of days between bookings!

September 1, 2008

Woman & Home

Vive la différence

This article discusses the vast range of experiences and sights available across France, which make every visit different. It suggests self-catering is the way to go if you want to truly discover an area, as it gives travellers the flexibility to have long days out and dine in different places. Holiday-Rentals is mentioned as a great resource for accommodation in France, with over 8,000 properties in Provence alone.

The article then recommends the Var Villa, property 95295, as a great place to stay in Provence, commenting "Var Villa near the hilltop town of Montaroux is perfect - it sleeps eight, has stunning panoramic views, its own pool and is an easy drive to Cannes, Nice and numerous mountain villages.

The property was featured following a press trip by one of Woman & Home's writers, and also includes photos of the villa, booking details and a special offer for readers proposed by the owner.

August 28, 2008

Easier.com

Fun in the late summer sun
Easier.com features a recent press release about late summer deals on offer at Holiday-Rentals. Properties in various European destinations are featured, including Croatia, Turkey, Cyprus, Spain and Cornwall.

August 24, 2008

The Sunday Times

Late summer sunshine - guaranteed
Sunday Times reporter Stephen Bleach picks the best sun spots on the continent and beyond to make up for the lack of a proper summer in Britain. He highlights Holiday-Rentals for its wide selection of good-value Riads in Morocco.

August 1, 2008

Three's a Crowd

In love with Paris

Following a press trip organised by Holiday-Rentals, Jessica Wells of online magazine Three's a Crowd writes about her trip to Paris and her stay in property 97926:

"Down a small road, shadowed by the majestic brilliance of Notre-Dame is where our apartment rests. Every detail is exquisite and perfectly Parisian; from the sumptuously draped curtains to the small delicate kitchen table and the quaint court yard which sings with birds."

Jessica goes on to describe her activities in the surrounding area - sightseeing, shopping and dining, but concludes that:

"Nothing brought me greater satisfaction than at the end of the day meandering back to my beautiful little apartment amidst the historic epicentre of a wonderful city."

August 1, 2008

Top Santé

Our sanity saving pre-holiday plan

Following the launch of Holiday-Rentals's Mums Holiday Guide, Top Sante offers its own five tips on how to deal with the stress of going away. The article quotes Holiday-Rentals's findings that mums find going on holiday the third most stressful thing in their lives, after moving house and Christmas. One of the tips is: "say yes to yourself" which tells mums to hand over some of the responsibility of planning the holiday as "84% of [mums] are left to plan the family break alone", according to Holiday-Rentals.

August 1, 2008

Cycle Sport

Cycle Sport recommends

Cycle sport recommends Holiday-Rentals as a great source of self-catering accommodation in Bédoin, France, where guests can sleep in luxury at the foot of the mountain before setting off on a day of cycling.

August 1, 2008

The Sunday Times Travel Magazine

Renting a city pad

Mark Hodson suggests that by renting your own city pad you get a much better feel for local life. He suggests different ways to rent an apartment including via the web, where he highlights Holiday-Rentals as an excellent resource, commenting: "Holiday-Rentals has more than 50,000 properties, around 37,000 of them in city centres." He goes on to say that: "Holiday-Rentals is easy to use, with photos, in-depth descriptions, prices and availability charts" and also that it now features traveller reviews, which provide travellers with valuable feedback from previous guests.

The article also mentions Holiday-Rentals's HomeAway sister sites www.OwnersDirect.co.uk, www.HomeAway.com and www.VRBO.com.

July 27, 2008

The Sunday Telegraph

50 last-minute summer bargains

Deborah Reddihough selects the top 50 holiday bargains remaining this August and includes Holiday-Rentals as a useful resource for those looking for great deals on villas in Europe, since dealing direct with private owners often means that travellers can get a much better price than they would through an agent.

July 20, 2008

The Sunday Times

The Holiday Haggle

Sunday Times reporter Mark Hodson reports on 'what happens when you ask for a discount on your dream holiday', and how this is possible, despite traditional perceptions that a holiday is not something you can barter for! He reports on the results he got when he approached five different types of business; a beach club, a cruise line, a Caribbean all-inclusive provider, a five-star London hotel and a private villa in Ibiza advertised on Holiday-Rentals. He goes on to report how by haggling with the manager of the property, he managed to get 5% knocked off the price, which resulted in a significant saving of £360.

July 16, 2008

The Argus (Brighton)

Breakaway with five of the best

In its regular travel section, Brighton regional newspaper, 'The Argus', recommends its 'top five breaks'. Among theses breaks is 'Castello Di Gaiche', the ultimate in rustic retreats, a two bedroom apartment in the Umbrian hills. This lovely property can be found on Holiday-Rentals and the article includes details on the special offer running throughout August and September and a photo.

Castello Di Gaiche is property 80105 on Holiday-Rentals.

July 8, 2008

Sunday Mercury (print & online)

Rainy days & knights in the heart of France
David Brookes and family found that there are a lot of similarities between central England and central France whilst visiting Limousin recently. The article includes a description of the Holiday-Rentals property that they stayed in on their holiday, plus a review of the area and a description of Holiday-Rentals, which reads, "Our accommodation was booked through Holiday-Rentals - Britain's leading holiday rentals company with over 50,000 self-catering places to choose from across Europe and America."

July 5, 2008

The Independent

5 villas on the Adriatic

Mary Novokavich picks out the best five luxury villas across the Adriatic, including property 98765 in Montenegro. The article includes a description of the property and details of how to book it through Holiday-Rentals.

July 4, 2008

Easier.com

Pet-friendly breaks in UK holiday hotspots
Easier.com features a recent press release about how Holiday-Rentals is a great resource for 'pet-friendly' breaks in the UK. The article includes information on Holiday-Rentals and also a list of some of the best pet-friendly properties currently available throughout the country.

July 1, 2008

womanandhome.com

WIN a rural retreat in the Dordogne for up to eight!

Womanandhome.com are offering one lucky reader and seven friends the chance to win a stay in property 6003, a converted stone barn in the Dordogne region of south-west France. The webpage includes a photo and description of the property, plus some information on Holiday-Rentals. The competition will also be mentioned in the magazine.

July 1, 2008

Candis magazine, website & newsletter

Happy Holidays

In the July issue of monthly women's magazine Candis, Holiday-Rentals teams up with the owner of property 15974 to offer a week's holiday, plus £800 towards travel and car hire with Auto Europe. As well as running over a full page in the magazine, a link to the competition was also included in Candis' most recent e-newsletter, which goes to over 40,000 subscribers a month, plus it is also featured on the website, with links back to Holiday-Rentals and the property.

July 1, 2008

Red

Buying in Greece

In this article about buying property in Greece, Red magazine highlights Holiday-Rentals as a good place to advertise if you want to rent the property out.

July 1, 2008

She

She helps

'She helps' is a regular section within She magazine, where readers' queries are addressed and useful tips are provided by the editorial team. In July's section the following Q&A is included:

Q: Have I left it too late to book self-catering accommodation this summer?

A: Not al all! Take a look at the impressive choice at Holiday-Rentals, which specialises in home-from-home accommodation. The site lists more than 45,000 properties in Europe (including the UK) as well as long-haul locations. Choose from town centre flats for shopping sprees, stunning villas with pools such as Villa Oleander on the Cote d'Azur (property 84693) or a spacious Thai beach villa (property 54803). Just make your wish list and trawl the properties using the simple search tools to find what you want. You can even check availability in seconds.

July 1, 2008

Company

TravelCheap and Chic

Following a recent Holiday-Rentals press release about the benefits of travelling outside the Eurozone, Company magazine recommends the top three destinations to travel to this summer where you can get more for your pound, highlighting Bulgaria, Morocco and Turkey as great value for money. One of the properties used was property 87912, a stunning Riad in Morocco advertised on Holiday-Rentals. The article includes a description and photo of the property plus the price per person per night and details on how to book it. There is also a 'How much is?' section that gives the average price of a beer, cocktail and dinner for two.

July 1, 2008

Your Overseas Property

Doing your home work

This three page article contributed by Holiday-Rentals discusses how managed properly, renting out your home abroad can help towards the cost of purchasing the property. The article includes quotes from Holiday-Rentals Managing Director, Greg Grant, and provides the company's top ten tips for rental success.

July 1, 2008

Living Spain

Coping with the credit crunch

As we face tough times, Holiday-Rentals Managing Director, Greg Grant, provides advice on how your Spanish holiday home can work for you. Grant notes how, according to a survey Holiday-Rentals ran in conjunction with Savills Research, the average price of property in Spain was £252,342, average rental rate per week was £515, and average occupancy rate was 18 weeks per year, providing average annual returns of £9,251, or 3.7% rental yields. The article also includes observations from Holiday-Rentals about trends in the Spanish holiday rentals market, plus the top five destinations and a case study of Boz and Polly Cannon, who live out in Frigiliana on the Costa del Sol and who have successfully marketed their rental property through Holiday-Rentals for many years.

June 23, 2008

Take a Break

Family getaways

The huge circulation, weekly gossip magazine, Take a Break, offers some great tips for mums on where to go this summer to help alleviate the stress. The article opens with the finding from Holiday-Rentals that 84% of mums are left to plan family holidays all by themselves, and then gives suggestions on where to go for a stress-free holiday.

June 22, 2008

Daily Star

A villa to thrill ya
This double-page article was contributed to the Daily Star by Holiday-Rentals PR Manager, Sarah Chambers and features the 'top ten villas in Europe', including 'most glamorous', 'fabulous location' and 'most fun for friends'. The article included detailed descriptions of each property and photos for most of them. The article also ran on dailystar.co.uk.

June 22, 2008

Sunday Mercury (print & online)

Our French paradise
Following a press trip set up by Holiday-Rentals press team, Sylvie Dalton writes about how her and her family found their perfect French holiday in the little town of Aubeterre. The family stayed in a lovely nearby villa called 'Kabarole' - Holiday-Rentals property 70802 -, a spacious hill-side home with four bedrooms and great views over the Dordogne countryside. The article includes photos and an extensive description of the property. The fact box includes information on where to find the property on the website.

June 21, 2008

The Irish Times

Le gîte, c'est chic
Catherine Daly has been travelling to France since she was a little girl and offers up all her wisdom on how to book the perfect holiday. The article has several sub headings, including 'Where to start', 'Eating in France' and 'Finding a property', under which Holiday-Rentals is listed as a reliable, un-vetted site for French self-catering property.

June 16, 2008

Pinknews.co.uk

We're a nation of "binge holiday makers"
Following a recent press release, Pink News tells how the British are a nation of 'binge holidaymakers', with most of us preferring to take multiple short breaks as opposed to one big break. The article includes statistics found by a recent survey and a quote from Holiday-Rentals's country manager Greg Grant.

June 16, 2008

Now

The UK rocks!

Now magazine puts together a round up of top places to stay in the UK. Amongst these are best for 'sun, sea and sand', 'back to nature' and for the 'romantic retreat' the travel editor chooses property 72199. This is a luxury spa barn with hot-tub and mood-lighting in the Isle of Wight and the article includes why the barn is special, information on the surrounding area and details of how to book.

June 14, 2008

The Daily Telegraph

A home for all seasons
Graham Norwood discusses how owning a holiday home in a 'year-round' destination can increase revenue. The article interviews Holiday-Rentals home owners Johnny and Louisa Paravicini, who own a house in the year-round destination of Lake Geneva, and are part of the new generation of "clued-up holiday homebuyers who don't want to see their property empty for much of the year". Graham also comments how Holiday-Rentals PR Manager, Sarah Chambers says that the Canary Islands, Paris, Rome, Barcelona and New York are the most popular destinations with travellers, with the common denominator being that "they're all year round".

The article includes ideas of year round activity centres, cultural centres and tourist traps, plus great alternatives to Italy and suggestions of hot city destinations.

June 5, 2008

The Irish Times

Sardinia still has lots of serene, unspoilt spots

Liz Rowlinson writes how due to the 'ruggedly beautiful coastlines' and the low-costs airlines now travelling there, Sardinia has become a hot-spot for those looking for a second home in the sea. Low cost apartments are starting to spring up and are great for those on a budget, with starting prices around "€105,000 in Valledoria (through GK Italian Property)".

Following an interview set up by Holiday-Rentals, the article includes the following comments from the owner of property 74615: "We wanted a second-home that we could also rent out and while we've got neighbours that have been offered million euros for their home, I think €2,000sqm is the going rate." The owner also comments how they fell in love with the beautiful setting in Sardinia, and how it reminds her of the west of Ireland 20 years ago.

June 4, 2008

Metro

Take a sick-free break

In the run-up to the summer holidays, Metro discusses the phenomenon of 'pre-holiday tension' which leads many people to be ill on holiday. The article includes statistics from a recent survey conducted by Holiday-Rentals, and reads: "Holiday-Rentals has discovered that 60% of women - and mothers, in particular - find organising and preparing their holidays really stressful". The article then goes on to offer tips and advice on how to keep stress at bay.

To view more statistics from this survey and the mum's holiday guide which has been produced alongside it click here.

June 3, 2008

Manchester Evening News

Raising a glass to lovely Languedoc

Holiday-Rentals sent Travel Editor John Stacey off to visit the little known rural area of Languedoc-Roussillon, where he got to experience life as one of the locals by staying in two properties listed on the website: property 68300 - the stunning Baronnie de Bourgarde vineyard and property 57014 - a delightful house in Collioure. Following the trip, John writes about his experience of this beautiful region and all it has to offer, and includes details for Holiday-Rentals and the properties he stayed.

June 2, 2008

HomesWorldwide.co.uk

French property owners wasting space

This article discusses how people who own holiday homes in France could be losing out on a substantial income if they're not renting out the property. The article quotes statistics from a report by Savills Research and Holiday-Rentals, which found that average annual rental income on a French holiday home is £15,645. The article also includes statistics from Holiday-Rentals which reveal that so far in 2008 the top five most popular regions with travellers are Paris, the Riviera, Corsica, Rhone-Alps and Provence.

June 1, 2008

Woman & Home

Hot little numbers

Following a recent press trip set up by the Holiday-Rentals press team, property 85358 in Barcelona is featured in this travel article on fabulous places to stay in "Europe's most desirable destinations". Details of a special offer being run exclusively for the readers of woman&home are also included.

June 1, 2008

Various

Following the launch of the Holiday-Rentals Mums Holiday Guide, several websites feature some of the top tips for de-stressing the journey and packing.

The guide has been put together based on feedback and tips from real Mums about what they look for in a holiday, the problems they face, and how they tackle them. In addition, the team at Holiday-Rentals has used its expert knowledge of worldwide holiday destinations and accommodation to recommend ideal places for a family break; whether it's for a typical sun, sea and sand holiday, or something a bit different, away from the crowds. To download the Guide in full click here

To read the articles click on the links below:

UKparentslounge.com

Real mums give their top 10 travel tips

Kiddicare.com

Bounty.com

The Baby Website

June 1, 2008

Sunday Times Travel

Villas for families

The Sunday Times travel magazine has put together a round-up of great villas suitable for all the family around the world. The article includes property 31876. It is described as the best place to go for those on a budget and a detailed description of the villa and the surrounding area is included, as well as details on how to book and other properties available on Holiday-Rentals.

June 1, 2008

French Magazine

Let's get together!

Gina Dyer puts together a guide full of great ideas on where to go and what to do when travelling in large groups with friends and family. The article includes several 'best for's' including 'creative types' and 'dancing queens', with property 91639 being recommended as 'best for an island retreat'. The piece includes a description of Corsica, plus details and a large photo of the villa.

May 29, 2008

The Scotsman

Cypriot fun and games

The Scotsman discusses the growing benefits of buying a fly-to-let property in Cyprus and includes statistics from a survey conducted by Holiday-Rentals which showed that properties in Cyprus average of 18 weeks of bookings per year.

May 28, 2008

That's Holiday & Easier.com

80% of Brits have holidayed with extended family: halve the cost & rent a holiday home

Both Easier.com and That's Holiday ran stories based on a recent press release from Holiday-Rentals, which talked about the growing trend in holidaying with extended family. The press release was based on results from a recent Holiday-Rentals survey, which found that 80% of British families have been on holiday with extended family. Both articles also included links to several large properties sleeping 10+ that are available to rent on Holiday-Rentals.

To see the articles in full please click on the links below

That's Holiday

Easier.com

May 24, 2008

The Argus

Travel extra

The Argus discusses people's fears that their holidays aren't as secure as they once hoped. The article suggests Holiday-Rentals as a great choice for those looking for a bit of security in their bookings as the company now offers the HomeAway Rent with Confidence Guarantee. It contains details of the guarantee and contact details for Holiday-Rentals.

May 22, 2008

Evening Standard

The other Ibiza

Following a recent press trip Nick Curtis discovers the more relaxed and sophisticated side of Ibiza. As well as some great suggestions on what Ibiza has to offer for those that don't fancy partying the night away, there is also a description of the property that Curtis and his guests stayed in and a great photo.

May 14, 2008

Easier.com & Happyfamiliesonline.com

Holiday-Rentals celebrates 50,000 listings

Easier.com and Happyfamiliesonline.com report that Holiday-Rentals has reached a landmark 50,000 property listings. The websites feature the full press release, which also talked about how Holiday-Rentals recently launched guest reviews, and in December last year, the HomeAway Rent with Confidence Guarantee, which make the site the most secure holiday rentals website for UK travellers.

To read the articles in full, please click on the links below

Easier.com

Happyfamiliesonline.com

May 10, 2008

Happyfamiliesonline.com

Save money outside Eurozone
Happyfamiliesonline.com featured a recent press release by Holiday-Rentals suggesting holiday destinations which avoid the Euro-zone, to help travellers save money. The destinations included were Bulgaria, Cornwall, Croatia, Devon, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey, plus details and photos of properties available on the website.

May 1, 2008

The Australian Way (Qantas in-flight magazine)

Cottage industry

With more and more people staying in England, Qantas magazine celebrates the British humble dwelling. The article includes comments from PR Manager at Holiday-Rentals, Sarah Chambers, who says that British cottages are "reliably amongst our most popular bookings - at 25 per cent higher than our country average". The article also features a round-up of unique UK cottages where travellers can stay, including property 15265 - a lovely converted chapel and property 9050 - a gorgeous converted railway waiting room which are available to rent on Holiday-Rentals.

May 1, 2008

Red

Your own front door in Paris

Amanda Morison from Red magazine learnt how it feels to be one of the locals when travelling to Paris by renting her own apartment from Holiday-Rentals. The article includes why the journalist loved renting an apartment, a detailed description of the property and also the added benefits of having the property owner living next door.

The property that Amanda stayed in was 8755.

May 1, 2008

Candis

Web watch

High circulation women's magazine Candis recommends their three favourite holiday rental websites with Holiday-Rentals topping the list! The article includes the reason why Candis loves self-catering holidays, a description of Holiday-Rentals plus an example property with a photo and details on how to book it.

The property featured was 67793.

May 1, 2008

Travel-Rants.com

Ten tips to renting self catering holiday accommodation
Darren Cronian offers up some advice on how to book a holiday rental successfully and also suggests some popular holiday rental websites which included links to Holiday-Rentals and OwnersDirect.co.uk. Cronian's advice included 'speaking with the owner or agency', 'check the location thoroughly' and 'read accommodation reviews' which suggested Holiday-Rentals as a good place to start as it provides this service.

May 1, 2008

Sunday Times Travel Magazine

Booking the perfect villa holiday

With the summer holidays fast approaching, Mark Hodson provides his top tips on how to book the perfect villa holiday. His first tip is: "Decide whether to book independently or with a villa package holiday". Here he suggests that booking directly with the owner is the cheaper option and provides both Holiday-Rentals and OwnersDirect.co.uk as good websites to consult. Another top tip is to "use the web", as travellers can find more information and pictures of the properties, plus user reviews.

May 1, 2008

Ryanair magazine

Port of call

In a feature about buying property in Portugal, Shane McGinley calls on Holiday-Rentals to find out 'Where's hot right now?'. Holiday-Rentals comments that the Costa de Lisboa has been the top-performing region in Portugal this year with a 34% increase in enquiries since 2007. The article suggests the Silver Coast, Lisbon, Madeira and the Algarve as good places to invest and also includes a case study of Holiday-Rentals advertisers Florencio and Alda da Silva, who own property 66480 .

April 13, 2008

TimesOnline

Forget Sicilian hotels, try a holiday apartment

Three days in a Sicilian pied-a-terre and Brian Schofield is living like a local - even the baker gives him extra biscotti .

Following his first experience of 'urban self-catering' in Syracuse, Sicily, Brian Schofield writes about the benefits of renting your own private property as opposed to staying in a hotel and how this is becoming an increasingly popular option for continental short breaks. The reason for this phenomena, he comments, is the growing disillusion with the generic experience of staying in a hotel and the constant reminders that you an outsider; a visitor; one step removed. He writes that 'if you really want to know a place, you need to deal with its people, sample its lifestyle and, top of my list, you need to try your hand at buying and preparing its food.'

This article paints a vivid picture of Brian's experience of Sicilian life, from enjoying a double macchiato and custard croissant at the local bar, to trying his hand at some local recipes. In the section on 'where to stay' he picks out property 95134 on Holiday-Rentals ; a three bedroom townhouse with roof terrace that is available to rent from £664 a week.

April 13, 2008

The Sunday Mirror

20 fab villas with pools

Following liaison with Gill Williams, travel editor for The Sunday Mirror, a Lanzarote villa with pool advertised on Holiday-Rentals makes it in to this weekend's round-up piece detailing great value villas with pools where readers can "take the plunge without breaking the bank."

April 6, 2008

The Sunday Times

Directions: news in brief
On the run up to the famous Cannes film festival, The Times suggests Holiday-Rentals as a great resource for properties in and around the Cannes area. The article includes the average cost of a two bedroom apartment in Grasse, which is just 10 miles from Cannes, for the week beginning May 15th.

March 28, 2008

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A senior moment: Using the web to find warmer places

John Sellers is a recently retired gentleman who has written into his local paper to express how easy he finds booking a holiday via the internet. He gives examples of good websites he has used for booking flights, hotels and also holiday rentals where he suggests Holiday-Rentals as a great website for low cost accommodation.

March 17, 2008

New!

The 5 best long weekends

This double page article talks about the top five destinations for long weekends and includes a Holiday-Rentals property in Palma, Mallorca. The section on Palma includes a description on what's on offer in the area, which celebrities are partial to the area, and details of how to book the Holiday-Rentals property, plus a brief description of the property and the website. The Holiday-Rentals property featured was property 64643.

March 16, 2008

Sunday Express

Map out your trip with a few clicks

Ben Hall chooses his 10 favourite internet sites for getting great holiday deals. Holiday-Rentals comes in at number 3 as 'best for finding a holiday home'.

Ben writes, "Cut out the middleman and book your villa direct with the owner. With more than 45,000 properties listed worldwide the site covers beach villas, castles, rural cottages, villas with pools, city apartments and alpine chalets. It has a special offers page with the latest deals."

Ben also mentions that readers should bear in mind that they will not be protected when booking direct with owners. However, Holiday-Rentals does now offer a guarantee and renter reviews to provide increased peace of mind for those booking direct.

March 9, 2008

The Observer

Buying to let? Think holidays, not homes, to turn a solid profit

Following an interview with Nico Barden who lets out his London properties on Holiday-Rentals, The Observer discusses how short term holiday lets can provide a higher return on investment than long term residential lets. On switching to holiday lets, Nico's rental yields shot up from 6% to 11% and now "produce a reasonable income". The article also includes quotes from Courtney Wylie, head of marketing at Holiday-Rentals about how the company has observed that many more investors are buying city-centre properties for holiday rentals.

March 5, 2008

Ready2invest.co.uk

Brits spend 24bn on foreign property
According to the Association of International Property Professionals, about 242,000 purchases were made by British buyers last year. The association also states that Spain and France were found to dominate people's destination choices. The article comments how this is reinforced by the findings of a study by Holiday-Rentals, which found that European countries account for nine out of ten foreign properties that are owned by Britons.

March 1, 2008

Ideal Home

Escape to the sun

This five-page travel feature recommends how you can "Indulge your fantasy of relocating to an exotic spot by sampling the good life in a stylish self-catering bolt-hole. With more luxurious touches than you'll find in many top hotels, they're perfect places to soak up local culture - and they're all on low-cost or low-hassle routes". Destinations featured include Péreybère in Mauritius, Puglia in Italy, Florida in the USA, Marrakech in Morocco and Carcassonne in France and the article includes details of Holiday-Rentals properties 51491 and 60335.

March 1, 2008

Concept for Living

Far away dream properties

Following a recent press trip to property 71157 Concept for Living magazine talks to Anthony Mohan about his journey to becoming a second home owner. The property is in Vilamoura and the article gives information about the property and what's on offer in the surrounding area. There is also some background information on Vilamoura and Anthony Mohan's experience with the website. He comments, "I find the site very good - I always get bookings from it and I've tried other sites but have only ever got one booking from another one."

March 1, 2008

A Place in the Sun

Bingo - it's a full house!

This article by Gordon Millar offers advice to those who either own investment property in Florida or are planning on buying it by suggesting the best ways to advertise the property to potential visitors. The article features three top holiday rental websites including Holiday-Rentals and OwnersDirect.co.uk and has details of prices and what Holiday-Rentals offers to holiday home owners. The article also includes comments from Sarah Chambers, PR Manager for Holiday-Rentals regarding the average weekly rental rates achieved by properties of varying sizes in the Orlando/Disney area.

February 25, 2008

Families Upon Thames

Family holiday ideas
Following a proposal by the PR team, Families Upon Thames featured Holiday-Rentals as a great resource for larger properties. The feature highlighted how Holiday-Rentals is a good resource for larger properties, which are ideal for great value 'Mums only breaks', since they often reduce their rates midweek. So groups of Mums, their babies and friends can take advantage of this to bag a bargain break and escape for a few days of relaxation and fun at their own luxury country house. Many large country houses on Holiday-Rentals have features such as fitness room, Jacuzzi's and pools too, so there are plenty of opportunities for Mums to pamper themselves and unwind.

February 19, 2008

Overseas Property Professional online

Which countries were top for holiday rentals in 2007?

Following the recent market insight report released by Holiday-Rentals this article discusses where the top rental destinations were for 2007. It reads: "The top five favourite holiday destinations, in terms of traveller demand were; Playa de las Americas in Tenerife (112%), Orlando in Florida (50%), Chania in Crete (43%), Lucca in Tuscany, Italy (12%) and the Costa Brava in Spain". The article then discusses the market for both European rentals and the global market in more detail.

This article can be found on http://www.opp.org.uk/, but visitors will need to register first.

February 19, 2008

Overseas Property Professional online

Montenegro to change its foreign ownership laws

This article discussed how Montenegro's position as one of Europe's top property investment destinations became significantly stronger in 2007 and how this lead to the Montenegrin government backing a draft law which will make it easier for foreign investors to purchase land in the country. It also includes the following comments from Greg Grant, managing director for Holiday-Rentals about how the company has observed a huge increase in the popularity of Montenegro in the last year: "The number of enquiries received for properties in [Montenegro] in 2007 increased by a huge 220% when compared to 2006. The number of properties listed also increased by 179%".

February 18, 2008

The Resident

Working holiday

This advertorial feature discusses how many people who own a holiday home can cover their costs and earn a valuable second income from holiday rentals. The feature goes on to describe how those who list their property on holiday rental websites can save up to 20% of rental income by avoiding the fees and commission charged by agents. It also includes a testimonial from a happy customer at Holiday-Rentals and details of how to list a holiday home on the website.

February 15, 2008

holidayhypermarket.co.uk

Binge holidaymakers crave holiday rentals

Following a recent press release, holidayhypermarket.co.uk discusses the new outbreak of "binge holidaymakers" who are "craving differing travel experiences throughout the year [and] are increasingly renting holiday homes". Holiday-Rentals has tipped Paris, Barcelona and Var in Provence as top destinations. Holiday-Rentals also advices those looking for a holiday home to "speak to the owner before confirming their booking to sound out the property properly".

February 15, 2008

Real Estate TV

Rental accommodation in Morocco 'in strong demand' & More Britons buying property for sale in Morocco

Following recent statistics released by Holiday-Rentals, Real Estate TV features two articles about the great potential of Moroccan property. Both articles discuss the growing popularity of Morocco amongst British holidaymakers and how because of this purchasing a property in Morocco could be a "potentially lucrative move, as investors could get strong rental returns". They also include a comment from Holiday-Rentals on how "properties along the coast and in Marrakech provide a cheaper alternative to southern Spain and France".

To view the article written on the 11th Feb please click here

And to view the article written on the 15th Feb please click here

February 14, 2008

La Manga Resort Spain

Costa Brava is a 'popular' holiday destination
In its news section, La Manga Resort reports how figures from Holiday-Rentals revealed that in 2007 Spain's Costa Brava was amongst the top five favourite holiday destinations. It notes, "Spain is said to dominate the holiday rental website where over 90% of properties are located in Europe".

February 11, 2008

Telegraph.co.uk

Family Holidays: The world as a classroom
According to the Telegraph.co.uk family holidays can be a great way to help the children learn and improve their grades. The article includes a round-up of such holidays; two for each topic in the national curriculum for seven to 14 year olds. In each case, the first suggestion is for a full-on educational trip and the second, for a less-intense experience.

Holiday-Rentals is suggested as a great source for properties in Umbria where families can learn about the Roman Empire.

February 8, 2008

Easier.com

Holiday rentals provide fix for 'binge holidaymakers'
Following a recent Holiday-Rentals press release, Easier travel runs a story on how we have become a nation of 'binge holidaymakers' according to recent research by industry analyst Mintel. The article notes how Holiday-Rentals allows Brits to take several different types of holiday per year in a variety of different locations and accommodation. Greg Grant, Country Manager for Holiday-Rentals comments, "Holiday-Rentals now lists an extraordinary selection of privately-owned holiday homes, enabling travellers to find the perfect home for their various holidays throughout the year". The article also featured several properties available on the site, suitable for every season.

February 1, 2008

Italian magazine

WIN! A four-night stay in a Venetian apartment worth over £700!

Holiday-Rentals and the owner of property 63751 teamed up to create a great offer for readers of The Italian magazine. The prize was a week's stay at this beautiful Venetian apartment, which has two bedrooms and a spacious terrace which affords fabulous views over the city. The competition ran over a whole page in the magazine and included comprehensive details and six photos of the property.

If you advertise your holiday home with Holiday-Rentals and are interested in offering a stay in your property as a competition prize in return for publicity in the UK press, please email the PR Team.

February 1, 2008

3sacrowd.com

Tunnel love

www.3sacrowd.com, the new luxury lifestyle website from London's most high-profile 'IT' girl, Tara Palmer - Tomkinson, features one of Holiday-Rentals's Parisian properties, 1607, in an article about a luxury weekend break in Paris. The article includes a detailed description of the property and photos, links to the owner's property page, plus all the best places to see and been seen in Paris.

February 1, 2008

Overseas Property TV Magazine

Cape Verde

This article discusses how the island of Cape Verde has recently emerged as the new real estate goldmine and holiday destination. Holiday-Rentals advertiser Claire Ensor and her husband talk to the magazine about how they took the plunge and invested in a property on Cape Verde. The case study includes why they fell in love with the island, the purchase process, a description of their property and also their Holiday-Rentals property number.

February 1, 2008

escapepublishing.com

Rental Market Survey for 2007

This article summarises the key findings of the recent market insight report put together by Holiday-Rentals, identifying the most popular areas to own a holiday home and the best performing areas in terms of rental demand.

February 1, 2008

Kent Voice

Hidden gem

This three page feature article is about property 74822, 'Standen Granary', which is situated near the village of Biddenden in Kent. The article talks about the owners' renovation of the property, contains details of the property and its interior, historical information about the surrounding area, and several photos of the exterior and interior, plus details of how people can rent the property out via Holiday-Rentals.

February 1, 2008

escape (Winter 2008)

Making your holiday home pay its way

This article was contributed to escape magazine by Sarah Chambers, PR Manager for Holiday-Rentals and discusses how second home owners can increase their revenue. The article firstly discusses the growing number of holidays taken in private holiday homes and how it is not "unrealistic to hope that income from rentals will make a significant contribution towards [the] investment". It also includes Holiday-Rentals's top ten tips to maximise revenue, tips on choosing where to invest and also case studies of two holiday home owners who market their properties in Montenegro and the Costa del Sol via Holiday-Rentals.

January 23, 2008

babyexpert.com (website for Prima Baby)

Take a baby break with the girls
Following a proposal by the PR team, babyexpert.com featured Holiday-Rentals and several large country houses in England and Scotland listed on the website in an article entitled 'Take a baby break with the girls' in its 'Tips & Treats' section. The feature highlighted how Holiday-Rentals is a good resource for larger properties, which are ideal for great value 'Mums only breaks', since they often reduce their rates midweek. So groups of Mums, their babies and friends can take advantage of this to bag a bargain break and escape for a few days of relaxation and fun at their own luxury country house. Many large country houses on Holiday-Rentals have features such as fitness room, Jacuzzi's and pools too, so there are plenty of opportunities for Mums to pamper themselves and unwind. The article includes links through to Holiday-Rentals and features a selection of properties with photos, a description and a 'Baby Expert verdict'.

The properties featured were:

• 86614
• 9479
• 71901
• 70650
• 65515

January 19, 2008

The Daily Telegraph & HomesWorldwide.co.uk

Cash in on your rental potential
In an article in the property section of The Daily Telegraph, Holiday-Rentals was called upon to give expert advice to readers on how to profit from their holiday home. The article includes tips and quotes from Holiday-Rentals Head of Marketing, Courtney Wylie, and information on the five best and worst performing ski resorts, in terms of rental demand.

Overseas property news portal Homesworldwide.co.uk also used information from the article for a news piece on their website: 'Overseas Property Rental Returns' .

January 17, 2008

The Scotsman

The great escape

Mark Alexander discusses the growing number of Scots who are considering buying a property abroad. The article then goes on to discuss how overseas property owners should go about finding a property manager. This includes quotes from Sarah Chambers, PR Manager for Holiday-Rentals on the different ways in which people can manage their properties: "It depends on how much time you have (?) for example, you can use a letting agent who can do everything for you, including marketing for rentals, or you could go through the internet and save a lot of money".

This article also included several photos of properties from Holiday-Rentals.

January 12, 2008

The Independent

Independent Families section
We'd like hard cycling for us and activities for the children

Following the above reader query regarding cycling holidays suitable for all ages, The Independent references Holiday-Rentals as a great resource for self-catering flats and chalets in Alpe d'Huez.

January 12, 2008

The Times

Hit the slopes, not your wallet

Tom Chesshyre instructs readers of The Times how to "bag a budget ski break". One of his suggestions is 'do it yourself'. He writes: "Another way to keep costs down is to rent a self-catering apartment. Not only are prices lower, but you can save by cooking your own meals. Companies specialising in apartments include www.Holiday-Rentals, which has prices as low as £35pp a week".

January 1, 2008

Marie Claire

Great escapes

In this feature, Marie Claire's travel editor Nigel Tisdall picks out the top ten destinations to travel to in 2008 and includes information on Holiday-Rentals and property 71868.

With the title 'Bali High', the section featuring Holiday-Rentals reads; "There's more to villa holidays than renting a big white box in sunny Spain. For a simple getaway, find cheap flights then visit Holiday-Rentals, where you can choose from 40,000 privately owned properties around the world - including enticing destinations such as Morocco, Bali and Cape Town. In March, a week's holiday in Villa Majapahit (ref: 71868), a luxury four-bedroom villa in Bali with a pool, tennis court and sea views, costs from about £1,670 for eight sharing".