More European villa rental resources
More general villa rental resources that specialize in Western and Mediterranean Europe
1001 Villas (www.1001-villa-holidaylets.com) - Not all the 1,001 villas—rented direct from the owners—are in Europe, though there are dozens upon dozens each in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey. There are also a surprisingly large number on European islands—the Canaries (La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote), the Balearics (Ibiza, Mallorca), Cyprus, Malta, and such.
Belvilla (www.belvilla.co.uk) - British branch of a Dutch company... but what do you care where they're based? What counts is that Belvilla has a vast catalog—more than 15,000 properties in 17 countries across Europe—and, in my experience, some of the best prices on truly stellar rental homes. Put it this way: recently, when I was researching an article for a magazine that included a way to rent villas, I had to pick a single villa in Italy as an example. I combed through the catalogues of two-dozen agencies mentioned here and came up with a shortlist of about 10 properties that might make the cut to send along to my editors. Three of those finalists I found on Belvilla. 'Nuff said.
At Home Abroad (www.athomeabroadinc.com) - Long-established agency with select properties in England, France, Ireland, Italy, and Portugal.
Barclay International (www.barclayweb.com) - One of the world’s premier villa rental services since 1963. (And yes, “premier” does mean “a bit pricey”). Excellent properties and service, though, in England, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain (plus the Caribbean and Hawaii).
Homeabroad (www.homeabroad.com) - Focused on Italy and France but with an ever-expanding list in the UK, Greece, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal (plus some apartments in London). Don’t let the pathetic handful of listings on the website fool you; they rep over 1,000 properties.
LaCure (lacurevillas.com) - Seriously upscale luxury villas in Italy (about 100), France (50), Greece (30), and Spain (20).
Rent Villas (www.rentvillas.com) - Good track record for Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, the UK, Greece, and Turkey.
Special Places to Stay (www.specialplacestostay.co.uk) - Alastair Sawday’s series of accommodations guidebooks is now available on-line, covering the Britain, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain (plus India and Morocco). Many are run more as proper hotels—though in the countryside—though some are self-catering.
Ville et Village (www.villeetvillage.com) - Over 1,500 properties of all stripes, most in France and also Italy, with a smattering in Spain and Portugal.
VillaNet (www.rentavilla.com) - Many agencies focus on the priciest properties (earns them bigger commissions, I guess), but not VillaNet. It features a refreshing range of villas in all price categories throughout Italy, France, and Portugal.
Villas & Apartments Abroad (www.vaanyc.com) - Primo places—palaces castles, and the like—in Italy, France, and a bit in Ireland, Scotland, Greece, and Austria, but the listings are quite coy (don’t tell you precisely where they are, nor the prices, which is a Cardinal Sin in my book). If the properties weren’t so spectacular, I wouldn’t even bother listing the site.
Cottage & Villa Holidays (www.cottageholidays.com) - Mostly rentals in the U.K., with a few in France.
Villa Rentals in France
At Home in France (www.athomeinfrance.com) - Great selection in the most popular areas: Provence, Paris, the Dordogne, the Côte d’Azur, and Langudoc.
Chez Nous (www.cheznous.com) - Some 300 rentals in all bits of France (including Corsica), starting at quite low price—cottages in Normandy or the Côte d’Azur from €230 per week and the like.
France-USA Contacts (www.fusac.com) - Virtual classifieds.
Gites de France (www.gites-de-france.fr) - Self-catering country cottages (and some farmstays) all across la belle France.
Provence West (www.provencewest.com) - Looking to spend that week in Provence?
Rentals France (www.rentalsfrance.com) - Hundreds of French rentals, some direct for owner, some via agencies. A little bit for everyone here.
Villa rentals in Greece
Living International (www.livinginternational.net) - Gorgeous villas and suites on the chicest Greek Isles—Mykonos, Lindos, Hydra, and Santorini.
Sunisle Holidays (www.sunisle.co.uk) - Only about 20 properties, but they’re all quite nice.
Villa rentals in Italy
Home Base Abroad (www.homebase-abroad.com) - Super-select (and super-expensive) collection of private villas in Tuscany, Umbria, the Amalfi Coast, and Lake Como.
Italian Vacation Villas (www.villasitalia.com) - About 450 rentals, mostly in Tuscany & Umbria.
Marjorie Shaw’s Insider’s Italy (www.insidersitaly.com) - Boutique agency with intimate knowledge of each property, but you do pay extra for this breed of service.
The Parker Company (www.theparkercompany.com) - The top Italy rental specialist, a family-run outfit with just 350 properties, but immaculately chosen ones with loads of info on each property on the site. Plus the company is set up to help you plan and book things to do during your stay (cooking classes, bike rides and such) through its Actividayz branch.
Travel-Italy.com (www.travel-italy.com) - Prodigious catalog of some 2,300 villas and apartments, with many fine finds and wonderfully cheap options, but annoyingly you have to click on a property name from the regional list, then on a link within that to find out the cost (makes it harder to comparison shop at a glance).
Villa Rentals in Spain
Mijas & Estepona Villas (www.mijas-villas.com also www.estepona-villas.com) - The villa life on the Costa del Sol. Villas listed from most expensive to cheapest, so scroll down for the ones that go for €350-€550 per week.
El Sol Villas (www.elsolvillas.com) - Specialist in Spanish villas (and apartments in Madrid), plus they’re dabbling in Italy now. Most of their stuff is pretty high-test—very lovely houses, but in the range of $1,500 to $3,500 weekly (and even higher).
International Lodging Corporation (www.ilcweb.com) - Spain specialist with about 150 properties on tap.
Rent In Spain (www.rentinspain.co.uk) - Rentals direct from the owners, whether you’re into stately villas, city apartments, or rustic cortijos. Most on the Costa del Sol, Costa tropical, or Costa Blanca
Villa Plus (www.villaplus.co.uk) - Specialist in the Iberian seaside, with sections on the Algarve, Costa del Sol, and Mallorca. Most are modern and high-end, but unfortunately to get a price on a single villa you have to go through the whole booking process with dates and everything (very annoying).
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This article was last updated in July 2006. All information was accurate at the time.
Copyright © 1998–2010 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett.
