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Best beaches in Portugal

Best beaches in Portugal

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Incredible beaches are dotted right across Portugal, which shares its coastline with the Atlantic, offering up incredible snorkelling and water sports adventures. The Algarve is home to many of Portugal’s finest beaches, and boasts a dramatic coastline backed by limestone cliffs and lofty rock formations. With more than 150km of shoreline on offer, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the perfect place to catch some rays, swim, snorkel and play with the kids. Here’s our ultimate guide to the best Portugal beaches.

Praia da Dona Ana

A beautiful beach located near Lagos that easily makes the list of best beaches in Portugal, Praia da Dona Ana was named after a WW1 survivor – a nun called Ana. You’ll recognise it as the picture postcard of the Algarve, offering inspiring rock formations and gorgeously clear waters. When sitting on the beach, the high cliffs will protect you from coastal winds, while children will love collecting the numerous seashells on the sand. Expect crystal-clear sea water that is ideal for snorkelling and swimming because of its calm nature. It is however a little cooler than other beaches, and it may take some time to acclimatise when swimming, especially during the heat of summer. Praia da Dona Ana is very popular and does get crowded in the summer months, especially during the middle of the day, and is quieter during the mornings and evenings.

The beach is a great place for a romantic stroll as you take in the views. Note however that due to high cliffs and plenty of stairs to access the beach, access isn’t suitable for wheelchair users or parents with pushchairs. When the sun sets head to the nearby town of Lagos for a bite to eat before driving back to your picturesque Villa Dora – a tranquil haven in the hills above San Rafael.

Praia da Marinha

One of the best beaches in Portugal, near Carvoeiro, Praia da Marinha’s sandy shores are continuously rated among the most beautiful in the world, and the shoreline is the poster beach for the Algarve tourism industry thanks to its famous ‘M rock’, formation. Its beauty has to be seen to be believed, and taking in the epic sights this beach has to offer really fills you with wonder. The beach boasts soft, golden sand and a restaurant offering refreshments. When the tide is high, walking to the quieter parts of the beach can be tricky if you don’t want to get wet. During low tide, you can walk right along the beach to the famous ‘M rock’.

When it comes to swimming, the waters are usually calm and clear enough for snorkelling, but you can get higher and more choppy waves than on other beaches, so it may not be suitable for younger children. Because of the high cliffs surrounding the beach, there is plenty of protection from the wind, but not much shade, so pack plenty of sunscreen. During peak season, crowds can gather, but thankfully not in their droves, as you need a car to access the beach.

Many people go to Praia de Marinha to enjoy the stunning views and hike the various walking trails that you can pick up from the beach. Walking to the west, one path takes you from the coast right up to Praia de Vale Centeanes, and is known as the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, leading walkers up and across seven stunning coastal valleys. It is one of the most famous Algarve walking trails, so expect plenty of Instagram-worthy photos. If you walk to the east, you can take in a cliff walk offering epic views of the coast from the beach right up to Senhora da Rocha. This long trail lasts a few kilometres and is ideal for the whole family as you take in the panoramic vistas.

Have one of the best beach holidays in Portugal by booking one of our beautiful holiday villas in the Algarve. Return to a quality home-from-home after a day of fun in the sun.

Wondering where to go in Greece in 2023?

Wondering where to go in Greece in 2023?

Beautiful beaches, fascinating history, breathtaking scenery, delectable cuisine… Greece has all the hallmarks of an unforgettable villa holiday. But where are the best places to visit and stay in Greece in 2023? Let our expert team guide you with this handpicked selection of fabulous villas and resorts in the Greek Islands:

Villa Gaia, Kefalonia: luxury couples’ retreat

Villa Yasemi is nestled in the hillside above the picturesque village of Sivota, and offers breathtaking views of the sea and mountains. Relax by your own private infinity pool and enjoy the spectacular vistas of Lefkada’s coastline. 

The small village of Sivota is just 10 minutes’ drive away, with a good choice of tavernas and seafood restaurants lining the harbourfront

Chania, Crete: picturesque historic city

Chania is a small but stunning city on the northwest coast of Crete. Famed for its 14th century Venetian harbour, its rich history becomes clear as you wander the narrow streets of the Old Town with its fusion of architectural styles.

Pop into the Agora, one of the best covered market’s in Greece, to get a taste of local life and stock up on delicious produce like meat, cheeses and spices. Visit the Firkas Fortress to enjoy panoramic harbour views and discover the town’s intriguing maritime history. Or make the short drive to the nearby Agii Apostoli coves with their tempting fine sands, rock formations and pine groves.

Villa Mara, Corfu: scenic family haven

Villa Mara, Kalami, Corfu

Situated in the charming resort of Kalami on Corfu’s north-eastern coast, Villa Mara is a gorgeous 5-bedroom villa that’s perfect for a getaway with all the family. Its elevated setting gives unrivalled sea views from the private terrace and garden, where you’ll find your very own heated pool, brick BBQ and wooden furniture for alfresco dining.

The bright and airy interiors are equally impressive, with plenty of space for everyone in the open plan lounge, dining and kitchen area. Even better, you’ll be just a short amble from Kalami’s charming seafront tavernas and a pretty pebbly beach ideal for a refreshing dip or spot of snorkelling.

Fiskardo, Kefalonia: stylish harbour village

Sitting on the north coast of Kefalonia, Fiskardo is a historic harbour village that blends glamour with picture-perfect beauty. Popular with A-list stars like Bon Jovi and Demi Moore, pastel-hued Venetian buildings line the waterfront where luxury yachts bob alongside traditional fishing boats.

Sit back with a cooling drink at one of the waterside bars as you watch the world go by, or treat your tastebuds at one of the bustling family-run tavernas serving authentic Greek cuisine. And if you fancy exploring a little further afield, go for a scenic stroll along the local network of wonderful walking routes or to the gorgeous pebbled beaches and coves nearby.

Want more inspiration for where to go in Greece in 2023? Take a look at our fantastic range of holiday villas in the Greek Islands.

Wondering where to go in Greece in 2021?

Wondering where to go in Greece in 2021?

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Beautiful beaches, fascinating history, breathtaking scenery, delectable cuisine… Greece has all the hallmarks of an unforgettable villa holiday. But where are the best places to visit and stay in Greece in 2021? Let our expert team guide you with this handpicked selection of fabulous villas and resorts in the Greek Islands:

Villa Gaia, Kefalonia: luxury couples’ retreat

Villa Gaia, Lourdas, Kefalonia

Villa Gaia is a delightfully chic 1-bedroom villa near the peaceful village resort of Lourdas on Kefalonia’s south coast. Ideal for couples looking for a blissful romantic getaway, this ultra-modern minimalist property offers spectacular views over the olive groves and coastline below.

Enjoy quality time together in the sleek and sophisticated interiors, or admire the sunset from the stylish sunbeds surrounding your heated private pool. And when you finally fancy a change of scenery, take your beach towels down to beautiful Lourdas Beach with its dreamy azure waters and mountain backdrop.

Chania, Crete: picturesque historic city

Chania is a small but stunning city on the northwest coast of Crete. Famed for its 14th century Venetian harbour, its rich history becomes clear as you wander the narrow streets of the Old Town with its fusion of architectural styles.

Pop into the Agora, one of the best covered market’s in Greece, to get a taste of local life and stock up on delicious produce like meat, cheeses and spices. Visit the Firkas Fortress to enjoy panoramic harbour views and discover the town’s intriguing maritime history. Or make the short drive to the nearby Agii Apostoli coves with their tempting fine sands, rock formations and pine groves.

Villa Mara, Corfu: scenic family haven

Villa Mara, Kalami, Corfu

Situated in the charming resort of Kalami on Corfu’s north-eastern coast, Villa Mara is a gorgeous 5-bedroom villa that’s perfect for a getaway with all the family. Its elevated setting gives unrivalled sea views from the private terrace and garden, where you’ll find your very own heated pool, brick BBQ and wooden furniture for alfresco dining.

The bright and airy interiors are equally impressive, with plenty of space for everyone in the open plan lounge, dining and kitchen area. Even better, you’ll be just a short amble from Kalami’s charming seafront tavernas and a pretty pebbly beach ideal for a refreshing dip or spot of snorkelling.

Fiskardo, Kefalonia: stylish harbour village

Sitting on the north coast of Kefalonia, Fiskardo is a historic harbour village that blends glamour with picture-perfect beauty. Popular with A-list stars like Bon Jovi and Demi Moore, pastel-hued Venetian buildings line the waterfront where luxury yachts bob alongside traditional fishing boats.

Sit back with a cooling drink at one of the waterside bars as you watch the world go by, or treat your tastebuds at one of the bustling family-run tavernas serving authentic Greek cuisine. And if you fancy exploring a little further afield, go for a scenic stroll along the local network of wonderful walking routes or to the gorgeous pebbled beaches and coves nearby.

Want more inspiration for where to go in Greece in 2021? Take a look at our fantastic range of holiday villas in the Greek Islands.

British Travel Awards

British Travel Awards

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5 in a row! Thanks to your amazing votes, we have won at the prestigious British Travel Awards for the 5th straight year – and this year it was a biggie!  Villa Plus have been voted as the Overall Best Villa Company.

Having been registering public opinion on the performance of leisure travel and visitor attraction providers since 2008, the British Travel Awards are the votes of the people! With over 350,000 registered voters casting their votes in 2017, the British Travel Awards is the largest travel awards programme in the United Kingdom. And, because it is you – the customer – who determine the winners, all of us at Villa Plus believe success in the British Travel Awards is the highest accolade of all travel industry accolades. 

This year there were over a million votes in total! 

Simon Lifford, Head of Sales and UK operations at Villa Plus, commented that “winning the award for a fifth successive year is a wonderful achievement and is a credit to our teams and the incredible hard-work and dedication they show. We all ensure that everything we do is aimed at delivering the best possible service to our customers and winning this award shows that it is all worthwhile.  At Villa Plus we are always adding extra and this is another award to add to our collection!” 

Thank you to all our loyal customers who voted and we look forward to seeing you all again very soon. 

Press statement in response to recent coverage in Which? Travel 19th Aug

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We have read with great disappointment and dismay the article published on the 19th August in Which? Travel and feel it is appropriate to clarify certain matters from the article.

Villa Plus was asked to respond to a number of questions by a journalist at Which? about the personal experiences of a handful of our customers. Whilst protecting the confidentiality and personal details of those people we made full and open responses to the questions as far as we could.  We took the time to explain the circumstances around our decision making processes and how the relationships between our customers, villa owners and ourselves as the tour operator works.  We also explained how the changes in advice coming from the FCO and central government, often at very short notice, have impacted upon us as a business, our agreements with villa owners and other suppliers and the way in which we are able to support our customers.

Sadly, given the detailed information Villa Plus provided, the journalist has chosen to present what we believe to be a highly misleading article to their readers.  The article is very selective with the information it offers to the reader and how it presents that information.  We believe that the selective presentation of information deliberately leads the reader to draw inaccurate conclusions about the actions of Villa Plus, the relationships we have with owners of villas and with our customers.

We believe it is inappropriate to discuss the holiday arrangements of individual Villa Plus customers in a public forum, and certainly not without their consent. We have however been in contact with each of the customers cited in the article to discuss their concerns about the options they were offered.

The decisions we made and the options presented to customers and villa owners were made in good faith and we believed them to be appropriate at the time they were made.

In order to qualify for a refund customers have to pay both deposit and balance for their holiday as stated in our terms and conditions when they booked their holiday. We always encourage our customers to take the time to read our T&C’s at the time of booking and have also consistently communicated to our customers the importance of making a full payment to qualify for a refund throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

Villa Plus have made full refunds to thousands of customers or provided vouchers for future holidays over the course of the pandemic. Where possible we have offered suitable alternative villas and created alternative travel plans so that customers can enjoy a holiday. Throughout the period of the pandemic we have done our very best to deliver the holidays that our customers wanted and the fact that many of our customers have been able to travel and enjoy a holiday is testament to a great deal of hard work by our team at Villa Plus.

Communications with customers and with villa owners is very important to us and usually work in harmony from experience developed over many years but as you will appreciate this year has been very different. Given the ever changing nature of the situation Villa Plus has been engaging with our customers in departure date order and when the situation has been at its most dynamic our contact has in many cases been only a few days before their scheduled departure date. This is not ideal, and we recognise there have been occasions this summer where this has not always worked as it usually would.  We apologise to those customers who have experienced worry or frustration as a result.

The article was also critical of our relationships with villa owners and the management of villa availability.  Again, we believe this to be unfair and inaccurate as we have strong working relationships with our villa owners, and we value those relationships very highly.

COVID-19 has also affected villa owners who have faced significant challenges over the course of this year.  Where holiday bookings could not be fulfilled due to travel restrictions many villa owners have made efforts to attract customers via other routes beyond Villa Plus by advertising their villa on other websites. Where customers have seen their villas advertised elsewhere this is because a villa owner, in believing travel from the UK is not possible, has made the decision advertise the villa more widely to attract bookings and plug the gaps left by UK travellers.

We have worked with villa owners this year in the same way as we work with our customers, providing support and flexibility and always honouring the terms and conditions of our contracts. In the vast majority of cases villa owners have been paid via a series of payments not linked to any one single booking made by a customer, and in many cases villa owners have received advance payments from Villa Plus.

The Which? article asks the question, “Is Villa Plus breaking the law?”

We believe that this is absolutely not the case and that if Which? had taken the time to read our response to them and understand the circumstances at the time decisions were being made in the cases they highlight they would recognise that.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges to the UK travel industry as well as many other sectors.  At Villa Plus we have responded to a very challenging and dynamic set of circumstances but have always done the best we can for our customers and villa owners. We understand the worry and frustration that many of our customers have experienced this year and apologise for that. We will always put our customers at the heart of our business and our overriding priority is to provide every one of them with a fantastic holiday experience. It has been a challenging year for everyone, but in every case in trying to respond to a difficult situation we believe we have acted within the letter and the spirit of the law.

Press statement in response to recent coverage on BBC The One Show

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Refunds for package holiday customers

For any customer who books a package holiday with flights and villa, or a non-flight inclusive package holiday, their refund rights are governed by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (PTRs). Customers are entitled to a full refund if their holiday cannot go ahead if the destination is closed, or the FCO advise against travel to that destination. We have a very good record of paying these refunds quickly and in full to our customers.

The situation for villa only customers

Customers who chose to book only a villa with us, and decided to make their own travel arrangements, are not covered by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (PTRs). Our terms and conditions make this clear. Where the destination is open and the villa is available to be used, we are not obliged to give a refund if the customer decides not to travel. Customers have the option to take out travel insurance to provide them with protection against cancellation in these circumstances. Where a villa is not available, and we cannot provide a suitable alternative (e.g. where the destination is closed) then customers are offered a cash refund.

Refund payments

Over the course of the pandemic we have made full refunds to many thousands of package holiday customers where travel restrictions at the villa destinations have prevented holidays or the FCO advised against travel. Where possible we have offered suitable alternative arrangements and created alternative travel plans so that customers can enjoy a holiday. We have also refunded villa only customers in cash where the destination is closed or we can no longer provide a suitable villa in the destination.

Changing policy on refunds

The UK government has frequently changed its travel advice throughout the pandemic, often with very little notice, and we have had to adjust our own policies accordingly.

Impact of local lockdowns

Local lockdowns have been put in place by the government however these do not affect our ability to provide the booked holiday. The current Government advice is that customers can still travel to a holiday destination outside of the affected area provided that they take suitable precautions.

If flights and villa are available and the destination is open, but the home address is affected by a local lockdown and a customer does not travel, then that is something that they should take up with their travel insurer as they would under normal circumstances. This does not give rise to a right to a refund. We always encourage our customers to take out travel insurance which is appropriate for their circumstances.

The advice from ABTA on local lockdowns, such as the one put in place in Leicester, is that there is no obligation upon travel operators to refund a customer if the customer decides not to travel because of a local lockdown in the place they live. ABTA also encourage travellers to take out travel insurance which is appropriate for their circumstances.

Shielding customers

If a member of the party is unwell or unfit to travel on health grounds but flights and villa are available and the destination is open, then that is something that they should take up with their travel insurer as they would under normal circumstances. This does not give rise to a right to a refund. We always encourage our customers to take out travel insurance which is appropriate for their circumstances.

ABTA advice on local lockdowns and shielding

Sean Tipton from ABTA says,  “If your holiday can go ahead as planned but your circumstances unfortunately mean you cannot travel, for example due to local restrictions or because you are shielding, then normal cancellation charges will apply. In these instances, you should check your travel insurance to see if you can make a claim, or, if you have booked a package holiday, you can see if you can transfer your holiday to another person. Many travel companies are doing all they can to offer more flexible booking policies at this time, so it’s important to speak to your travel provider to see if they can offer any alternative options, but they are not legally obliged to do so. If you have an accommodation-only or flight-only booking, these are not covered by the Package Travel Regulations so you will need to read the terms and conditions to establish your rights to a refund.”

Availability of information & T’s & C’s

All of this information is laid out in the T&C’s which we encourage all our customers to read and we also have information available on the “Frequently asked questions” page of our website. We always advise customers to ensure they have adequate travel insurance in place to cover any unforeseen eventualities.

Customer communications

As the pandemic took hold the volume of our customer contact rapidly and massively increased. Because of this we took the decision to put relevant information for customers on our website and our social media pages in the form of FAQs. We believed that by doing this we could ensure the most up to date key information was available to our customers whenever they needed it. We understand that customers may have made repeated attempts to contact us directly however our online information was there for them until the point we were able to contact them directly.

Our customer contact has increased over a hundred times beyond what we would usually experience, whilst at the same time our business like others in the UK has been affected by Covid-19, by such things as having to close our offices and relocate our staff to working from home.

As a result of the ever changing nature of the situation we have needed to engage with our customers in departure date order to provide the essential information they needed. This included such things as if their holiday was going ahead or not, if they were due a refund and information about balance payments. This direct information which was unique to their holiday and what they principally needed to know to get them away on holiday. Had we not approached the challenge in this way then customers would have missed out on holidays or had their refunds delayed.

When the situation has been at its most dynamic our contact has, in some cases, been only a few days before their scheduled departure date. We accept that this is not ideal, and we recognise there have been occasions this summer where this has not always worked as it usually would.  We apologise to those customers who have experienced worry or frustration as a result.

Commitment to customers

Throughout the period of this unprecedented pandemic we have done our very best to respond to and answer customer questions as quickly as we could, although in many cases we often did not have the answers to those questions ourselves in a fast moving and at times chaotic situation.  Consequently, it has been impossible to answer customers individually, so we took the decision to put the relevant information on our website news pages and our social media pages in the form of FAQs.

We have done our utmost to deliver the holidays that our customers wanted and the fact that many of our customers have been able to travel and enjoy a holiday is testament to a great deal of hard work by our team at Villa Plus delivering on our promises.

Managing customer complaints

As an ABTA member we will automatically review twice any complaint we receive. When a review is underway it would be inappropriate to add any further comment until the review is completed. The link to the relevant ABTA advice; https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak

Press statement in response to recent coverage

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Covid-19 is an ever-changing, complex and challenging situation for everyone across the travel industry. We understand the impact the global pandemic has had upon the holiday and travel plans of many of our customers and we are working very hard to provide them with the best possible outcomes under the circumstances.

The lifting of lockdown across Europe is being managed on a country by country basis and, in some cases, such as Spain, on a regional basis. In addition to this countries are moving at different rates on easing restrictions and this is adding complexity to the situation.

Where a holiday could not be fulfilled because the destination country was in lockdown, customers were entitled to a refund and we have already made full refunds to thousands of flight inclusive package holiday and villa-only customers. However, due to local lifting of restrictions in certain destinations it meant that those non ATOL protected villa-only customers were unfortunately no longer eligible for a refund.

Initially we set about actively helping those customers affected to claim back monies through their travel insurance, however it became apparent that this was more challenging to achieve than expected. We also learned that a significant number of our customers had not taken out appropriate travel insurance. It was never our intention for any of our customers to be left out of pocket and as a result of this we are providing a full refund to those Villa Plus villa only customers who believe that a refund is the best option for them.

“Nicholas Cooper and Rajesh Mavani, Company Directors at Villa Plus” said, “Whilst throughout all of this we complied with our booking conditions, we came to understand that some villa only customers would suffer financial loss which was clearly very disappointing for them. We are sorry for the upset that they experienced and are determined to help them. Offering a full refund to those customers seems to us the right thing to do.

“The majority of our customers have been happy with our response to a testing set of circumstances, however we understand there have been some frustrations that at times we have been unable to respond as quickly and as clearly as we might have done. We have acted to improve the speed and clarity of our communications and we are working around the clock to try and get back to customers as fast as possible.  Where concerns remain we are working with our customers on a case by case basis to resolve them. In the meantime we continue to encourage customers to visit our website that has all the latest updates on our Travel News section.”

12 winning reasons why shoulder season travel is the best

12 winning reasons why shoulder season travel is the best

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The “shoulder seasons” are those travel periods that fall in spring and autumn, between the peak and fully off-peak seasons. For those not at the mercy of school terms – like couples, retirees, and families with tots – they can be the perfect times for a villa getaway. Here are 12 top reasons to get booking and jet off this spring:

1. Save on accommodation

There are great bargains to be had on our huge range of villas outside the summer holidays. This spring 2020, you could book a fantastic property for just £500 per week – that’s a whopping saving of £1,500 compared to peak season!

2. Nab your dream villa

There’s much better availability in the shoulder seasons, so you can have the pick of the bunch and snap up that fabulous villa you’ve been eyeing for months.

3. Spend less on flights

Air fares are often lower at off-peak times too, which can significantly cut the cost of your trip even more. Across our destinations, flying in the spring shoulder season is on average £100 cheaper than peak season.

4. Bask in better weather

Love the sun but hate melting in the heat? The shoulder seasons’ slightly cooler temperatures are perfect for sightseeing and adventure, while still warm enough for lazy days spent lounging by the pool.

5. Beat the crowds

You won’t be jostling for space in the museum or fighting for spots on the beach, meaning a much more pleasant experience all round.

6. Skip the queues

Who wants to waste precious time waiting in long lines when you could be fast-tracking straight to the fun?

7. Get around easily

With fewer cars on the roads and less busy public transport, you’ll find it a stress-free breeze to get from A to B when you’re out exploring.

8. Be snap happy

Looking to make your Instagram followers green with envy? You’ll be free to capture those perfect holiday shots without throngs of other people ruining them!

9. Live like a local

With fewer tourists about, you’ll enjoy a more authentic experience of your destination and have better chances to mingle with the locals.

10. Enjoy discounts on foods and attractions

Did you know some tourist spots slash entrance fees and menu prices outside peak times? So you could come home with even more pennies in your pocket.

11. Support the local economy

By visiting and spending money outside the main tourist period, you’ll be benefiting your destination’s local economy – so everyone wins.

12. Help reduce overtourism

Travelling in the shoulder seasons helps distribute the weight of tourism on a destination across the year. And that’s much better news for locals and the environment.

Fancy a bargain last-minute getaway during the upcoming shoulder season? Take a look at our fantastic range of holiday villas still available this spring 2020!

Discover the Val di Noto

Discover the Val di Noto

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Cruising through Sicily’s stunning and lesser known south east corner, you might start to feel a little conflicted. On one hand, you may want to tell all your friends to stop what they’re doing and come immediately! However, the desire to keep this endearing pocket of the island a secret may triumph…

Ortigia

Take Siracusa for instance, a UNESCO protected city full of energy and history, divided into the mainland and its beating island heart, Ortigia. From the interesting architecture to the buzzing, local markets and streets teeming with craft shops, it’s hard not to fall in love with. Wandering around the narrow, pretty lanes, you’ll discover something fascinating at every turn – from churches with no roofs to tiny, tucked away ristorantes serving excellent food.

And then there’s the Archeological Park, housing relics of the Greek and Roman eras. Most impressive is the huge 5th century BC Greek theatre. Believe it or not, it is still in use today for the annual Greek Theatre Festival. When you’ve finished exploring for the day, sit along the lungomare (seafront) in Ortigia and watch the sun set over the water.  

Greek Theatre of Siracusa

Elsewhere, step back in time as you visit the unmissable late Baroque towns of Val di Noto. Collectively, they make up a UNESCO World Heritage site, of which Sicily has 7. They were all rebuilt following a devastating earthquake in 1693, whereby the architects were given free rein to add their flourishes.

You’ll see this in the expressive gargoyles of twisted, wrought iron balconies and the colourful marble used inside churches. Nearest to Siracusa, Noto is a great spot for lunch or gelato. Dine among the grand, honey coloured buildings or climb up a bell tower on the main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, for magnificent views across the town.

Noto

Heading west along the winding mountain roads, the sight of Modica as it appears will take your breath away. Its remarkable buildings seem to tumble down the sides of 2 hills, with the heart of the town nestled in between. If you’re feeling especially active, you can scale the stone staircases that separate the upper and lower parts of the town.

All that exercise surely deserves a treat, which Modica is perfect for! Famed for the art of chocolate production, you’ll find the oldest chocolatier in Sicily here, Anticua Dolceria Benajuto. Tuck in to the delicious cocoa treat, which uses an Aztec recipe and comes in a range of unusual flavours such as cardamom and nutmeg.

Modica Chocolate

Other Baroque gems of the Val di Noto include Ragusa and Scicli, brimming with grand palazzi and divine dining options. Fans of the detective series Inspector Montalbano may recognise filming locations in Scicli and might also like to visit Punta Secca on the south coast, where you’ll find Montalbano’s fictional home.

After site-seeing to your heart’s content, indulge in a well-deserved glass of local wine, Nero d’Avola, at one of the region’s stunning sandy beaches such as Fontane Bianche – bliss!

Scicli

View our full range of villas in Sicily

Competition T&Cs

Competition T&Cs

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Please see below a list of T&Cs for competitions run by Villa Plus

Home Comforts 2020 – Customer competition T&C’s 

Terms and Conditions:

1. Each promotion is open to UK residents aged 18 years and over, excluding employees of the Promoter, their families, agents and any other person professionally connected with this promotion.

2. No purchase necessary to enter.

3. Must be an existing Villa Plus customer, with a holiday booked between (31/03/2020) and (31/05/2020) if you do not already have a holiday booked with Villa Plus, your entry will not be valid. 

4. The promotion will start and end on the following dates: 05/03/2020 – 31/03/2020

5. Entry instructions relating to the promotions (including the closing date/time) will be shared via email from Villa Plus. To submit a valid entry, participants must submit answers to: marketing@villaplus.com or enews@e-villaplus.com

6. The winner will be selected at random by Villa Plus, within 7 calendar days of the closing date specified in the competition email.  The judge’s decision will be final. 

7. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Promoter, a prize will only be awarded directly to the entrant responsible for the email account against which a winning entry was registered. Unsuccessful entries in any promotion will not be carried over to subsequent promotions.

8. Once Villa Plus receives a message from the winner with their details, the Promoter will endeavour to have organised/supplied the prize during the customer’s holiday with Villa Plus. 

9. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the eligibility of entrants. The Promoter may require such information as it considers reasonably necessary for this purpose and a prize may be withheld unless and until the Promoter is satisfied with the verification.

10. The prizes are as stated for each promotion, are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to award alternative prizes of equal or greater value should the advertised prizes become unavailable for any reason.

11. The Promoter is not responsible or liable for any entries that fail to be registered or are delayed due to faulty or failed electronic data transmissions. 

12. Any entry which the Promoter reasonably determines to contain obscene, offensive, libellous- or anti-social content will be rejected. Where an entry includes a photograph, the photograph must be the entrant’s own original photo and the entrant must obtain the permission of anyone else appearing in the photograph prior to posting it on Facebook. 

13. The Promoter will disqualify entrants it reasonably believes are acting in breach of these terms and conditions.

14. Automated/bulk entries and entries from third parties will be disqualified. No incomplete or corrupted entries will be accepted. Entries will only be accepted if they comply with all entry instructions. 

15. Entry to this promotion is via an email response to marketing@villaplus.com or enews@-evillaplus.com and no other entry method will be accepted.

16. Incomplete entries or those not submitted in accordance with the entry instructions are invalid and will not be entered in the draw.

17. It is a condition of entry that all content created to showcase the prize may be used for publicity that may arise as a result of this promotion, such as inclusion within online and offline news articles, published on the brand’s website or blog, or used in the brand’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter posts. By submitting their details, the entrants agree to the Promoter publicising the promotion and their names as well as using their personal data for the above purposes and fulfilment of prizes. Any personal data shared will be held by both Villa Plus and Journey Further, and neither will pass on data to a third party other than for prize fulfillment purposes. By agreeing to these terms, entrants agree to their personal data being used as set out in these terms and as set out in the Promoter’s privacy policy. Prize fulfilment will be handled by Villa Plus. 

18. All entrants must consent to the Promoter(s) using any text, photo or video content supplied as part of their entry in future marketing activity for an indefinite period of time.

19. The Promoter and Journey Further are bound by applicable data protection legislation and will act in accordance with data protection legislation. 

20. Entrants can request access to the personal information the Promoter holds about them by contacting Villa Plus, Drover House, 16 Adelaide St, St Albans AL3 5BH

21. The Promoter’s decisions regarding all promotional matters will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

22. The Promoter is unable to advise entrants if they have not been successful.

23. The Promoter reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the promotion (including altering prizes) if, in the sole discretion of the Promoter, the promotion is not capable of being conducted as specified.

24. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts, unless you live in another part of the UK, in which case your local courts will have jurisdiction.

25. The Promoter: Villa Plus, Drover House, 16 Adelaide St, St Albans AL3 5BH.


Villa Plus Oct 2019 Halloween Competition

Competition runs from 9am 31/10/2019 and ends 9am 4/11/2019. Only entrants that post their “spookiest costume” and tag @villaplus will be entered into the prize draw. Prize is a £100 high street voucher. The top entrants will be selected anonymously on the morning of the 4/11 with the winner being decided by Villa Plus followers on Instagram over 24hr using Instagram stories to vote. Winner will then be announced on the channel within 7 days of competition closing. Competition winner has 7 days from notification to claim their prize. If the winner does not claim their prize within this time-frame the promoter reserves the right to withdraw prize entitlement and will award the prize to the person who finished runner up in the public vote. By entering this competition users agree to Villa Plus promoting and using the image shared by the entrant on Instagram.

AVIS FREE Car Hire Competition – October 2019

Competition closes 1st November 2019.

The rental prize conditions are as follows:

Rental Period: Up to 7 days

Car Size: (up to group K)

Pick Up Location: Sicily

Return Location: Sicily

Includes: all mandatory charges Age Restriction

Driver must be over 21 years of age with a full driving license

Terms: the prize is non-transferable and non exchangeable. Fuel

costs are not included. Please note insurance excesses may still apply.

Standard Avis rental terms and conditions apply , subject to availability.

Please note: we require a minimum of 7 days’ notice when placing your reservation.

2020 vision – March 2019

Competition closes midnight Sunday 28th April 2019.

All correct answers will be entered into a draw to win a £2020 Villa Plus holiday voucher. Winner will be selected at random and announced on the channel they entered the competition within 14 days of competition closing. Competition winner has 14 days from notification to claim their prize. If the winner does not claim their prize within this timeframe the promoter reserves the right to withdraw prize entitlement and will award the prize to a reserve drawn at the same time as the original.

Promoter’s decision is final and binding. Entry implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.

Any personal information that entrants share with the Promoter will be kept secure and only used in line with these terms and conditions unless the entrant has opted into future marketing from the Promoter. by entering the promotion, entrants agree that their information may be used by the Promoter to administer the promotion and winners content to their name and country being listed on the winners’ list.

Not open to staff, no cash alternative prize will be offered.

Book Competition – March 2019

Competition closes Sunday 24th March 2019.

Entry into the competition is via Twitter. Only entrants that retweet and follow @villaplusnews on Twitter will be entered into the prize draw. Prize is 6 brand new books. Winner will be selected at random and announced on the channel they entered the competition within 14 days of competition closing. Competition winner has 14 days from notification to claim their prize. If the winner does not claim their prize within this timeframe the promoter reserves the right to withdraw prize entitlement and will award the prize to a reserve drawn at the same time as the original.

Promoter’s decision is final and binding. Entry implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.

Any personal information that entrants share with the Promoter will be kept secure and only used in line with these terms and conditions unless the entrant has opted into future marketing from the Promoter. by entering the promotion, entrants agree that their information may be used by the Promoter to administer the promotion and winners content to their name and country being listed on the winners’ list.

Not open to staff, no cash alternative prize will be offered.