So if I normally like Classic Cottages and Premier Cottages for holiday s/c when I am in the UK, which catalogues do I need for holidaying abroad this summer?

[DarrellRivers]

Following the dismal summer last year, we are definitely going abroad next year.
I prefer self-catering, and we are thinking Greece, Turkey, Spain, Croatia ie slightly further afield from France/Italy.
We would like a villa with a pool and want it to be nice, pretty, secluded, nice beaches near by, beautiful scenery, away from the hordes etc
And for it to be a very good standard
So, seeing as I love leafing through brochures, which would you recommend as being top dollar
Any recommendations for any particular firms, or any particular properties?
Am pretty open minded about where we go, but are thinking of going May/June/July time
Thanks lots

Any suggestions?

.

No-one?

Have you looked at James Villas? I'm not sure exactly what you mean by top dollar, but I have used Classic Cottages before and I'd say the standard is comparable. We have been with them a couple of times to Spain. Lots of villas are in secluded locations and you do need to hire a car to get out and about. They have many more villas on their website than they do in the brochure. It could be a good starting point. They are almost certainly more expensive than choosing something from a website like owners abroad, but I always feel a bit nervous about handing over a few thousand pounds to someone without any sort of guarantee, which is why we've paid the premium before. I would suggest buying flights, car and villa seperately though because James Villas do charge more for the extras.

Oh the luxury of being able to choose to travel outside of school holidays... I'd pick June. Scottish (and some private) schools start their holidays end June/early July so prices are a bit higher and places a bit busier.

I would go onto owners direct and search from there using your own criteria - they have worked out really well for us in the past...

When we have costed up the same sort of villa with brochures they have been a lot more money for exactly the same holiday.

here

We are thinking of half term May or taking a week off school, June or just as they break up, mid July
Always feel guilty about missing a bit of school though
Thanks, am off to look at James Villas
Will have a newish baby with us too, so we really don't need anything dodgy to happen to the villa!

GWS, I may well do that when it comes to the booking, but I think I need a nice glossy to flick through giving me an idea of areas/villas etc
Owners Direct noted

Am enjoying Owners Direct, thanks

Try holiday-rentals too - same principle as owners direct but much bigger.

Croatia & Turkey not in the euro yet, so nice & cheap, apparently! (ie I haven't been so can't quote examples)

Turkey tends to be v v v hot in the summer - too hot for a baby maybe - Croatia might be your best bet.

Or go for a couple of days either side of the May half-term, which is mostly the first week of June next year - if you went eg Thu 27 May - Tue 8 June you'd get nearly 2 weeks, kids would only miss 4 days of school, & you'd get cheaper midweek flights instead of wildly expensive half-term weekend ones

villaplus.com and tapestryholidays.com def worth looking at. But if you find a villa on ownersdirect or holiday rentals it will prob be cheaper.

Thanks for all these suggestions

Tapestry holidays look great too
Have ordered some brochures

trip advisor also has holiday rentals with reviews, (I know, am on it!) Won't tell you where, so as not to self advertise. and also holidaylettings.co.uk but no reviews. Owners direct has a guarantee scheme, one of my guests used it this year, free I think.

DR - just to say as well that we tend to settle on a country, then see if the flights will come in ok for prices and times and then do the villa/area.

The best value we saw for next year regarding villas with beaches nearby was Cyprus or Portugal - I found a few good ones in Sardinia as well but as some of them were right on the beach they didnt have the pool.

has been recommended to me I haven't used them myself but am tempted!

Abercrombie and Kent. Went with them last year and they were great, villa fantastic and the brochure very glossy!