The famous romantic castles in France are not as distant and prohibitive as they may seem: only 40 minutes by train from Paris and you reach the Château of Villiers-le-Mahieu in the middle of the beautiful French countryside. This place can make anyone feel romantic: walking in the castle gardens, over small bridges and along the ducks and beavers swimming in the moat, sitting under the moon lit statues in the courtyard. The castle has a superb spa with a heated swimming pool with a jacuzzi, a sauna and a Turkish bath, a solarium with plenty of free tea and dried fruit, and a gym. There are also massages available, but the prices are pretty high. And just to make it even more romantic, don’t forget to book the dinner table by the fire place.
One night for two people cost 179 Euros, including breakfast and entrance to the spa.

www.chateauvilliers.com
Rue du Centre, 78770 Villiers-le-Mahieu, France
+33(0)1 34 87 44 25
Google map: bit.ly/lgbGLC

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Agriturismos are the trend of the moment in Italy, popping up everywhere, which makes it more difficult to find the good ones like the Oasi Verde Mengara. Lovely rooms (some even have wooden four poster beds) in an old Italian casa colonica, with a private pool.

What makes it very special though is the food: if you opt for the half board you'll taste the best Italian food ever. And if you want to try more, you can even eat à la carte. Pick the amazing entry dish 'antipasto Oasi Verde' for two, which is a whole meal of traditional recipes. Delicious is the word for this agriturismo.

Between Gubbio and Perugia. Nearest station Fossato di Vico. Ryanair flies to Perugia.

www.oasiverdemengara.it

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Villa Glyfada is just what you want if you pick Paxos as your Greek island destination: a good balance of unspoilt sights and three small port towns with plenty of small restaurants and evening bars.

In the remote olive grove hills, Villa Glyfada is hidden amongst the big old olive trees, some even centuries old.

Having candle lit BBQ dinners on the verandah with a view over the secular olive groves and deep blue sea is unforgettable.

It was difficlut to stop reading on the wooden porch swing and deck chairs to meander down through the trees to the hidden beach.

Nicely furnished and well equiped, this villa has everything you need to feel at home. Even a couple of friendly Greek cats looking for some attention.

Very good value for the price. And while you are there don't forget a day trip to gorgeous Anti Paxos.

100 Euros per night for 2p renting the house,and 130 Euros per night for 4p.

Paxos,Ionian Islands in Greece
Email: info@paxos-travel.gr
Phone: 0030 2662 0 32589 or 0030 697 92 66 706

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This is not a rural hotel but a house for rent beautifully hidden in the green Umbrian hills. The closest you can drive is to the organic farm where you can pick organic vegetables and get fresh cheese and eggs, then you walk down a lane for five minutes till you reach a typical, old, stone, Italian house. A porch and a flowered garden for the nice weather, a fire place and a big bright room for painting when it's rainy. It doesn't have a pool and you're asked to be careful with the water, but it is really worth it. Sleeps two to a maximun four people. 300 Euros a week.

Email goldiehel@yahoo.it
Nearest airport Perugia (Ryanair)
Nearest train station: Fossato di Vico or Perugia

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The little car-free village of Anses D’Arlet is in the prettiest and least spoilt bay of Martinique. The white and light blue Creole house has just-the-right-size studios which open onto exotic flower gardens or the beautiful sand beach, respectively from 54 and 72 Euros a night for two people. Each studio has a little kitchen and a table outdoors. One step down and you’re in the sandy garden with hammocks hanging between the coconut palms where there are BBQs, more tables and lots of deck chairs. When you fancy a dip, open the garden gate, cross two meters of beach and you’re in the Caribbean sea. They also lend you any snorkeling equipment if it fits. It is a 2-minute beach walk to restaurants which have tables on the beach where the waves tickle your feet. The bread maker’s van hoots at 9 am for those who need fresh baguettes for breakfast in the garden. We loved it.

www.localize.fr
Anses D’Arlet in Martinique, French West Indies, Caribbean.
Nearest airport: Fort de France.

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On 15th May, every year the town of Gubbio comes alive with the most amazing pagan-converted-to-catholic festival: the Ceri. The local enthusiasm gets very high as the three ceri (three very heavy wooden structures topped by three saints) are carried around all day by the ceraioli (the people who carry the ceri) in a town decorated by banners and flags. Everyone dresses up according to the saint they support and start the day at 5am till night when people eat, drink and dance till very late in the piazzas. It is called a race but the winner is not the first to arrive in the church at the top of the mountain (a 7 minute run up a very steep mountain), the winner is the cero (singular of ceri) that falls the least. A bad fall of a saint is considered a bad omen. Read more and see videos on www.ceri.it

Gubbio, near Perugia and Assisi in Umbria. Central Italy.

Closest train station: Fossato di Vico.
Buses to Gubbio from Perugia. Ryanair flies to Perugia from the UK.

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