The ideal foodie break; a holiday rental stay

Cooking might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re planning a trip away. In a hotel it’s not even an option, but if you choose a holiday home rental instead you have all you need to experiment with the local cuisine and whip yourself up a treat, - or go out, as you wish! As discovering the local fare is now a key part of the holiday for many, people are increasingly choosing holiday rentals instead of hotels for the extra facilities they provide; more space, more privacy, more flexibility, and most importantly for food enthusiasts, proper facilities to cook.

You will find the biggest choice of holiday rentals on www.HomeAway.co.uk, which currently advertises more than 300,000 private properties to rent worldwide direct from owners and managers. Many are ideal for novice and master chefs alike; modern villas with gourmet kitchens and BBQs on site, or rural homes with their own olive groves, fruit trees, vineyard or even veggie patch. A holiday rental can also work out up to half the cost per head of a similar standard hotel and as you get more for your money it makes a great value break.  

For a taste of what’s available, take a look at the top 5 foodie rentals below, featuring some unique properties ideal for a break in the UK or abroad.  And for recipe ideas before you go, try the HomeAway.co.uk Travel Cookbook, a collection of holiday homeowners’ favourite local recipes from around the globe.

Top 5 foodie holiday rentals on HomeAway.co.uk

SPAIN

Charming traditional country finca with play area for kids, Pollensa

4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8. From £895 per property per week

This charming finca enjoys a private location just 1km from the historic old town of Pollensa with the dramatic backdrop of the Tramuntana Mountains. There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two lounges, one with Sky TV decoder and WiFi broadband access, as well as a fully equipped country kitchen. Outside, set in 4,000 square metres, there is a fantastic private pool, plenty of sun loungers and a separate play area with play frame, trampoline and a basketball ring to keep the little ones amused. For the grown-ups there is a built in stone BBQ with dining area, ideal for long leisurely lunches or al-fresco evening dining.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p442526

SCOTLAND

Country house set in its own grounds, Scottish Borders

5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10. From £795 per property per week

Branxholm Knowe House is a large detached period property which is set in two acres of well tendered private gardens. The house is furnished to a high standard and is ideal for entertaining and features a fabulous garden room which is perfect for al-fresco evenings. The property has five large double bedrooms and can comfortably accommodate ten adults or two families. It also features a fully equipped kitchen and outside there are two tables and benches, a BBQ, a pond (fenced) with cascading runs, large gardens and woodland.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p462954

GREECE

Secluded villa with garden, pool, BBQ & covered outdoor dining area, Kefallonia
3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8. From £732 per property per week

Villa Elena is situated in the quiet Kefallonian village of Sarlata and offers a peaceful, secluded retreat. The villa comprises two double bedrooms and one twin bedroom with a large family bathroom upstairs. Downstairs there is a large living and dining room, as well as a fully equipped kitchen with island unit and breakfast stool seating. Outside, there is a brick-built charcoal BBQ, plus plenty of space for al-fresco dining and a big swimming pool. Kefallonia has a lot to offer and Villa Elena is situated in a central location not too far from the main town of Argostoli.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p458236

TURKEY

Traditional stone house in the hills of Bodrum Peninsula

2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4. From £585 per property per week

This is a unique, traditional property with beautiful island views located in the hills of the Bodrum Peninsula near Yalikavak. Surrounded by fig, almond and olive trees, and offering a private herb and vegetable garden, the house is on two floors and features a 19^th century entry door, a double bed in a Roman arch, an Ottoman kitchen, as well as many other antiques and pieces of art. The house also has a Balinese-style pool surrounded by a small mandarin orange orchard and a patio with an enchanting decorative Ottoman marble fountain.  

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p93662

ITALY

Beautifully restored trullo with olive garden and pizza oven, Puglia

2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6. From £550 per property per week

A beautiful trullo, lovingly restored by the owners to a very high standard, employing traditional methods and materials to retain its magical character. The property is surrounded by a garden with olive and fig trees, and an enclosed south-facing courtyard paved with traditional old paving stones. The courtyard has sun loungers for relaxing, a barbeque, garden table and chairs for al fresco dining, as well as a pizza oven. It is situated on the west facing slope of a delightfully quiet valley with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.

www.HomeAway.co.uk/p66249

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