Luxury Expectations Boost Demand For Quinta do Lago Villas In Portugal
09 February 2010 – Select Resorts
Increasing interest in luxury holidays is boosting demand for villas and apartments to rent during 2010 in Quinta do Lago, Portugal.
Not only is the holiday market getting back on track after the economic downturn of recent years but holiday company Select Resorts are finding that the demand for renting luxury villas built around exclusive spa complexes and championship golf courses is far exceeding expectations.
This is drawing them to the exquisite Quinta do Lago, which is an exclusive golf and residential estate in the Algarve. Set in a privilege location bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Ria Formosa Natural Park, the magnificent golf courses and majestic villas blend with the green umbrella pines and the tranquility of lakes…………
Read the full article on the Select Resorts website
Add comment February 9, 2010
Your perfect villa holiday is now just a mouse click away!
Over the past few months we have worked extremely hard behind the scenes to put together our NEW On Line Booking facility.
At a glance, the website will look pretty much as it did. But inside that simple exterior an incredible amount has happened to make it possible for our clients to view and book accommodation 24/7.
Our Marketing and Sales departments have been buzzing with activity all winter in preparation – adding thousands of great holiday villas and apartments to our new system. In fact, it’s clear from current statistics that the number of properties available on our website is at an ever-increasing rate.
The wait is over….
Starting TOMORROW, those looking to book a luxury Algarve villa holiday or a holiday home in Spain can make reservations online, from the Select Resorts website at www.selectresorts.com
Our Super Reservation Service
Not only has the Select Resorts team been working hard but our new partners at SuperControl have been hard at it as well, ensuring this day would finally arrive.
SuperControl is an innovative booking and management system which helps self-catering businesses save time and money and at the same time get more bookings.
For more information please contact:
Select Resorts
Telephone: +44 (0)1202 786490
Email: mail@selectresorts.co.uk
Add comment February 3, 2010
The Best Value Euro Destination
As reported by The News of The World
When asking researchers in 19 countries to go shopping for a basket of tourist items Portugal proved the best value euro destination, with a total cost of £52.88, against £63.39 in Spain, £83.46 in the UK and £88.73 in France.
Items: Cup of coffee, bottle of Heineken, can of Coke, bottle of mineral water, suntan lotion, insect repellent, 20 Marlboro ciggies, three-course meal for two with wine, a postcard and a stamp.
Select Resorts provide a range of great value vacation options in Portugal, to help your money go that little bit further.
Add comment January 15, 2010
Skiing and Snowboarding in Avoriaz
Avoriaz Partner Trip: 17th-18th December 2009
From the moment I arrived in Avoriaz until the moment that I left it did not stop snowing! This was great for the beginning of the season and reassures me that Avoriaz really does have the most reliable snow in the Portes de Soleli area!
Some people tell me that they do not like the architecture in Avoriaz but it’s not until you visit the resort that you realise that the unique architectural design using traditional wood and sloping roofs blends perfectly into the natural landscape.
Avoriaz View
I have been to many French ski resorts and I have to say that Avoriaz is definitely top of my list. It’s very picturesque and has a friendly village feel unlike some other large resorts in the Alps.
Not only offering excellent skiing conditions, Avoriaz also offers fantastic views and sunsets overlooking the Morzine Valley. It is here where the new MGM residence will be situated in “La Falaise”.
Avoriaz is great for all abilities, skiers and boarders and especially great for families. Boarders are particularly attracted as it is home to a fantastic eco
Avoriaz
board park known as “The Stash”. There are only 3 of these parks in the world and Avoriaz hosts the only one in Europe!
There are 273 marked ski runs and 216 km of cross-country trails. Other activities available include sleigh rides, winter hikes, snowshoeing, dog sledding, hang-gliding, helicopter tours, paragliding, snow-biking and snowmobiling. An unusual option is the opportunity to scuba-dive beneath the ice in a frozen lake!
Being a car-free resort means it is ski in ski out but if you don’t fancy skiing
Avoriaz Transport
to the lifts there’s always a horse and sled or skidoos on offer – Getting about the resort in this manor is what gives Avoriaz much of its charm.
After a nice warm lunch at La Bistro we headed to the second site “La Crozat” where the P&V and Maeva residences will be situated.
These will be built on the edge of the resort on a slope offering fantastic views across the whole resort.
The photo on the left is where the P&V residence will be and the one on the right will be Maeva.
Avoriaz
As well as the new residences there will soon be an indoor water park which in the summer months will also have a man-made beach outside! There are
Indoor Waterpark
lots of activities to do here in the summer so Avoriaz really is a duel season resort.
For après ski there is a good choice of restaurants with fantastic cuisine and local bars and nightclubs for those who want to party! The shopping is also good with the usual hi-tech ski gear to purchase!
We headed to La Cabane restaurant/bar in the evening which was really nice, offering great food and a great atmosphere.
The next morning we headed to the slopes, it literally took just a couple of minutes to reach the nursery slopes and it was then I noticed I was the only one snowboarding! Having been a few times before I knew the basics but I am still a novice. I gave it a good go and after a practice we headed off to a blue run. I have to say I did quite well considering the conditions - the visibility was poor as it was still heavily snowing!
Overall I highly recommend Avoriaz for a place to invest in property; it has everything you need from a ski resort from fantastic pistes, guaranteed snow, traditional food and charm; and soon there will be the new water park and new apartments which will really update and move the resort forward.
So after a fantastic trip it was time to come home but as soon as we left the resort we heard that our flight was cancelled due to the snow in London! I was one of many people stranded in Geneva airport which is not the best way to end a trip but all is well now that I made it home, eventually!
Hannah Morris
Property Sales Executive
AVORIAZ – Overview of the Project
- New build development – low upfront costs
- 200millions euros worth of infrastructure
- 19.6% vat rebate
- 3.5% guaranteed rental returns plus various usage formulas
- Excellent capital growth potential
- Set to be ‘the’ dual destination ski resort at 1800m with beach and spa facilities
- Just one hour from Geneva
- Quality accommodation, quality visitors
Developments
MAEVA RESIDENCE LES CROZATS ELECTRA - Electra is situated close to the centre of the resort and offers beautiful views of the mountains and the lake.
MGM RESIDENCE L’AMARA - On the edge of the resort, close to La Falaise district comprising five residences and a beautiful Spa featuring a huge heated swimming pool. The development is South-facing, with magnificent views of the Morzine valley.
Add comment December 29, 2009
A Walking Tour of Bridgetown, Barbados
The City of Bridgetown
The historical, cultural and architectural capital of Barbados was an easy place to walk around, and only took a couple of hours at most to explore the many great sites on offer. If the sun is hot I definitely advise everyone to add a hat and sunblock to the comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and camera that are necessary for the exploring the capital.
1. Independence Square
Easily identified by the Independence Arch, the Square is a green oasis that provides a cool place to sit and rest, watching pedestrian and vehicular
Independence Square at Christmas
traffic hustle and bustle in the heart of the capital city. This recreational square features an amphitheatre and two fountains and one of the first major events to be staged in the remodelled Square was a tribute to Barbados’ own Rihanna, the international recording star, in 2008 as she turned 20 years old.
2. Parliament Buildings
The earliest Parliament building was built in 1640 but burned in the Bridgetown fire of 1668. The present buildings were completed in 1874, both the Senate and House of Assembly meet here. The West Wing was finished in 1872, while the East Wing was completed in 1873. A spectacular collection of stained glass windows that show many statesmen, including Oliver Cromwell, adorn the complex , and if access is permitted, the likenesses of all British sovereigns from James I to Queen Victoria may be viewed in the House of Assembly.
3. Queen’s Park
The home was the residence of the Commander of the British troops in the West Indies. Before the days of Queen Victoria it was known as the King’s House.
Queen’s Park is a popular location for exhibitions, fairs and other large public events. The children’s play area features a Baobab tree with a 61.5-foot circumference is perhaps the largest tree in Barbados. The tree is an estimated 1,000 years old and thought to have grown unaided from a seed likely to have come from Africa during the days of slavery.
4. Lord Nelson Statue
This bronze statue of Lord Horatio Nelson was erected in Trafalgar Square in 1813. Part of the statue’s significance is the fact that Bridgetown’s Lord Nelson is not an imitation of London’s and was designed some thirty years before Nelson’s Column was erected in London’s Trafalgar Square. Native Bajans had a strong affection for Nelson who visited Barbados, in command of the British fleet, just six months before his death in 1805. In 1999 the statue was moved to stand near the traffic lights at the top of Broad Street, just opposite High Street.
5. Dolphin Fountain
To commemorate the advent of piped-in water to Bridgetown in 1861 a local newspaper suggested a proper fountain be erected in a central spot. Bajan citizens donated money and a decorative fountain embellished with water-spewing dolphins was installed in 1865. Work on the gardens surrounding the fountain didn’t begin until 1882.
6. Cheapside Market
This large open-air market is a great example of Barbadian culture reminiscent of days past, as small vendors and craftsmen sell every imaginable type of fresh fruit, vegetables and other wares.
Cheapside Market truly encapsulates the charm of Barbados and everything, as the name implies, is very reasonably priced and most vendors are willing to negotiate on large purchases.
7. Bridgetown Synagogue
The Nidhe Israel Synagogue claims to be one of the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere dating back to 1654. The original synagogue was destroyed by hurricane in 1831 and then the rebuilt place of worship was nearly demolished in 1983 untill it was beautifully restored by the Jewish community. The Jews who came to Barbados from Brazil in the 1620s due to persecution introduced sugar cane to the Caribbean.
More Sites to See
National Public Library
National Heroes Square
Law Courts, Police Station, Old Public Library, & Montefiore Fountain
Tom Adams Financial Centre
St. Michael’s Cathedral
Scott Hurley
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More On Barbados
Select Resorts have revamped their Barbados Villas webpage and have some great offers for the Crane Resort in Barbados.
Add comment December 10, 2009
Barbados Catamaran Sailing Cruises
Caribbean islands tend to have similar geological features, but Barbados is so well-known for its pristine white sand beaches and tranquil waters on its south coast, that each year visitors are being attracted from not only the neighbouring islands but those from colder climates, like myself.
However Barbados is so much more than its white sand beaches and one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of the island is to see first-hand the picturesque seascape of underwater reefs with the abundance of marine life swimming in and around.
From personal experience the best way to sample the delights of the shimmering blue waters of Barbados is by taking a relaxing sailing cruise from one of the many catamarans that harbour in Bridgetown.
The catamarans are all designed with comfort, safety and enjoyment in mind to cater for all generations and tourist types. But with an open bar filled with an endless supply of Banks, rum and wine they definitely provide unrivalled holiday entertainment, and find the perfect equilibrium between relaxation and ‘merry’.
Catamaran Cruise Recommendations:
Cool Runnings is a unique charter company specialising in personalised cruises, ensuring the utmost in comfort, service and enjoyment. 
These elegant, custom-built catamarans sail with a limited number of passengers, to guarantee a superb day of sailing in an uncrowded atmosphere.
The captain and crew are a good-humoured group of well-trained, experienced sailors who know how to look after and entertain their guests. Sail, swim with turtles, snorkel over a shallow shipwreck, swim in a secluded bay and enjoy a delicious lunch and open bar. Sunset cruises are also very popular and private cruises are offered for a more flexible itinerary.
My Thoughts - Cool Runnings was the most enjoyable four hours on my recent visit to Barbados. On past catamaran cruises I have been largely disappointed by the lack of close encounter turtle swimming on offer, but Cool Runnings ensured we were all in the thick of the action.
Before booking this trip I read a lot of articles mentioning the excellent service onboard Cool Runnings. I have to agree that the crew were absolutely amazing and extremely interested in making sure that everyone had a great time – which included the females of my group who pretended they could not swim to gain extra attention.
Rubáiyát is a classic Peter Spronk original with a unique schooner rig. At 50 ft long, she is sleek, comfortable and fully equipped for day chartering. Rubáiyát is skippered by owner and well-known Barbadian Eddie Cheeseman, who has over 20 years professional sailing experience as captain and has been sailing his own boat since 1998.
My Thoughts – I knew this would be a great day for my first Catamaran cruise as I was joined by a host of Virgin Atlantic air-cabin crew taking advantage of their day off, courtesy of Richard Branson. This automatically gave me a high perception of the catamaran knowing that it was the first choice booking for such a prestigious airline.
My perception was not altered throughout the day with great reggae music being played and the staff providing endless entertainment. In particular the shipwreck in the shallows was a sight to see on this trip with schools of multicoloured fish darting through the vessels.
Both of these fantastic catamaran cruises offer breathless views of the Baijan coastine as you sail under the gentle breeze of the trade winds, and if you could only take one trip while in Barbados then I stongly advise a Barbados Catamaran Cruise
Scott Hurley
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More On Barbados
Select Resorts have revamped their Barbados Villas webpage and have some great offers for the Crane Resort in Barbados.
Add comment November 25, 2009
Aphrodite Hills Open Evenings
After a succesful evening showcasing Cyprus’ 5* living during October, two more dates have been added for those dreaming of an easy-going, eclectic lifestyle to join us for a drink and experience unparalleled Real Estate opportunities at the 5* Aphrodite Hills.
Aphrodite Hills offers an exciting selection of luxury villa and apartment styles and designs, each intended to complement the beautiful landscapes of the resort, combining the sympathetic architectural touches and contemporary living that have become such a feature of Cypriot real estate.
Savills Select Resorts invite you to an open evening showcasing the stunning Aphrodite Hills Resort, its comprehensive range of luxury villas and the investment benefits.
Aphrodite Hills Open Evenings - PDF Download
Date: Tuesday 01 December 2009
Time: 4.30pm to 7pm
Address Savills, Esher. 55 High Street, KT10 9SH
Date: Wednesday 02 December 2009
Time: 4.30pm to 7pm
Address Savills, Cobham. 10 High Street, KT11 3DY
RSVP to select@savills.com or call +44 (0)845 5056061
Print off the Aphrodite Hills PDF for admission and your entry into our Prize Draw.
*Prize Draw - Experience the 5 Star living at Aphrodite Hills with 7 nights stay at the stunning InterContinental, with 2 rounds of golf and 2 spa treatments.
Add comment November 23, 2009
St Kitts Citizenship benefits boost demand at new $100 Million Caribbean Resort
*Russian Translation*
St Kitts & Nevis, October 28th, 2009 – St Kitts Citizenship is boosting demand for luxury villas, poolside cottages and condominiums at the $100 million Ocean’s Edge resort development at Frigate Bay, report luxury property experts Savills Select Resorts.
Privileged St Kitts Citizenship with all its second passport benefits is proving to be an added incentive for buyers keen to invest in aspirational but
Hillside Plunge pool
accessible property on one of the world’s most beautiful islands.
Citizenship of St Kitts brings with it a second passport plus significant offshore financial benefits such as freedom from income tax, property taxes, inheritance tax and capital gains tax for property owned for 12 months or more.
It is open to people who invest at least $350,000 or its eastern Caribbean equivalent currency in an approved scheme. Ocean’s Edge is officially recognised by the Government of St Kitts as meeting all the necessary criteria required.
Savills Select Resorts Director Pauline Bonanni said: “Investing in property must be one of the most cost effective ways of gaining the considerable benefits afforded by St Kitts Citizenship.
“Prices at Ocean’s Edge start in the mid-$300,000 range, for which investors gain St Kitts Citizenship, second passports, tax concessions and a home on a Caribbean paradise listed as one of the world’s top 20 islands on which to live.”
Work on Phase 3a of Ocean’s Edge is due to start shortly. Masterminding the project is the Cable Bay Hotel Development Company (CBHDC). Families are already moving into Phases 1 and 2 at the resort which has been praised by St Kitts Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, the Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas.
Phase 3a of the vacation home development includes:
- Bespoke Villas – 32 villa lots starting from US$200,000 with a cost of approximately US$300 per square foot to build a bespoke villa with fantastic ocean views
- Poolside Cottages – 10 two-bedroom semi-detached, single-storey cottages (approx 1,825 square feet), each with their own small garden and private plunge pool at US$525,000
- Hillside Condominiums – two-bedroom condominiums with plunge pools (approx 1,500 square feet), overlooking the ocean, from US$575,000
- Two-bedroom Beachfront Condominiums, approx 1,650 square feet, from US$609,000
- One-bedroom Beachfront Condominiums – 800-900 square feet, from US$359,000.
In total, Ocean’s Edge will comprise 190 condominiums plus 32 lots for bespoke villas. Completion is scheduled for late 2012.
Clients with an interest in purchasing property can participate in a three-night subsidised inspection trip to experience St Kitts and Ocean’s Edge. For more information, please contact Pauline Bonanni, Savills Select Resorts, +44 (0)1202 765011, info@oceansedgestkitts.com, www.oceansedgestkitts.com.
Ends
Information For Editors
International Sales Office
Savills Select Resorts
Telephone: +44 (0)1202 765011
Email: info@oceansedgestkitts.com
About Ocean’s Edge
Ocean’s Edge is a luxury vacation home development in St Kitts overlooking Frigate Bay.
The 40-acre project comprises 190 condominiums including one-, two- and three-bedroom beachfront units, two-bedroom hillside units, two- and three-bedroom poolside cottages. In addition, 32 villa lots offering some of the finest views on the island are available with the option of building a three- or four-bedroom+ villa.
Planned leisure facilities include a fitness centre, restaurant, pools, tennis courts and landscaped recreation spaces.
Ocean’s Edge is owned by the Cable Bay Hotel Development Company Limited – a consortium of stakeholders comprising Newfound Cable Bay Corporation and locally based partners TDC Ltd, Mansha Ltd and SKNA National Bank Ltd.
Ocean’s Edge is located within 10 minutes of RL Bradshaw International Airport which welcomes non-stop flights from New York (JFK), Miami FL, Atlanta GA, Charlotte NC and San Juan PR. British Airways has just added a second direct service from London Heathrow.
Islands Magazine (2007) listed St Kitts as one of the top 20 islands on which to live worldwide.
Robb Report’s Vacation Homes Magazine (October 2008), listed the island as of 10 great places where the best time to buy is now.
For more information on Ocean’s Edge Resort, please email info@oceansedgestkitts.com or visit www.oceansedgestkitts.com
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For further information, to set up an interview or receive a media kit and/or images, please contact:
Dalia Blumenthal, Publicist
Tel: + 1 416 926 1967
Mobile: + 1 416 788 4573
Email: dalia@dbprinternational.com
Add comment November 17, 2009
Ocean’s Edge wants you to see something
There are plenty of places around the world calling themselves paradise, but the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Nevis make an excellent case for being at the top of the list.
Newfound’s Ocean’s Edge Resort, developed in conjunction with local partners is leading the way in luxury living on this unspoilt utopia.
Take a look at some of the great images below and then visit http://www.oceansedgestkitts.com/ to register for more information.
View even more photos of the marvelous Ocean’s Edge development:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43342222@N03/page6/
Add comment November 13, 2009
‘On Location’ in St Lucia – Yoga at Jade Mountains & The Treetop Adventure Park
Thursday 10th September
Feeling a little worse for wear on Thursday morning I still made it up the mountain to Jade Mountain for yoga at 7am. We had our yoga mats already rolled out on the roof terrace for us with the Pitons and the sea and the
Me yoga-ing at Jade Mountains
sunrise in full view…. HEAVEN. After an hour of bending, twisting and contorting into all sorts of positions I was beginning to get quite hot and bothered, and despite the beautiful views I was quite relieved when it was over. We then took some really cool photos of us looking all meditative in front of the Pitons.
After breakfast I had the most AMAZING full body massage at the spa. Never had a massage like it … mmmmmmmmm….. The others went on another shore dive, and once again, raved about how fantastic the diving is in St Lucia.
Me and Linzi yoga
I was quite sad to leave Anse Chastanet. It really was the most relaxing, beautiful and peaceful place. On the way to our next hotel we stopped off in the middle of a tropical rainforest for a zip-lining experience that delivers such a rush. This was so much fun! We were given harnesses, gloves and helmets and taught how to stay facing forward on the zip line and sent on our way. The Treetop Adventure Park really lived up to its name with the zip lines going from tree to tree. There are people hooking you on and off the lines all the way round, and it’s a constant flowing process so very little hanging around waiting. The lines are pretty high, some above the canopy of trees, it’s so much fun whizzing through the jungle whooping like Tarzan!
Treetop Adventure Park
I really recommend you experience the exhilaration of this treetop canopy adventure when visiting St Lucia and it can be located west of the northern point of Dennery river bridge.
That evening we arrived at our next hotel, Coconut Bay. An all inclusive hotel on the beach on the Atlantic side, which is split into an adults only side and a childrens side. We had a really lovely meal, and a dance in the night club on site – we were the only ones in it and requested all the music we wanted, it was really good fun on our last night in St Lucia.
Kat Hayter
Reservations Executive
Add comment October 13, 2009
