Dubrovnik is an enchanting city once described by Lord Byron as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. As the crown jewel of Croatia’s breathtaking Dalmatian coast is it a glowing beacon of beauty and culture set amongst a backdrop of unique landscapes and dramatic history.

Dubrovnik is perfect all year-round as this medieval city has so much to see and do inside its famed city walls, making it perfect for a romantic weekend or a week of exploration and adventure. In summer though, the city comes to life underneath the Adriatic sun as its pearly marble streets and shiny pristine buildings exude a mystical ethereal glow and making your holiday seem like a fairytale. Amongst this UNESCO World Heritage site’s most popular attractions are a wide variety of monuments, museums, churches and monasteries, but one of the most breathtaking sights you can see is the iconic image of terracotta roofs surrounded by the electric blue seas of the Adriatic lapping up against dramatic craggy, cliffs. It’s this charming seaside feel that make Dubrovnik so unique, combining the elegance and exuberance of the old town with a strong almost spiritual link to the sea, perfectly displayed by the Old Port which was once the main trading hub but today is one of the most picturesque parts of town.

Once you’ve explored the fascinating Old Town of Dubrovnik with its mesmerising buildings and collections of cafes and monuments at the Stradun, there’s much to discover beyond the mighty city walls. The Dalmatian coast is studded with a myriad of idyllic islands which can easily be reached from Dubrovnik, among these us the beautiful island of Lokrum which is a must for any visit to the city and can even be seen from the city’s beaches. On Lokrum you’ll have a fantastic day out exploring the vibrant botanical gardens as well as the historic Benedictine monastery, and then you can relax and take a dip in the ocean on the islands stunning beaches.

Another beautiful place to visit when you rent a holiday villa in Dubrovnik is the peaceful seaside town of Lozica. Situated on a breathtaking spot along the coast Lozica is popular with many of Dubrovnik’s aristocrats as the location for their summer homes and it’s not hard to see why. Only two kilometres away from the city itself it’s the perfect base for exploring the area when you rent holiday accommodation in Dubrovnik as it’s delightfully exclusive and unequalled for beauty.

If you’re thinking of visiting Dubrovnik then why not base yourself in Lozica, Perfect Getaways have an extraordinary property in this idyllic bay, Villa Ivanino, which is perfect for a holiday in Dubrovnik, click the link above for more information.

Estepona is the perfect place for a family holiday in the Costa del Sol with an authentic Spanish twist. Estepona is one of the few coastal towns in the area that has maintained it pueblo charm and character thanks to its unusual shops and mouth-watering chiringuitos.

Estepona is a quaint little fishing village with lots of character and a colourful history punctuated by 23 kilometres of sun drenched sand that make up a whole host of numerous coves and bays waiting for you to throw your towel on. By distancing itself from the onslaught of tourism, Estepona has become the perfect place for families who want to see more of the real Spain without sacrificing the activities and amenities the more popular resorts provide. As such, there’s a plethora of street cafes and tapas bars serving traditional Spanish delicacies on almost every street corner as well as a ramshackle chiringuito on the beach serving sumptuous paella by the tonne. However, Estepona’s no ghost town, the hub of the nightlife is the Marina where there’s a wide variety of trendy bars and discos that provide entertainment well into the early hours of the morning.

Come Sunday morning and the chic marina has transformed into a popular tourist market with fantastic local produce on show. Estepona also has some other fascinating sights to see, in particular the towns bustling main square, Plaza de las Flores which is the site of some of Estepona’s best tapas bars, whilst there’s also the Bullring to visit as well as some intriguing historical sights such as La Ermita del Carvario and La Torre del Reloj. Also worth a visit is the fabulous Selwo Wildlife Park on the outskirts of town, but if you rent a villa in Estepona you’ll seldom be far from the sea.

Playa La Rada is Estepona’s most popular beach located slap bang in the middle of town its swamped by services and amenities including some of the towns best chiringuitos that dish up paella, sardines and many other Spanish delicacies. The beach is long and golden and the promenade which skirts it provides plenty of opportunities whether its an ice cream or your first windsurfing lesson. Playa el Cristo is another stunning beach growing in popularity, the cove and it’s outer wall ensure the sea is warmer than surrounding waters and the presence of lifeguards and gently sloping sands make it a popular spot for young families. If you fancy something a bit less crowded then you can always cast your net further and explore Playa Galera, Playa Arroyo Vaquero or Playa Bahia Dorada which are worth the effort.

If you want to rent a holiday home in Estepona then why don’t you have a look at these three fabulous properties that would make your holiday a dream come true.

Villa Tranquilla-Pool Apt.

Fountain Apt, Villa Tranquilla

Estepona Port 1 bed Apt

Book Your Car Hire Early and Reap the Rewards
If you’re planning a holiday this summer you might have already secured your flights and your villa but have you booked your car hire? Many of us see car hire as a holiday extra and leave it until the very last minute to book up, perhaps you even wait until you arrive at the airport in your holiday destination. There are some excellent benefits of booking your car hire early, so read on and reap the rewards. 

Cheaper prices
Nine times out of ten, the further in advance you book the cheaper the price will be. It’s all to do with supply and demand; as availability diminishes, prices are hiked. It’s the same with flights. Having already forked out for your villa and flights in one go, the prospect of paying for your car hire so soon might seem like a step too far for the wallet, but when you consider the amount of money you will save in the long run you may well change your mind. Perhaps that extra money saved could go towards a few more cocktails on the beach, an extra excursion or a fancy meal out as a treat? There are countless ways to make those extra pennies go further when you are actually at your destination, so secure yourself a great deal! 

Choice of vehicles
Car hire companies are limited by the size of their fleet and as such, only have a certain number of each vehicle category available. Maybe you have a large family and a 7 or 9 seater vehicle is essential to ensure that everyone and everything fits. Perhaps you don’t plan on doing much driving so you only need an economy vehicle? Or there are only two of you but you plan on a fly drive holiday in a diesel car to keep the fuel costs down? Maybe you need an estate for mum, dad and two tall teenagers? Leave it to the last minute and you might end up disappointed. By booking early however you are guaranteed a much wider choice of vehicles. Don’t settle for second best; secure the size of car you require and sleep easy.

Peace of mind
By booking early, you can research and compare deals at your leisure. You will have the time to read through the terms of the hire, investigate the insurance cover provided and know what fuel policy you will have to abide by well in advance of collection. Instead of turning up at the airport and getting stung, you will be in the know and can keep the costs low. Decide in advance whether you will require any optional extras such as Sat Nav hire. With Economy Car Hire you get full collision damage waiver and theft waiver with no excess, a free additional driver and all airport taxes and surcharges included in the price. By booking early, you have the peace of mind that everything is in order and you won’t get stung for unexpected fees upon collection.

Demand for holiday car hire in 2012 is set to soar, so stop looking and get booking!

If you’re looking for that perfect Algarve destination this February half-term, then rent a holiday villa in Loule, where you’ll be able to experience the best the Algarve has to offer.

Loule is an ideal destination from which to explore the Algarve as it’s within spitting distance of all the main resorts and towns in the area as well as Faro airport which is only 17 kilometres away. In particular this charming market town is only 11 kilometres from the stunning beaches of Quarteira, Vilamoura and Vale do Lobo in addition to the many championship standard golf courses that flood the Algarve. Loule is a large town with plenty of amenities and services to make your holiday as care-free as possible, it’s also a fairly quiet town compared to other resorts and its tranquil atmosphere is the perfect place to get away from it all this half-term.

Perfect Getaways have three stunning holiday villas in Loule, Caso do Forno Cottage, Orange Cottage and Lemon & Carob Apartment Cottage, that would make your holiday in Loule one to remember. These properties are in beautiful, peaceful surroundings popular with walkers and bird watchers and are only a stone’s throw away from Loule town centre where you can explore its dazzling markets or fascinating historical relics such as the 13th century castle and the Arab Cemetery. However that’s not the only advantage when you rent these beautiful holiday homes in Loule this half-term, as February is carnival time in town.

Known as one of the largest, brightest and one of the most popular carnivals in the Algarve, Loule Carnival is a massive celebration bursting with music, colour, dancing and laughter. Taking place from the 19th to the 21st of February, the carnival is a time where the locals really let their hair down and stage a raucous event that can be enjoyed by all. Celebrating its 106th anniversary, the carnival has evolved to a grand scale where thousands of revelers celebrate in the streets of the Avenida Jose Da Costa Mealha. Each year the carnival has a designated theme and always features huge parades with elaborate floats that are adorned with massive political figures like Nicolas Sarkozy and the Portuguese prime minister as well as iconic sporting figures and national celebrities. Carnival is a great time to visit Loule with a real feel good atmosphere in the air, be prepared though, it’s tradition at carnival time for revelers to throw water bombs and eggs at each other, so watch out!