Consider renting a holiday flat or apartment the next time you want to get away.  With far more privacy and space than the average hotel room, a holiday flat is the perfect choice, especially for families.  There are many choices available, so how does one find that perfect getaway location?

The first consideration is the type of holiday you are planning.  Are you heading for a theme park or other attraction that caters to the kids?  You will probably want something fairly close to the action, but can perhaps get by with a little less space.  After all, you will be spending most of your days at the attraction itself, and the kids will likely be tired when you return.  They will not need large areas for playing.

On the other hand, if you plan a mixture of activities, look for something a little outside the heart of town.  It will be quieter, and for the same price of a small flat in town, you can likely find a larger apartment or even a villa.  Also, if noise at night interrupts your sleep, a holiday flat on the outskirts of town will help you get some needed shut-eye.

Look for rental locations on the internet, like ownersdirect.co.uk or Vacation Rentals by Owner, VRBO.com.  You can search by location, size, price, and available dates.  All the listings have pictures, so you will get a good idea of what to expect.  Prior renters will post reviews, and this can be particularly helpful when narrowing down the list to your favourites.  Spend a little time planning, and you will find the perfect holiday flat for a memorable time away.

When people go on holiday they have different criteria and considerations affecting their choice of accommodation. The two main options for accommodation are hotels and private rental apartments or villas.

A villa is a furnished property that the individual holidaymaker and their group can rent for a set number of days whilst a hotel rents to lots of people for as many nights as they want. A villa can offer more flexibility for the holidaymaker in terms of location, a hotel will probably only be in a busy part of a city or town whilst a villa could be anywhere from a rustic mountain hideaway to an apartment on the beach.

When looking at value for money, a rented villa will almost always be cheaper for a large group of people than the equivalent time spent in a hotel as well as offering much more space.

A rented villa will offer much more privacy than a hotel and the holidaymaker won’t have to put up with visits from housekeeping staff or noisy neighbours in nearby hotel rooms.

A resort hotel offers a range of services from shops, restaurants to a help desks and room service whilst a rented villa will give the holidaymaker all the comforts of home plus possibly a swimming pool and hot tub but if a problem arises, they may have to wait a little longer to get it sorted out. Restaurants and room service offer food whenever the holidaymaker wants, but restaurants can get very busy. In a rented villa, the holidaymaker can eat what they want, when they want.

If you and your friends fancy something different for your New Years eve celebrations this year, why not have a look at renting a an English country cottage to get away from it all as a big group. There are many holiday cottages to rent that can sleep a large group so it’s great for a get together. Renting at this time of year can be expensive however if there is a large number of you then the cost can be reduced for each person.  Not only with accommodations, but also you can divide food and travel.

There are plenty of places to choose from, you can look at staying in an Eco lodge in Yorkshire hidden away in peace and quiet, a Jurassic Coast cottage with exceptional views, or a traditional whitewashed cottage tucked away in Scotland. There are hundreds of options available, so you should be able to find something that can suit your group. You can also choose whether you want to celebrate with all your friends in the cottage or go out and experience the local area where you are staying.

If you fancy on getting away for New Years then you should look at booking now before places get booked, Christmas and New Years can be very busy so don’t delay if you have your eye on a holiday rental.

If you’re looking to start the ski season now then one of the best countries to go to is Austria, their ski season starts much earlier than any other in Europe and they have a huge choice of resorts to choose from. Currently they have seen a huge amount of snowfall already in Austria which means many resorts are getting off to a great start so it’s a great idea to book now before the winter crowds start heading there and book up the Ski chalets in Austria.

The resorts in Austria are once again becoming more popular as more and more people discover the virtues of skiing here as Austria is where the Alpine style of downhill skiing was first invented just over a century ago so it must have something going here. Many of the resorts here are traditional unlike other countries, most are not purpose built so you still get a traditional ski feel and experience when visiting, but with modern aides.

The most well known ski area in Austria is the Arlberg Ski Circus which incorporates St. Anton, St. Christoph, Lech and Zurs and provides some outstanding skiing as well as the renowned après-ski of St. Anton. With Skiing in Austria not only do you get great slopes but you will also find outstanding scenery to enjoy in the process for example, the Europa Ski Region combines the pretty village of Kaprun and the attractive lakeside town of Zell am See, it offers snow sure skiing with glacier skiing up on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier.

Austria is also top for après ski, a must for many people now who like to relax comfortably after a day on the slopes, many of the pretty resort villages have great choice of places to eat and drink not far from the holiday rentals, so you don’t have far to go to get warmed up.

Kitzsteinhorn - Kaprun

Picture courtesy of bortescristian

Scarborough

Yorkshire also offers a great deal of places to stay for a holiday, not only does it feature historical towns such as Harrogate and York but also traditional seaside resorts such as Scarborough and Whitby. Scarborough is perfect for a holiday or short break, with plenty of attractions for old and young, it’s also ideally placed to enjoy the surrounding area, the famous North Yorkshire Moors.

Scarborough South Bay

Picture courtesy of Identity Photogr@phy

If you stay in one of many holiday cottages in Scarborough, its famous grand hotel or one of many family run B&B’s you will find that you won’t be short of things to see and do. Scarborough is situated on the magnificent Yorkshire coastline and is also the largest holiday resort in Yorkshire. You will find not one but two safe sandy beaches, the North Bay Beach and the South Bay beach as well as a whole promenade of amusements and arcades, new and traditional, landscaped parks and water parks. There are also plenty of cafes and local restaurants serving up fresh locally caught seafood.

Scarborough harbour

Picture courtesy of MaryCB

Scarborough is made up of the North Bay and South Bay, the South Bay has plenty of amusements, shops, bars and restaurants to keep you busy, however if you are looking for something more sedate then you should take an open top bus to the North Bay. Here you will find the beautifully restored Peasholm Park which is a Japanese themed garden, it also has a mock maritime battle (based on the Battle of the River Plate) re-enacted on the boating lake with large model boats and fireworks throughout the summer holiday season. The North Bay also has The North Bay Railway is a miniature railway which runs from the park to the Sea Life Centre at Scalby Mills as well as a water park.

Peasholm Park, Scarborough

Picture courtesy of Eileen Ann

If you’re staying in Scarborough for your holiday then you should also make sure you visit some of the other great coastal towns in Yorkshire including: Whitby, Filey, and Robin Hoods Bay as well as exploring the vast North Yorkshire Moors.

Hole of Horcum, North York Moors

Picture courtsey of tallpomlin

Harrogate

As the biggest county in England there is plenty of places to visit Yorkshire, one of which is the Victorian Spa town of Harrogate. Situated right next to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Harrogate is in the prime location for enjoying all this area has to offer and there is a great range of hotels and holiday cottages in Harrogate, making it the perfect place to base yourself.

Royal Pump Room, Harrogate

Picture courtesy of Tim Green aka atoach

Harrogate itself is steeped in history, it became known as ‘The English Spa’ in the Georgian era after its waters which contain iron, sulphur and common salt were first discovered in the sixteenth century and used as a popular health treatment, bringing the wealthy but sickly visitors who contributed significantly to the wealth of the town, helping be the tourist destination it is today. You can explore this famous spa history at the Royal Pump Room Museum and even taste the strongest sulphur water in Europe!

Royal Horticultural Society Garden Harlow Carr

Picture courtesy of Robbo-Man

For many visitors to Harrogate it offers a cosmopolitan charm, with small streets and quaint mews that offer marvellous shopping, including many great high street stores and designer boutiques, distinctive cafés, and fine restaurants like the World famous Betty’s Cafe and plenty of green open spaces including The Stray, the Valley Gardens and Royal Horticultural Society Garden Harlow Carr. If you want to enjoy a relaxing break then you should check out the steam and hot rooms of the preserved Turkish Spa Baths which were built in 1897 and restored in 2004.

The Stray

Picture courtesy of jillyspoon

The great thing about staying in this part of Yorkshire is that there is so much to see and do in the surrounding area Harrogate has great links to the City of Leeds which is described as the London of the North and the Viking city of York which has the plenty of great tourist attractions. Also with the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors nearby, you won’t be short of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

There is a reason why a lot of people retire to Spain, the temperate weather of the winter months here in the UK we can experience freezing temperatures and blistering cold winds, which is why many older people tend to opt for Spain to live, especially when it gets cold.

At this time of year the temperatures in Spain are around 20C-25C, they can get down to around 10C later on however that’s nothing compared to what we get here, which is why Spain also makes a great holiday destination too this time of year. Prices are also a lot less than at peak times which mean you can find a reasonable priced holiday villa in Spain for a lot less than the summer, but can still experience pleasant temperatures.

There is still plenty to see and do at this time of year in Spain, when the country comes alive in a blaze of autumnal colour, it’s great for walking, where you can fully enjoy the breath taking scenery and watch as the country side comes alive harvesting fresh produce. You will also find the beaches free of crowds where you can enjoy the coastal walks in peace. The wine growing region of the Rioja Alavesa also undergoes a transformation in the autumn from green to the most vibrant tones of red and is a hive of activity and celebration as the whole area prepares for the harvest.

The wine growing region of the Rioja Alavesa

Picture courtesy of Shaury

With so much to see and do, there is no excuse not to book a villa holiday and explore the best of Spain at a pace to suit you, you can relax and take in the scenery without been blasted with hot temperatures, as well as getting away from the chill in the UK.

Spanish coastline

Picture courtesy of Paulo Brandao

We have extensively looked at places to enjoy some late autumn sun across Europe and further afield, however we shouldn’t dismiss the UK just because we don’t always have that much great weather in the autumn. You can enjoy a nice break staying in an English country cottage and just because the weather is not great does not mean there won’t be anything to do.

The great thing about Great Britain is no matter where your staying there is something for everyone to enjoy whether it’s braving the elements in the great outdoors, if that your cup of tea, or exploring the UK from undercover. We have 15 National Parks in the UK, including: Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Loch Lomond, Snowdonia and Exmoor to name but a few, all offer a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy, from outdoor adventure to peaceful stately homes.

In and around our National Parks there is a wide range of accommodation to stay in, you can choose from stately 5* hotels, charming country cottages, rustic log cabins, old fashioned barges and much more, there are plenty of holiday rentals to choose from, the hardest part is deciding which part of the UK to go!

Some popular summer holiday destinations are great to visit during the autumn, you still get plenty of sunshine, however you will find a lot less tourists which means you can easily get around and see things that you might not be able to if you visited during the summer holidays. Two resorts that are packed with visitors over the summer are Lanzarote and Rhodes, if you come a little later on however you will find you have a lot more space.

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Lanzarote has a more desert-like climate than the Mediterranean it’s just 70km from the Western Sahara, so it is best to visit in the autumn, with north-easterly trade winds, dropping and the sea, nicely heated by the sun ready to take a dip in. Many people prefer the milder temperatures which hover around the mid-20s and the absence of crowds blocking the attractions and amenities you also have more choice of accommodation such as lovely secluded holiday cottages and villas or small calm hotels. This is the perfect time to don your walking shoes and trek the island’s volcanic peaks like Timanfaya national park (Fire Mountain), you can miss its red and ochre lunar landscape and seismic activity.

Volcanic Landscape, Timanfaya, Lanzarote

Picture courtesy of GanMed64

Rhodes, Greece

There are many Greek islands to choose from, and all of them offer warm sunshine and few crowds during the autumn, however there is one island that is best explore at this time of year and its the lovely island of Rhodes. The medieval town is normally crammed full of tourists during the summer months which makes admiring it extremely hard let alone taking any great pictures, however during the autumn its narrow alleys, lined with Ottoman mansions, and tranquil squares are virtually empty. You will also be able to find reasonably priced holiday villas in and around Rhodes. The island’s most popular tourist attraction, Petaloudes (Butterfly Valley) is best visited in September this lovely green dell in the middle of the island is tourist-free making it very easy to spot the thousands of brightly coloured insects. Temperatures will hover around the mid to high 20s so you can still get a tan if you want to do some sun bathing on the nearby beaches such as Kalithea, which is just 8km south and it’s famous for its hot medicinal springs.

Arches in Rhodes

Picture courtesy of DavidDennisPhotos.com

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, (attracting more than 50 million visitors a year) Spain which is also a top destination for UK tourists who wish to enjoy the sun, sand and sangria, has plenty to offer no matter what holiday your after.

For those who want easy going family holidays where all you needs are catered for then you don’t need to look further than the popular resorts such as Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote which offer plenty of family orientated activities. If you want a faced paced party holiday then you need to be going to Spain’s world famous party capital, Ibiza or the lively resort of Magaluf. And for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the busier tourist resorts you can look to stay in some traditional holiday rentals in Spain further off the beaten track such as Correalejo National Park, and the resorts of La Gomera and La Palma.

There is also more to Spain than the golden beaches, if you travel a little further in land you will find a country steeped in history with a rich culture as well as cities which boast world’s finest architecture as well as breath taking scenery. Here you also get to enjoy the real Spain, with its sights, sounds and tastes that are a world away from the bright tacky lights and British orientated food found in many of the resorts.  If you stay in holiday villas further inland you will get to enjoy the real Spain, in villages the feel like they have stood still in time.