Latest News
SUNDAY TIMES 11 APRIL 2010
I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE. There's nothing better than a summertime stroll by the sea. So here's our guide to the UK's best coastal holiday cottages. By Robert Ryan...
THE INDEPENDENT 21 NOVEMBER 2009
A new year get-together in England
£3,500: Irtside, Holmsbrook, Cumbria; sleeps.
"Irtside is the perfect Big Domain for seeing in the New Year, with its log fire ablaze and a jazz duo accompanying your celebratory feast. Blow away the cobwebs on New Year's Day with a walk down the Wasdale Valley, voted the most beautiful in Britain or head to the coast for a blast of sea air", says Lucy Thorp of The Big Domain. (01326 240028).
OBSERVER - THE ESCAPE GUIDE - 15.11.09
25 PARTY HOUSES FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Upton Farm
Trebarwith, Cornwall
Alone amid rolling farmland high above the north Cornish coast, Upton Farm has panoramic sea views. There are two converted barns, housing eight and six, plus a studio annexe for three more. The nearest village, Delabole, is a mile and a half away, and Trebarwith Strand, a beautiful beach backed by rugged cliffs is a 20-minute walk from the front door.
Sleeps 17
One week from 21 December, £2,600.
www.thebigdomain.com
TELEGRAPH TRAVEL - 31.10.09
Christmas away from home with friends and family can make for a great holiday. Sophie Campbell offers tips on how to organise it, and where to go:
Prince Charles’ Townhouse, Bath, Somerset
Sleeps 12
Built as part of the fashionable Pulteney Estate in 1794 and recently renovated as an elegant holiday home with period antiques and sunny bedrooms.
New Year week £4,450
www.thebigdomain.com
Bank Ground Farm, Coniston, Cumbria
Sleeps 16+17
Self-catering, converted barn and separate farmhouse on the shores of Lake Coniston. Private waterside frontage, wonderful views and magnificent walks from the door.
Dec 28-Jan 4, £4,500 from The Big Domain.
www.thebigdomain.com
SAINSBURY'S MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2009
HOUSE PARTY
Gather friends and family together at half term, Christmas or New Year and book a property where you'll all have room to relaxx. Sharon Ring finds great rentals for the big occasion.
www.thebigdomain.com has a selection of cottages and houses to choose from both in the UK and abroad.
THE SUNDAY TIMES 19 APRIL 2009
CUT-PRICE CLASSICS
You need to get away. But you need to watch the wallet. So here are 15 great-value short breaks in the UK and Europe. First up, the £300 for two options.
Find lots of small weekend cotages at www.thelittledomain.com
CONDE NAST TRAVELLER APRIL '09
THE BEST HOUSES TO RENT IN THE UK AND IRELAND
STATELY HOME
Halswell House, Somerset (sleeps up to 42)
This is a great party house with six reception rooms, just 10 minutes from junction 24 of the M5 yet wonderfully secluded at the end of a long driveway through open parkland. The front of the house is pure William and Mary, gracious and imposing: the old stone at the back is Tudor. Of the 20 bedrooms, the pick are the Reed Bedroom with antique bed, double bath and bull-rush plasterwork, and the Alcove Bedroom, with its ornate wooden carving. Demand from wedding parties make prices steep in the summer, but between October and February they are much lower.
PLUS POINTS The clay-pigeon shooting and off-road days nearby
PRICE From £11,782: three-night stays from £9,282
BOOK Through The Big Domain. See page 121
THE GUARDIAN 21 FEBRUARY 09
BRILLIANT BRITISH BREAKS
Cabin hideaway Cornwall
Commanding a precipitous cliff top on the Lizard peninsula, this refurbished cabin in Gunwalloe is about as dreamy a romantic hideaway as you can imagine: gaze through the tamarisk down to Halzephron Cove or luxuriate in the huge bath while looking out on to palm trees. The South West coast path beckons outside, there’s an award-winning gastropub (the Halzephron Inn) a short stroll away and warm croissants can be delivered each morning.
Little Domain (01326 240028, thelittledomain.com). From £100 per night or £500 per week. Sleeps 2.
DAILY MAIL WEEKEND MAGAZINE 31 JANUARY 09
EXOTIC TENTS, GRAND HOTELS, ROMANTIC TREKS OR COSY CABINS…. FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PERFECT VALENTINE’S DAY BREAK
Helston, Cornwall
Escape to The Cabin, a private Cornish clifftop chalet. Located in Gunwalloe on the Lizard Peninsula, the two-person cabin is just minutes from a picturesque strip of beach, and a short walk from an award-winning gastropub.
Three-night self-catering weekend, starting 13 February, costs £350, or £550 for the week. www.thelittledomain.com
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 25 JANUARY 09
EIGHT WAYS TO FIND THE BEST VALUE VILLA
THINK SMALL
One-bedroom villas are hard to come by but they offer the best value for couples. Try The Little Domain (01326 240028; www.thelittledomain.com), which only lists small places.
DAILY EXPRESS 17 JANUARY 09
VILLAS WITH A TOUCH OF GALLIC CHARM
LIVE LIKE A DUKE
Chateau La Duranie (01326240028/www.thebigdomain.com) in the heart of the Dordogne was the 19th-century palatial home of a duke. Rich in history and full of antiques, including four-poster beds, chandeliers and roll-top baths, the house also has a pool and badminton court in the 12-acre garden. Lots of attractions from medieval towns to castles, lie within easy touring range and there’s a lake with a sandy beach and watersports just a five-minute drive away. With room for up to 28 guests (in 12 bedrooms), it’s also surprisingly affordable.
Seven nights villas only from £4,420 (28 sharing £158pp).
SUNDAY EXPRESS 11 JANUARY 09
WHAT’S SO WRONG ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME?
For other large houses with the option of staff/caterers try the Big Domain (01326 240028/www.thebigdomain.com.
THE DAILY TELEGAPH 6 DECEMBER 2008
50 GREAT FESTIVE GETAWAYS
THE HAMPTONS, ILFRACOMBE, DEVON
This rambling Victorian house sleeps 14 adults and two children and has recently been redecorated with great style. All seven bedrooms are en suite. Damien Hirst’s Quay Restaurant is nearby. It is available from December 29 until January 2 at a total rent of £2,295 (01326 240028, www.thebigdomain.com).
THE INDEPENDENT 29 NOVEMBER 2008
WE WANT A RURAL FESTIVE WEEKEND, ANY IDEAS?
THE BIG DOMAIN (01326 240028, thebigdomain.com) which specialises in larger rentals, has availability in a dozen of its properties before Christmas, ranging from a vicarage in Devon to a manor house in Herefordshire, with some discounts available. Some of its houses accommodate up to 30 guests, but one of the smaller lodgings available is Brockington Hall in Bodenham, Herefordshire, which sleeps 18 and can provide cots.
With a golf course, library, computer room and games room complete with pool table, juke box and table tennis, there’s little reason to leave the recently renovated house. However, the towns of Hereford and Worcester are a short drive away, with the Worcestershire countryside providing opportunities for bracing winter walks.
THE GUARDIAN 15 NOVEMBER 2008
WILD IN THE COUNTRY
If your local neighbourhood wildlife of one-legged pigeons and manky urban foxes isn’t quite cutting it, try a stay at the 1,600-acre Las Herrerias de Rio Madera estate in the sublime forested wilderness off the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park in Andalucia. A 100-year-old eight-bedroom cortijo, with six bathrooms, huge kitchen, open fires and outdoor heated pool, provides the accommodation. While on the doorstep, is an abundance of wildlife, including wild cats, deer, wild boar, eagles and mountain goats, observed from nature trails, forest tracks and a tree hide.
Two night’s self-catering for up to 16 people costs E1,344. Christmas and New Year available at E3,800 per week per week (thebigdomain.com/search.php?propertyid=835).
BELLA 28 OCTOBER 2008
TO THE MANOR BORN – THE LODGE
This Edwardian mansion in Canon Pyon, Herefordshire, is ideal for a country-house weekend with friends or family. Recently refurbished, it now boasts 12 en-suite bedrooms (it sleeps up to 30), a state-of-the-art kitchen with Aga, and plenty of space for entertaining. Organise a chef to rustle up canapés and champagne before you eat at the enormous oak table in the dining room. Outside there’s a tennis court, swimming pool and games barn in eight acres of gorgeous gardens, so there’s plenty of room for everyone to chill out. Prices start at £750 for one night midweek. Visit www.thebigdomain.com
THE TIMES 18 OCTOBER 2008
MORE HOUSE PARTIES FOR LESS
EARLS HALL
www.thebigdomain.com
You won’t need to worry about the children destroying this sprawling house dating back to the 17th century. Some of it is rather grand: a lounge with a grand piano, plus a modern, well-equipped kitchen. But the rest is a little shabby: peeling wallpaper in the large bedrooms, 1970’s furniture and three basic bathrooms. In fine weather, spill out on to the large garden with a stream at the bottom.
SUNDAY TIMES 12 OCTOBER 2008
RELAX – IT’S CHRISTMAS
ROMANTIC CHRISTMAS
THE LITTLE DOMAIN, which has cute cottages and houses aimed at couples (01326 240028, www.thelittledomain.com
MARIE CLAIRE OCTOBER 2008
CREDIT SCHMUNCH!
Avoid spending a fortune on hotels by booking a big villa with friends – see thebigdomain.com
THE GUARDIAN 9 AUGUST 2008
CHAFFEYMOOR GRANGE, Dorset, Sally Shalam
The British houseparty is an institution. How better to mark a special occasion, celebrate with the family or, once in a blue moon, gather old friends and catch up? If you don’t happen to have a grand pile of your own, numerous companies will rent you one. Just remember one crucial rule of engagement – the organiser bags the best bedroom.
To this end, I am arriving early at Chaffeymoor Grange, near Bourton, (with Tim and a bootfull of farm produce for dinner)……
Sleeps 20. Three-night weekend from £4,200 (£210pp) in September, or £3,800 in October through thebigdomain.com which specialises in properties sleeping 12 or more.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 6 JULY 2008
My partner and I are both fans of France and Italy, and would like to find secluded rental accommodation. Any tips? RW Chesham.
THE LITTLE DOMAIN (www.thelittledomain.com) has a couple including ‘La Maroquinerie’ in France.
THE INDEPENDENT 7.06.08
‘We want a big celebration in Scotland’.
Should Birkhill be a bit extravagant, then The Big Domain (01326 240028; www.thebigdomain.com) lists Ormidale House in Argyll, close to the island of Bute. The house lends itself well to big family celebrations and sleeps up to 30 guest. With an indoor pool, a 10-person sauna, football pitch and play area, even the worst of weather scenarios are catered for. A week’s stay costs £3,895, with the option of catering adding approximately £1,000 on top. Ormidale is an hour-and-a-half drive from Glasgow airport.
RED MAGAZINE JUNE 2008
9 WAYS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE HOTEL ROOM
THE BIG DOMAIN (thebigdomain.com) is great if you’re planning a big house party, and sister company THE LITTLE DOMAIN (thelittledomain.com) is ideal for romantic retreats.
SUNDAY TIMES TRAVEL MAGAZINE JUNE 2008
La Trasita, Amalfi Coast - La Trasita swipes the Academy Award for best villa in a leading location - the Amalfi Coast is one of the world's most acclaimed destinations. It occupies the top floors of a 14th-century Saracen tower, perched on a stony outcrop in the blue-grey Lattari Mountains overlooking the Battenburg pink-and-lemon homes of ever glamourous Positano.
Book through The Little Domain which specialises in European properties for only two people.
SUNDAY TIMES MAY 11 08
Everyone Back To My Place - Assynt House, Ross-shire, Scotland.
As befits a Scottish estate, woodwork is one of the great features of Assynt House. Both the drawing room and the dining room are lined with the gorgeous light-coloured wood panelling that gives the house so much of its warmth. Skiing at Aviemore is only 30 mnutes away. The famous Royal Dornoch golf course is close by, as is the Moray Firth. Grouse, pheasant and clay-pigeon shooting can all be arranged, as can salmon and sea-trout fishing.
www.thebigdomain.com
ZEST MAY 2008
Group holidays
Think big, rent a massive house and spread the cost of a weekend away with friends or family.
Where: The Barn, White Lodge Farm Cottages, Hingham, Norfolk.
The house With six bedrooms and five bathrooms a huge dining table, open plan kitchen and spacious living area, plus a second upstairs sitting room, you’re not going to be short of space here. If you’re lucky with the weather you’ll be able to eat al fresco on the terrace overlooking your well-manicured lawn and the green fields that stretch far into the distance. The owner’s stables are in front of your garden so children can have fun visiting the horses. The house is also well-equipped with all creature comforts including a double range cooker, dishwasher (vital!) and washing machine.
The area: There are lovely farmland walks and cycle routes that start at the bottom of your garden,. The nearest village is Hingham, with its Georgian buildings, antique shops, bakery and great butcher, while the cathedral city of Norwich is 17 miles away. An hour’s drive takes you to the lovely seaside town of Wells-Next-The-Sea and Holkham beach, with its three miles of wide golden sands, backed by pinewoods.
*A three-night weekend break in May (Fri-Mon) at White Lodge Farm Cottages costs £1,330 (all linen etc included). The Big Domain specialises in houses that sleep 12 or more: visit www.thebigdomain.com
JUNIOR MAY 2008
Briefing: Country celebrations
As winter fades to spring we dream of house parties, long evenings, and Sunday afternoon walks. Here are the bgest companies offering the perfect setting for a chic family gathering.
* www.thebigdomain.com Specialises in houses all over the UK for hosting large parties.
SUNDAY TIMES LITTLE DOMAIN APRIL 27 2008
The smoocher’s guide to Europe
For true romance, you don’t want a stuffy hotel. You need a sneaky hideaway for two. Stephen Bleach presents this summer’s dirty dozen.
A WINDMILL IN SANTORINI
It’s quirky, it’s cool and it’s arguably the most romantic place to stay on the most romantic island in the Aegean. The Windmill (and yes, it still has the sails to prove it) is three circular floors of whitewashed authenticity, with cracking views over to Ios, Naxos and Amorgos. It’s posh, too, with a pool, air-con, an espresso machine and a gorgeous sunny terrace. The kitchen garden has plentiful crops of figs, tomatoes, aubergines and cucumbers, so help yourself and run up a salad. Or head for the small sandy beach with a taverna, 800yd away. If you’re feeling extra-smoochy, the owners will book you a sunset supper cruise in the caldera. (Yes, it’s corny, but it does the job.) It’s a classy place, with a price tag to match: £283 per day in June, with The Little Domain (www.thelittledomain.com).
MARIE CLAIRE APRIL 2008
THINK BIG
Fancy going abroad with a bunch of friends? Here’s how to organise a holiday party:
Rent a big house:
Visit thebigdomain.com for properties in the Europe and the UK.
SUNDAY TIMES MARCH 2008
THE GOSFORD PARK EXPERIENCE
Pevnser declared it one of the country’s most historically significant mansions, and Grade I-listed Halswell House, in Goathurst, Somerset, is certainly a masterclass in excess. There are 17 bedrooms, including one that has not just its own sitting room, but its own kitchen: while the “real” kitchen doesn’t just have any old Aga, but one with six ovens. It’s all sweeping staircases, crystal chandeliers and intricate antiques. Perfect…. If you know 33 people you could bear to spend a whole week with.
Wow factor: a rooftop hot tub with views over the ornamental lake.
Details www.thebigdomain.com; sleeps 34 from £515pp for a week.
SUNDAY EXPRESS 16 MARCH 2008
HOW TO BAG A BARGAIN: ON THE NET
BEST FOR FINDING A HOLIDAY HOME:
TRY: www.thebigdomain.com features properties sleeping 12 or more, so perfect for large families or groups of friends. It also has a late availability option.
BELLA 12 FEBRUARY 2008
Snuggle up in the Peak District
Discover your own love nest in Derbyshire’s Peak District. Candle Cottage in Winster, near Matlock, is snug yet sumptuous with a wood-burning stove, a comfy sofa and a galleried bedroom.
When you arrive there’ll be a luxury hamper waiting for you and, if you don’t want to cook, three-course dinners can be ordered in advance.
There are marvellous walks in the surrounding countryside – Haddon Hall, which appeared as Mr Rochester’s home in the BBC’s Jane Eyre, is just seven miles away. And within view of the cottage is stunning Chatsworth House – seen in the 2005 film Pride & Prejudice.
Your getaway Candle Cottage costs from £315 for three nights or £445 for one week. To book call 01629 650814 or visit www.thelittledomain.com for details of this and other delightful escapes for couples.
SUNDAY TIMES FEBRUARY 2008
My villa’s got a….village
Castelnau des Fieumarcon, Gascony
Sleeps 69
Perfect for weddings – or just one hell of a knees up – this extraordinary village is available for hire (it can be split into three if you don’t’ know 68 people). There are 12 houses, sleeping between two and nine, and each room has its own feel: some have alcove beds heated with a brass warmer in winter; others are suites with sitting rooms; more have ensuite with huge showers; others still have cots and smaller beds for kids. The village is also home to a church, a converted stable that serves as a reception room, a library, plenty of pianos, a tennis court and a heated pool. And there’s a professional wedding planner on tap.
The damage: £47,460 for the entire village (minimum stay two nights), with Big Domain (01326 240028, www.thebigdomain.com). The village can be split into three for smaller groups, on a pro rata basis.
THE GUARDIAN 19 JANUARY 2008
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING JANUARY 2008
If you want a family gathering in a big house at Christmas, start looking now, as they get booked up a long time in advance – try thebigdomain.com
THE OBSERVER DECEMBER 2007
ENGLAND
The Old Rectory and Coach House, Devon
Sleeps 32
Set in 10 acres of woodland in beautiful Devon countryside near Holsworthy, this classic Georgian rectory and coach house looks like a set from a period drama – but you won’t find any of the associated stuffiness here. It sleeps 16 in the main house, 12 in the coach house and there’s another cottage for four. Inside there’s a welcoming farmhouse feel, with Agas, beams, open fires and long wooden tables – the dining room at the rectory seats 22 (or 28 can eat in the games room)/ there’s a grand piano in one of the living rooms,, a snooker room and games barn with table tennis ( a favourite with families)
WOW FACTOR: the games room was once the village hall for Pyworthy; there’s even a small stage and organ for spontaneous entertainment.
BOOK IT: from £2,000 for two or three nights to £4,000 for New Year for 32. www.thebigdomain.com
CONDE NAST TRAVELLER December 2007
Noel’s house party
Halzephron House, Cornwall, sleeps 16
AA Milne and MJ Barrie are among the guests who have stayed at this castellated, 17th-century property on a Cornish cliff just a few minutes’ walk from a glorious sandy beach. Renovated in recent years, it is now a light, airy, contemporary home, but its historic character has been retained. The layout works well for a range of age groups: there are cosy corners with daybeds for reading and napping, a walled garden with fun things for kids including a skateboard ramp and a giant trampoline, and a gorgeous conservatory where grown-ups can hang out and sip cocktails. One bedroom is built into the garden wall a short distance from the house – ideal for teenagers in need of their own space.
From £1,500 per week: £3,750 over Christmas and New Year (07899 925816: www.thebigdomain.com)
THE SUNDAY TIMES TRAVEL NOVEMBER 2007
Q. I’m planning a large family get-together and would like to rent a big country house for everyone to stay in. Where do I start looking?
A. You’re in luck. Several operators cater for large groups and specialise in luxury accommodation.
Try, The Big Domain (01326 240028, www.thebigdomain.com).
GRAZIA 22.10.07
10 hot holidays with friends
Fancy a big get-together with your closest mates, but with no planning, no taxic, just a big log fire and a comfy bed you can fall into at the end of the night? Here’s our pick of the best weekends for friends.
BEST FOR NEW YEAR SHINDIGS
SLEEPS12-200
5 If you’ve got 12 or more people to fit in,, you can idle away hours browsing through the 200-plus places available on The Big Domain. The website features outsize hou8ses, castles and even treehouses (at The Lodge) throughout Europe and further afield, and has a late availability section – handy for anyone in charge of a New Year gathering who hasn’t quite got their act together yet.
Properties start from around £700 a week in the UK. 01327 240028 www.thebigdomain.com
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH AND ONLINE 14.10.07
COUNTDOWN TO A HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Large house
The website agency THE BIG DOMAIN (www.thebigdomain.com) has a late availability page for Christmas and predicts that properties such as Beth Ruach in Pembrokeshire are still up for grabs. This stone-and-slate cottage, just outside St David’s in the Pembrokeshire National Park, sleeps up to 16, is available and has an open log fire and costs £1,995 for the Christmas week.
THE SUNDAY TIMES 19.08.07
HO, HO HELP
Yes, it’s August – but the best Christmas venues are already being snapped up. Have the last laugh by booking first, says Stephen Bleach
Down in Somerset, the perfect place for a couply Christmas, The Lodge is a twee thatched place, built in 1836, on the edge of Goathurst: it’s stylish but small inside, so you’ll be rather on top of each other, but then that’s the idea. Snuggle by the log burner, soak in the rather decadent hot tub, and prove to each other that bad boys and girls get presents, too. It’s £1,275 from the 24th, with The Little Domain (www.thelittledomain.com) Yes, ouch: but they’ve got plenty more in the same vein at less elevated prices.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AUGUST 2007
Travel tricks for great-value holidays
House or hotel?
If you’re happy to do a few domestic tasks, self-catering is a better bet for a budget holiday. Larger houses shared by friends or extended family help spread the basic costs – and the chores – even further. Visit thebigdomain.com for a selection.
THE SUNDAY TIMES 17.07.07
Summer holidays still in France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Iceland thinking bigger?
Thinking bigger? Chateau Dumas, towering over the Quercy countryside, sleeps 26: it’s a wonderfully secluded neoclassical pile, stylishly decorated, with a huge terrace, a 12-metre pool, 22 acres of grounds, the lot. A week from August 21 costs £2,500 with The Big Domain (www.thebigdomain.com. Fly to Toulouse with British Airways or Flybe.
WOMAN’S OWN 16.07.07
BEST DEALS ON THE WEB
FOR COUPLES
www.thelittledomain.com
An inspiring site with romantic places to rent for a weekend or longer. The best thing about it, though, is that all accommodation is just for two!
THE TIMES 7.07.07
Three times a lady?
Desperate Housewives minx Eva Longoria and basketball chap Tony Parker wed at the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, near Paris, today after holding their hen and stag parties in St Tropez……………
Find your own chateau hideaway through www.thebigdomain.com
COSMOPOLITAN BRIDE APRIL/MAY 2007
It’s party time!
Your reception is the best excuse to organise the event of a lifetime, and you’ll find inspiring ideas for everything from venues to food inside our great guide…
Why not hire a manor or even a castle for a super-cool house party? THE BIG DOMAIN’S list of large properties (sleeping from 12 right up to 200 people) is that good, we couldn’t even single one out for this list. Visit www.thebigdomaincom for more info.
SATURDAY GUARDIAN 28.04.07
THE BIG TRIP - Let's Get Rustic
L'Ancienne Poste (the old post office) in the Provencal village of Menerbes (of Peter Mayle fame) has been given contemporary zip and urban style by Londoner Philippe Brown. Wow architectural factors include towering living spaces, a troglodyte bathroom and many modern accessories. L'Ancienne Poste provides ample space for a group of 12 with a generous courtyard for meals en masse and a large kitchen that you can be inspired in or leave to the optional chefs. One weeks rental costs from £2,901 or £242pp through The Big Domain.
WEDDING APRIL/MAY 2007
Girls just wanna have fun
Your hen night doesn’t have to coast a fortune, but it should be fun, stylish and sociable – especially if you’re combining different groups of friends who might not all know each other. We’ve brought you our pick of some of the wold’s best hen party ideas for you and your closest friends to indulge in, without a single L-plate in sight!
Value for money
£50+ EACH
Play at being ladies of the manor and hire a stately home for the weekend – it’s not as pricey as you’d think. We love Llanfendigaid, a Grade ll-listed mansion in Snowdonia with private access to a beach and an indoor swimming pool. The house sleeps up to 21 people and has an old-fashioned Aga, so you can save money by staying in and taking it in turns to cook. With breathtaking views of rolling hills and vertiginous white cliffs, this is north Wales at its most beautiful.
Llanfendigaid costs from £900 per weekend, and from £1,600 per week, bookable through The Big Domain (01326 240028, www.thebigdomain.com).
A LETTER FROM CHATEAU LARTIGOLLE
Having just received yet another enquiry from your wonderful website I had to write and say how fantastic the site is for someone like us. Very reasonably priced, excellent design and navigation and it manages to get extremely high in the search engines. Over the last year we have had a steady stream of genuine enquires perfectly suited to our business. Thank you. (You can quote me on this if you like)
Thanks again
Nick
C H A T E A U D E L A R T I G O L L E
One of 100 best places to stay in the World - Harpers & Queen
The most fabulous château in the World - The Week magazine
T | 00 33 (0)5 62 63 26 27 | WWW.LARTIGOLLE.COM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Read our fantastic review in the Observer newspaper:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/travel/story/0,,1810537,00.html
50 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL WEBSITES - THE OBSERVER 18.02.07
32 BIGDOMAIN.COM
Every New Year’s Eve, wherever you end up, you can guarantee your friends will at some point whinge that it would have been a better idea to hire a giant cottage in the country for a piss up. This site lists ideal properties all over the UK and Europe. All sleep at least 12 people and there’s a late deals section.
TELEGRAPH TRAVEL 24.02.07
Booking direct
If you prefer to avoid agencies and book with the owners directly, good websites to look at are:
….. The Big Domain (www.thebigdomain.com) is a site that specialises in large properties sleeping 12 or more; its sister site (www.thelittledomain.com) lists places that sleep two.
THE GUARDIAN 17.02.07 - 100 BEST WEEKEND ESCAPES
Now for something different
Looking for a weekend away that’s a little bit special? Then why not eschew the big online websites offering accommodation that’s a little more bespoke? Check out thelittledomain.com, a “directory of little houses to rent” that sleep just two. The site covers the UK and abroad and ranges from log-cabin hideaways to swanky city apartments.
It also pays to keep an eye on the late-availability pages, as you can sometimes save as much as 50%. The site deals only with one-bedroom properties but its big brother site, thebigdomain.com, caters for groups of 12 and over.
THE OBSERVER 3.12.06
WAYS TO ESCAPE CHRISTMAS
Hold a house part at Myres Caste. A fully staffed 16th century castle set in a 44-acre estate near Edinburgh. Hired on an exclusive use basis for up to 18 guests, you’ll enjoy a champagne reception on Christmas Eve and a visit from a Scottish piper on Christmas morning. On Boxing Day watch the falconry display, or just curl up in front of a roaring log fire with a glass of mulled wine.
BOOK IT: The Big Domain www.thebigdomain.com offers three nights at Myres Castle for £395 per person per night, with a minimum of 12 guests, from Christmas Eve. Includes all meals and use of the castle and grounds.
THE GUARDIAN 2.12.06
And finally, you’d like: New Year with other families in a big shared cottage. You’ll only get it if… you book now for New Year’s Eve 2008!
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: affordable family travel sometimes means planning your holidays a very long way in advance. Ideally, you need to book 18 months to two years ahead for a big house with a group of families. The Big Domain (thebigdomain.com) is good for larger properties and bookings are taken up to two years ahead.
SUNDAY TIMES TRAVEL
RE: 60TH BIRTHDAY PARTY – CELEBRATE IN STYLE
For other suggestions try specialists The Big Domain (01326 www.thebigdomain.com )
INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY 26.11.06
WE’RE TO THE MANOR BORN
Young or old you just can’t help taking on airs and graces when you spend the weekend at a fine Regency house, says Cole Moreton.
Rectory Park does strange things to the mind. Seeing the rusty-pink Regency house appear through the trees as you approach on the gravel drive causes pride to swell up, insanely. This is a big place, and it is ours. For a week anyway. We are deep in Gloucestershire, hidden away, with nobody hushing the children as they run unrestrained through the three acres. If they disappear for a while there will be nobody lurking, waiting to grab them. Just thinking about that slows the pulse and deepens the breathing.
Rectory Park is available to rent through The Big Domain (01326 240028 www.thebigdomain.com )
THE GUARDIAN 18.11.06
Bigger the better
Who wants a sexy weekend for two when you can have a week away for 22? The Big Domain features almost 200 large houses for short rent for a minimum of 12 people, and still has houses available over the Christmas and New Year period. Because all bookings are bulk, the prices work out pretty nicely.
El Pueblecillo is a classic Andalucian finca, surrounded by 30 acres of its own land and wonderful views over citrus and olive groves. Despite the remote setting, the house is only 10 minutes from the traditional, whitewashed Moorish village of Casarabonela and 40 minutes from Malaga. El Pueblecillo is available December 20-27 for 12 people self catering,working out at £18pp pn.
Chateau Raysse is a Dordogne castle built predominantly in the 17th century, tastefully renovated inside and crying out for some seasonal festivity. It's available for a group of 14 for Christmas (December 23-30), and New Year (December 30-January 6) for £33pp pn.
thebigdomain.com, 01326 240028
THE TIMES 18.11.06
HOME & AWAY CHRISTMAS HOUSE PARTIES
CHATEAU DE LARTIGOLLE, GERS, FRANCE
Celebrate Christmas morning with fresh croissants and then relax and admire the Pyrenees while the two in-house chefs prepare your celebratory meal from local produce.
Bonus: Families won't have to travel with tons of kit as there are cots, high chairs and toys.
Drawback: You'll have to leave Fido home alone over Christmas as pets are not allowed.
Book it: 0033562632627, www.thebigdomain.com Prices from £3,170pp based on 20 sharing for a three-night stay (catering extra).
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, December 2006 (3 page article).
10 GREAT HOUSES FOR A BIG CELEBRATION.
Christmas, birthdays or weddings.... A group getaway calls for a house on a grand scale - but the right location isn't always easy to find.
David Wickers recommends the best.
6 Big Domain houses are featured:
"Augill Castle - Grandeur in Cumbria".
"Halzephron House - Cornish sophistication".
"YHA Helmsley - A budget solution in Yorkshire".
"Llys Tanwg - Best of both worlds in Wales".
"Eilean Shona - A Scottish island to yourselves".
"Ballinacurra - A crowd-pleaser in Ireland".
At the Big Domain we specialise in gaining press coverage to maximise publicity for the site and individual houses. This is what some members of the travel press say about us:
Paul Gogarty (Daily Telegraph):
"As a travel writer, one of the hardest features to research has been articles about where to go with a group of friends or the extended family. With the launch of The Big Domain we finally have a one-stop site for worldwide large properties. An excellent idea."
Rob Ryan (Sunday Times, GQ):
"The Big Domain is the first one-stop shop for large holiday properties I've come across. With a burgeoning demand for big group holidays and weekends away, the timing is perfect".
Jonathan Futrell (Daily Express):
"As the fashion for holidaying en masse continues, The Big Domain makes finding the right villa for two or more families or groups of friends easier by only focussing on the really big stuff. That's less time searching through endless brochures looking for somewhere spacious enough, and more time in the sun with all your chums. I wish life was always so simple!"
The Big Domain has appeared in the following publications, often frequently (ie The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times, The Observer and Hello! magazine)
BELLA
CONDE NAST TRAVELLER
COSMOPOLITAN
FOOD AND TRAVEL
FAMILY TRAVEL
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
HARPERS AND QUEEN
HELLO
HOUSE AND GARDEN
JUNIOR
LIVING ABROAD MAGAZINE
MARIE CLAIRE
NOW
OLIVE
RED
THIS IS TRAVEL
THE SUNDAY TIMES TRAVEL MAGAZINE
WEDDING DAY
WEDDING MAGAZINE
WOMAN AND HOME
THE SUNDAY TIMES (Travel Section)
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
THE INDEPENDENT
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
THE OBSERVER
THE GUARDIAN
THE DAILY EXPRESS
THE DAILY MAIL
THE SUNDAY MIRROR
THE SUN
THE DAILY STAR
THE LONDON EVENING STANDARD
THE LIVERPOOL DAILY POST
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
THE WREXHAM EVENING LEADER
THE FLINTSHIRE EVENING LEADER
THE CHESTER EVENING LEADER
THE LANCASHIRE EVENING POST
THE MIDDLESBOROUGH EVENING GAZETTE
THE NEWCASTLE JOURNAL
