A perfect Ibiza holiday: Chic Ibiza Villas has it all

Want to treat yourself to something truly luxurious for your next holiday? We've found a collection of wonderfully high-end villas on the beautiful island of Ibiza which could be just what you're looking for.

The White Isle may be most famous for its party culture - but it's also home to some of the most gloriously sumptuous villas you'll ever find.

And if you stay in one of Chic Ibiza Villas stunning properties, you will not be disappointed.

Take the spectacular luxury villa, Skyfall, named after James Bond's childhood home. Nestled in the beautiful Salinas region, it's brimming with plush accessories and stunning interior decor, not to mention fabulous views of the hills and sea.

The villa sleeps up to eight people in four deluxe double bedrooms, each of which comes complete with ensuite bathroom and incredible vistas of the surrounding hills.

Stylish polished concrete flooring runs throughout the house - perfect for keeping the villa cool in those moments when the heat outside gets too much.

Beautiful sculptures can be found throughout the villa and gardens and the interior of the house is decorated with lifesize photos of the Rat Pack, Marilyn Monroe and a host of other vintage A-listers, adding to the glamour of the accommodation.

The classic style overflows to the grounds as well.

When lying by the pool in the glorious sunshine starts to take its toll, you can have a snooze in one of the gorgeous cabanas in the garden or recline in one of the white wicker sunloungers in the shade.

And for al-fresco dining, Skyfall is right on the mark. The dining table on the terrace easily seats 12 - and there's even an outdoor kitchen for those that want to enjoy the weather and socialise while they cook.

There are lots of added extras you can treat yourself to while you're here.

How about a private yoga session, for example? Ibiza has become as well-known for its wellness and yoga retreats as it has for its party lifestyle, and Chic Ibiza Villas offers ample opportunity to recharge the old batteries, including tailor-made yoga sessions from yogi to the stars, Ayda.

Whether you want a one-on-one session or a class for your whole group to enjoy, Yogayda caters for everyone with her unique yoga style inspired by Tantra and Anusara yoga. Prices start at €25 per person.

Fancy hiring yourself a boat? No problem. Guests are offered the chance to charter a boat with options to add watersports and an unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks package with Boats Ibiza.

You can take a 26ft Rinker sports boat out for half a day (3.5hrs) with nine people with prices starting at €445 in low season. Price includes captain, IVA, fuel, unlimited wine, beer, soft drinks, watersports and tuition.

You can even hire your own private cinema. Want to unwind in the evening but don't fancy leaving your villa? Cinema Paradiso Ibiza will set up a cinema screen in your garden. They'll provide bean bags, blankets and even popcorn! It's also well worth checking out their public viewings nearby - watching the latest blockbuster in the grounds of Ibiza's famous Dalt Villa under the setting sun is a definite must for film fans.

Prices for private in-villa screenings start at €350 while tickets for public viewings are €16 which includes a bean bag, one drink and popcorn.

And if you want to host your own soiree, ramp up the luxury and ask the guys at The Bar Ibiza to come along. They will set up a bar in your villa and offer professional cocktail and bar services throughout the evening. Think custom-made cocktails, skilled bar tenders and free-flowing champagne.

The Bar Ibiza starts from 35€ per head for groups of 25 or over.

Foodies are also in for a real treat. It's well worth taking advantage of the option to book your own chefs. Dalilicious, a pair of private chefs, will keep you well fed during your trip: they can provide breakfast, lunches and dinners for you should you require. Look forward to intricate and delicious menus, served with a douse of humour from these two friendly and knowledgeable chefs. Learn more about your options on their website.

Chic Ibiza also has an in house concierge company ready to cater to your every need should you wish. Services cover everything from food to transport, reservations to excursions and much more. If you want to make your trip as hassle-free as possible, this is the way to do it.

The concierge charges 10% of whatever service you order. Find out more about the concierge service and what they offer on the Chic Ibiza website here.

And when you do manage to drag yourself away your villa, there are plenty of places to explore, from gorgeous beaches to culinary delights in Ibiza. The top spot for a sun-drenched, beachside lunch has to be the Amante Beach Club (pictured above), with its stunning view of the crystal clear waters of the Mediterannean and some finest food on the island. Set in the cliffs on the eastern coast of the island and boasts not only a top-class restaurant but a beach to match.

Abu Dhabi housing: what’s available where and for how much?

Studios and one-bedroom apartments

The go-to area is Reem Island. With new buildings becoming available and existing properties with natural churn, there are always options here. Another area to consider is Al Rowdhat, close to Zayed Sports City, which has mid-rise buildings and a few shops. It’s still under development, so the buildings are in a sandy lot, but the value and size of units trumps that. Off island, the new villa and apartment development at Bawabat Al Sharq offers spacious studios and one-bedroom apartments from Dh55,000 to Dh77,000 per year. It’s close to the mall and has good road connections to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Two-bedroom apartments

The mid-rise buildings around Mushrif Mall offer surprisingly spacious accommodation. Roof-top apartments here often have large balconies and views of the skyline. Annual rent is about Dh120,000. On the Corniche, Etihad Towers offers chic modern interiors and views of the city or Emirates Palace, with rent starting from Dh140,000. For city living, Abu Dhabi Commercial Properties manages multiple buildings. In Al Nahyan Camp, a two-bedroom unit rents for Dh105,000.

Three-bedroom apartments

Al Manaseer and Khalidiya both have units starting from Dh145,000 for three bedrooms and covered parking. Cheaper rental options are available in older buildings in areas such as Al Mushrif or Al Zahraa, but there’s only on-street parking. In downtown Abu Dhabi and on the Corniche, there’s a plethora of three-bedroom options, but parking is often in short supply in the local area.

Four-bedroom villas

On-island stand-alone villas in Al Musalla neighbourhood start from Dh170,000, while in Al Mushrif, terraced villas start from about Dh160,000. In Khalifa Park, villas in a compound start from Dh170,000, while properties in off-island Mohammed bin Zayed City start from Dh120,000.

Custom Controls: Review Of The Samujana Villa Estate

With its sandy beaches and stunning coral reefs, Koh Samui is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand. Located off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus, Thailand, Koh Samui is only about a 100-minute flight from Singapore, making it the perfect destination for a quick getaway.

On the north-eastern coast of Koh Samui, in a prestigious hilltop location, is one of the island’s most exclusive and discrete luxury villa estates: Samujana. A few minutes’ drive from the airport, the property is within walking distance of the stunning beaches of Choeng Mon and Chaweng.

The boutique luxury estate offers a selection of villas of different sizes, ranging from three to eight bedrooms, each boasting uninterrupted sea views. The newly launched Villa 30 — where I had the good fortune to stay — is certainly one of the best.

Situated at the very top of the estate, Villa 30 is known as the jewel in the crown of Samujana as it offers a spectacular 360-degree sea view. It features five spacious en suite bedrooms each with its own view of the sea. Other facilities include a cinema and a private gym.

Thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows and glass panels, there is sufficient natural light in every room. It is the sort of view that would inspire one to get up at the crack of dawn just to catch the beautiful sunrise, followed by a refreshing swim in the infinity-edge pool.

Food and refreshment-wise, the villa doesn’t disappoint. A full service bar is on-hand and the villa is equipped with two kitchens and a rooftop barbeque deck. Guests can choose between meals prepared by the estate’s private chefs or choose to cook the meals themselves (the villa’s team can take care of the shopping list or take you to the local market to source ingredients for yourself).

As an added bonus, the estate can also arrange for top chefs from other resorts or restaurants on the island to provide a truly unique dining experience. It even has its own catamaran available for charter and smaller speedboats to facilitate water sports or picnics on secret beaches.

And therein lies the beauty of Samujana. When it comes to personal customisation, the estate is at the top of its game. From facilitating top chefs and private dinners, to private Muay Thai classes and yoga sessions by the beach or simply a pampering spa therapy, the team at Samujana is able to work its magic.

The estate is available for hire or for purchase, making it the perfect weekend getaway for people from the region, but one thing’s for sure: getting there is easy, the challenge is in leaving that good life all behind.

SOLID INVESTMENT

Canny Irish investors have long been au fait with Pierre & Vacances. Established over 40 years ago and listed on the French Stock Exchange, P&V has something to suit everyone.

With P&V leaseback, punters are exempt from VAT, while enjoying hefty rental yields. And in addition to offering guaranteed rent, the company also maintains property free of charge throughout the leaseback period. So: win win, all the way.

Now P&V has a one-off investment opportunity in one of Europe's largest business districts, Paris La Defense. The freehold, fully furnished apartments currently up for grabs are in Business District Central, and offer endless capital growth potential.

From here you're just seven minutes from Les Champs Elysee and the Arc de Triomphe by subway, and half an hour from the Gare de Lyon.

The development comprises 92 apartment units, all with kitchenette, air-conditioning, satellite TV and WiFi access. Other attractions include a bar, restaurant and meeting room facilities. There are 95-100pc mortgages available from a Dublin-based mortgage provider. Furthermore, the scheme also features an attractive nine-year leaseback agreement.

Then there's the business of no maintenance or management fees, no insurance, and VAT financed by P&V. Nice one.

Breman: A German fairy tale

One of Bremen's most famous sons is Ludwig Roselius, a local merchant who made his fortune as the inventor of decaffeinated coffee. At the start of the 20th century he began to buy up all the houses in a dilapidated street which connected the market square and the Weser River called Böttcherstrasse. He then had it completely rebuilt, resulting in one of the most complete and remarkable examples of German expressionist architecture.
Breman: A German fairy tale

I must confess that this did not initially fill me with hope as to what I might find there. But I needn't have worried; there is certainly much more to Bremen than heavy industry, ships, cargo and freight. For over a thousand years it has embraced not only a wealth of goods but a wide range of cultural influences.

I was staying at the Maritim Hotel which is located within easy walking distance of the Old Town. It was late evening as I entered the Market Square and I was immediately struck by the soaring Gothic spires of the majestic Saint Peter's Cathedral. For much of Bremen's history the Church vied for power and dominance with the guilds and merchants. This tussle can be seen in the architecture, on either side of the square competing for supremacy are the Schütting or guild house and the stunning City Hall. For some 600 years there has also been an armed medieval knight called Roland directly facing the cathedral - a monumental stone reminder to the Church to keep its ambitions in check.

Famished and slightly overwhelmed by the sheer scale and orgy of decoration on the buildings, I headed to the Ratskeller - the city's ancient wine cellar. The hall dates back to 1405 and on the left hand side there are huge vividly decorated wine casks. If you're planning an intimate meal, you can book a private room at the edge of the restaurant. These are designed like compartments in an old-fashioned train, but, beware, you are only allowed to close the door if there are more than two people.

Legend has it that this custom was introduced in the Middle Ages to prevent conspirators using them to scheme and hatch plots. I sense the reality has rather more to do with excessive consumption of wine and public decency. Although Bremen is famed as the home of Becks beer, the Ratskeller houses some 650 different German wines, including the oldest in Germany - a wine from Rüdesheim which is dated 1653. While that was slightly outside of my budget, I enjoyed a crisp Riesling which perfectly complemented my meal - a regional speciality of white asparagus, pork schnitzel served with a tantalising hollandaise sauce. Fully sated I stumbled back to the comfort of my hotel.

Roselius is not free from controversy: at the entrance there is a gold relief called the Lichtbringer ('Bringer of Light'); it was intended to glorify the "victory of our Führer over the powers of darkness." Ironically, despite Roselius' Nazi sympathies, in 1937 the street was listed as an example of degenerate art. It was largely destroyed during the war, but I was taken aback by the manner in which it has been painstakingly reconstructed. It houses a number of small but significant museums.

I was particularly enamoured with the Ludwig Roselius Museum, which contains a valuable collection of Northern European fine and decorative art, including paintings by Ludger Tom Ring and Lucas Cranach the Elder. There are two very striking, if unsurprisingly stern, portraits of Martin Luther and his wife.

Another architectural gem is the town hall. Constructed over many centuries to fit in with prevailing fashions, it is a dizzying mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. It is difficult to fathom how a building so beautiful and delicate managed to survive the war when all around it was destroyed. It is a testimony to the tireless work of some of the locals, who dutifully extinguished countless incendiary bombs, that it is here today.

Inside, there are four six-foot-long replica warships made in the 16th and 17th centuries which hang from the richly decorated rafters. Their miniature cannons can even be fired if the occasion demands. There are huge paintings of whales and naval battles, enormous chandeliers and intricately carved wooden gargoyles. There is also the magnificent Guldenkammer or Golden Chamber, which is an exquisite examples of German art nouveau. Its wall are lined with gilt wallpaper; even its door handle is in the shape of an ornate peacock.

In need of some retail therapy, I headed to Bremen's oldest district, the charming Schnoor quarter. It is a warren of rambling lanes lined with achingly quaint and colourful 15th and 16th century houses and cottages where fishermen, artisans and sailors once lived. They are now home to boutiques, bakeries, restaurants, chocolate shops and scores of small cosy pubs, the perfect places to relax and enjoy a Becks or two.

A few hours north of Bremen is the small picturesque town of Itzehoe. This is where the Czech Expressionist painter Wenzel August Hablik lived with his wife for much of his life. A museum in his honour located in an old townhouse was opened in 1995. I had only seen a few isolated examples of Hablik's work before so it was a real delight to be able to see such an extensive collection. His painted work is characterised by intense geometric lines and vibrant colours, but he also produced a vast array of designs for furniture, textiles, tapestries, jewellery, cutlery, and wallpapers.

Bremen is the setting of one of the Grimm brothers' most enduring fairy tales, The Bremen Town Musicians. In the story, a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster who are all past their prime decide to go to Bremen, to live without owners and become musicians there. On their way, they outwit some thieves and take possession of a vacant house. They stay there and ultimately never make it to Bremen. I would advise that you do not repeat their mistake.

No ghosts here: Sydney hipster house creeps out UK media

Sydney's property market may leave some scratching their heads at the prices, but British media was confused for an entirely different reason.

A home at 187 Brougham Street, Woolloomooloo, on the market for more than A$1.25 million (NZ$1.3m), has the British media creeped out – with some claiming it's haunted.

London's The Mirror suggested the advertisement for the  "haunted house" had "some of the worst ghost pictures ever".

And the Daily Mail said the three-bedroom house had "historic charm, amazing city views ... and one hipster ghost".

Sydney real estate aficionados will, however, recognise the photography style as BresicWhitney's​ signature touch to the photographs – adding people and, sometimes, pets to their listings.

For this terrace, ripe for a significant renovation, the images emphasise stained glass, period details, a sunroom and a rear balcony.

BresicWhitney head of marketing Brendan Fearn said the creative approach they take is to depict the "true character" of the property and bring it to life through imagery.

"You'll often see a human element to our work, which we find helps to develop the visual narrative for the property,"  earn said.

"With 187 Brougham Street, our photographers had a lot of fun bringing to life the raw interior."

Inquiry for theInterest in the home has been consistent since it was listed earlier this week, said selling agent Nic Krasnostein​, with interest "streaming consistently".

And the "ghost"? In this case there's nothing supernatural at all... it's a BresicWhitney's team member.

"The bearded hipster ghost can be revealed to be none other than our chief copywriter extraordinaire, Pete Wood," Fearn said.

Wood is actually a regular feature in the agencies listing photographs.

He has been spotted in several other listings too, including 2A Foley Place, Darlinghurst and 773 Bourke Street, Redfern.