Let's Talk About Summer, Baby...

Spring is springing, the sun is shining (sort of) and the weather is warming up! Yes, now that the weird winter weather seems to have been banished (warm, cold, snowy, muggy - make up your mind!), we are getting seriously excited about the prospect of long, light evenings, ice cream as a viable main course option and summer holiday planning. After all, what better way to while away an afternoon or five than by contemplating the where, when and who with of your summer jaunt across the Channel?

If this has you reaching for your passport quicker than you can say 'make mine a croissant', then look no further as we have put together a few of our favourite resorts to give you some destination inspiration....

Tucked away from the dramatic coastal winds at the mouth of Brittany's Odet river, Bendot is a real Breton charm. Perfect for anyone in need of a nostalgic week or two by the seaside, the resorts sandy beaches and picture-perfect marina are crying out for a long afternoon exploring their hidden charms and unspoilt scenery. And, if all that nautical charm wasn't enough for you (or if the Brittany weather turns out to be a 'reliable' as Britain's...), make your way to one of the resort's crêperies for some pancake-based goodness. For extra Breton brownie points, make your's a Calvados-doused crêpe suzette. Bon Appetit indeed!

The newly built Les Jardins d'Arvor, in the very centre of Benodet, are the ideal base for anyone with their heart set on exploring this idyllic corner of France this summer. Plus, we still have a mighty tempting 5% early booking discount on selected dates until March 16th...

http://www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk/holidays-rental-sea-mountain,accommodation-bretagne-loire-atlantique,benodet-BENODE-L-JARD-residence.html#residence

If being buffeted by Brittany's coastal breeze is perhaps not quite your idea of holiday heaven, make like the Arctic Tern and head south! Serious sun seekers should find that the lively town of Sainte-Maxime on the Cote d'Azur has everything their heart desires and more, thanks to crystal clear waters, glorious Riveria sunshine and damn fine people watching courtesy of the many millionaire's yachts jostling for space in the harbour and the jaw-dropping villas in the town itself. Live the film star life for an afternoon or two by indulging by taking a trip to nearby Saint Tropez or Cannes. Well, if you can't feel like a million bucks whilst you're holiday, when can you, eh?

Whether your budget stretches to Champagne or just plain ol' sparkling wine, Lagrange has summer accommodation in Sainte-Maxime sorted. From smart self-catered apartments with a shared pool (Port Marine) located just 150m from the beach, to villas with private pools complete with totally tantalising early booking discounts on offer until 16/04 (Le Carre Beauchene), we have something to put a smile on everyone's face...

http://www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk/holidays-rental-sea-mountain,accommodation-cote-d-azur,sainte-maxime-MAXIME-L-MARI-residence.html#station

Sometimes, Lagrange just needs to get away from it all for a moment's relaxation and the chance to gather our thoughts. To do this, we head to Provence (naturally, none of this lounging on the sofa in track pants business here...) , take a deep breath and revel in the intoxicating aroma of lavender, olives and fresh Provençal air. Fab-u-lous. For a summer getaway that just oozes pure escapism and indulgence, Saint-Trinit ticks all the right boxes - warm weather, stunning scenery and a whole host of regional specialities just waiting to be sampled.

The picture-perfect Le Claux du Puits in Saint-Trinit is the ideal base for a week or two of Provençal living - a handful of self-catered apartments and holiday homes clustered together offering impressive views over Mont Ventoux. Plus, we still have early booking discounts in place until mid-April so there are still plenty bargains to be had!

http://www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk/holidays-rental-sea-mountain,accommodation-provence-arriere-pays,saint-trinit-TRINIT-L-CLAU-residence.html#residence

Don't forget, there is always a friendly member of the Lagrange reservations team at the other end of the phone if you need some more advice or holiday hints! Call 020 7371 6111 if you fancy a chat...

One, Two, Three...Ski!

As you may or may not know (and if not, why not? Hmm? Hmm?!), our 2011/2012 ski bookings are now open. Obviously, the very keen and the very organised amongst you have already managed to get your grubby mitts on your mountain getaway but we suspect that most skiers out there are still mulling over the where, the when and the 'how much?!' for next year's foray on the slopes, especially if you are tied to holidays outside term time dates. If this is all ringing a bell, then deliberate no longer because help is at hand and that hand is being outstretched by Lagrange. Intrigued? Of course you are....

Perfectly timed to catch the best of the season's snow fall (fingers crossed) and almost two months after the Christmas holidays, the February half term week is the ideal time to grab your nearest and dearest, bundle up the layers and hit the slopes. However, it seems that everyone else in Europe has got wise to this, meaning that the period can be over-priced and over-crowded. Not so this season. The UK half term week for 2012 (11th February) is a whole week before the busiest holiday week in France and across Europe, which means that accommodation prices are scandalously low. And we mean scandalously. If they were a Victorian table leg, they would need to be covered up, tout suite...But we digress.

Thanks to this miracle in modern school holiday planning, Lagrange can proudly boast that our half term accommodation prices are between a 'hey that's pretty good' £100 and a 'wow, seriously? no way!' £400 LESS than the equivalent week in 2011 (19th February). And we have a great range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets so you can really make the most of these savings so there really is no excuse not to book that all-important breath of fresh air. For those you who need a little bit of inspiration, why not have a gander at some of our personal favorites....?

If you like to avoid the crowds and want to sample an authentic slice of mountain life, why not make your way to the pretty Savoyard village of Samoens for your half term trip? Nestled in the Grand Massif and just a hop, skip and a jump from Geneva airport, Samoens is perfect for families and beginners. A two bedroom apartment for six people in Les Fermes de Samoens is £1125 for the 2012 half term, a whopping £295 cheaper than in 2011!

Maybe you'd prefer the luxury of accommodation with ski-in/ski-out access and a nice, big snowy playground, head to Plagne 1800 in the heart of the La Plagne ski domaine. This year, the half term week in a 2 bedroom apartment in Les Chalets Edelweiss will set you back £1880, not too bad when you compare it to last year's price of £2295...Plus, our very own marketing gal Rebecca visited Plagne 1800 last year and she declared it to be pretty darn fab.

Or, if you still need to be budget-conscious this year, why not head to Brides-les-Bains in the Meribal Valley? One bedroom alcove apartments in the Residence Cybele are just £776 for the 2012 half term week, an impressive £288 less than our 2011 price and perfect for anyone with champagne tastes but a lemonade budget this winter! Plus, Brides-les-Bains is perfectly placed for those of you hoping to ski the Three Valleys (or some of the Three Valleys, a week isn't infinite after all) but avoid the crowds and high prices of bigger name resorts.

Finally, for something a little bit different this winter, Lagrange will be offering a brand new residence in lovely Les Gets, 'Les Fermes Emiguy'. This will be the 42nd addition to our Lagrange Prestige rosta and a two bedroom apartment for six people will set you and your friends and/or family back a mere £1390 for the February half term week. We're really excited about having this brand spanking new residence as part of our ski 2012 programme, so make sure you shake a leg and think fast if the idea of half term (or Christmas or New Year or Easter or mid-March...) in Les Gets appeals to you, because we have feeling that this one could prove to be mighty popular!

Now you have some all important vacation inspiration and we have hopefully whetted your appetite for the forthcoming ski season, so make sure you keep an ear to the ground and your eyes peeled for news on super early booking discounts for select residences and resorts...! And, as always, we're just a click (www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk) or a call (020 7371 6111) away!

Lovely Loire Valley Deal of the Week (thanks, The Independent!)

Toot! That was indeed the sound of Lagrange blowing their own trumpet, as, like so many others before them, the good folks at The Independent clearly know a great deal when they see one, as our lovely Loire Valley residence 'Les Jardins de Renaissance' in Azay-le-Rideau is their 'Deal of the Week'! So, what is the fabulous deal, we hear you cry....Well, just cast your peepers down the page and see..!

A week in a two bedroom self-catered holiday home sleeping between 4 and 6 people in the Lagrange Prestige residence Les Jardins de Renaissance in Azay-le-Rideau costs from just £382 in total for accommodation only. This price applies to a week's stay up to the week commencing 18/06, so you had better get your skates on if you want to beat the summer holiday crowds and spend a week or two relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of France's Loire Valley!

For those of you who need slightly more persausion than the seal of approval from a broadsheet newspaper, Azay-le-Rideau is a great base to explore the Loire Valley's impressive landscape and famous Chateaux from. Azay itself boasts an awe-inspiring, excellently preserved 16th-century chateau set in the heart of a romantic park, ideal for handheld strolls at dusk. Aaaah. The Chateau is also on the UNESCO World Heritge list, and once you have craned your neck to gaze up at the turrets and towers, you will definitely see why!

For those of you who may be feeling more energetic this summer, why not get on your bike and exlpore the Loire on two wheels? The area has miles and miles of cycle routes to chose from, and what better way to build up an appetite than a day's cycling? Plus, all those fair weather cyclists out there will be no doubt delighted to hear that the Loire Valley is lovely and flat. For the most part, anyway (hey, no judgement here, it is still a holiday after all...).

So - great price, great accommodation, great big Chateaux, great power thighs from a week spent atop your bike....what are you waiting for?! Check out www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk or call our lovely London-based reservations team on 020 7371 6111 for more details, information and to make your booking!

Eggs-cellent Easter Deals...

If you're still smarting because Kate 'n' Wills left you off the invite list, sulking because the Easter bunny won't be bringing you that lifetime supply of Creme Eggs you were hoping for, or if just feel like you deserve more than a weekend of spring sunshine, then we have some cracking last minute Easter offers to put a smile back on your face... For bookings made by the end of the day on April 14th, we are offering self-catering apartments and holiday homes in Mimizan-Plagne, Toreilles-Plage and Cajarc for a mere £192 for the week commencing April 16th! This super generous price is based on 6 people sharing on an accommodation only basis, and applies to 1 bedroom alcove apartments in 'Les Jardins de l' Oyat' in Mimizan-Plage, and 2 bedroom holiday homes in 'Le Village Marin Catalan' in Torreilles-Plage and the 'Domaine des Cazelles' in Cajarc. So, if you know 5 friends who are hoping to hot foot it across the Channel for a week this Easter then now is the time to give them (and us) a call! And, if you need a little more persausion, here are the details...

• Mimizan-Plage, 'Les Jardins de l' Oyat':

If you want to feel sand between your toes or fancy "hanging ten" like a pro then head to Mimizan-Plage, where the long sandy beaches and perfect waves will have even the most hardened landlovers pulling on their wetsuits and dipping a toe or ten into the perfect blues seas. The 'Les Jardins de l' Oyat' self-catering apartments are just 50m from the beach and we are offering 1 bedroom alcove apartments sleeping up to 6 people for £192 per apartment per week for the week commencing April 16th.

• Torreilles-Plage, 'Le Village Marin Catalan':

Those of you who prefer a gentler pace during your holiday should head to Torreilles-Plage in the Languedoc Roussillon region. This traditional Catalan village is the ideal base for exploring the area around Perpignan and the Spanish border, with the route des vins providing some light refreshment along the way! Add a fabulous stretch of Medittareanan coastline, and you've got the perfect holiday for everyone. The 'Le Village Marin Catalan' self-catering holiday homes and apartments are a mere 900m from the beach, and 2 bedroom holiday homes sleeping 6/7 people are just £192 per holiday home per week for the week commencing April 16th!

• Cajarc, 'Domaine des Cazelles':

If sand in your saussicon isn't quite your thing, then why not head to Cajarc in the Dordogne and soak up the culture in this picturesque mediaeval village? Resting on the banks of the river Lot and just under 30 miles from the vineyards in Cahors, Cajarc is the perfect place for some real R and R this Easter. We have 2 bedroom split-level holiday homes sleeping 6 people for just £192 per holiday home per week in the 'Domaine des Cazelles' for the week commencing April 16th!

So, if sandy beachs, surfing and stunning scenary sound like your tasse du thé, then check out our last minute deals for a speedy Easter getaway by heading to www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk for more details...These prices are all based on accommodation only, but for anyone who fancies really exploring France this Easter, we can also offer self-drive packages to include Eurotunnel or Sea France ferry crossings. So, what are you waiting for?!

Summer in Saint-Gervais...

Anyone still pondering the where and when for their summer holiday should look no further than Lagrange Holidays, as we are offering 5% off self-catering apartments in Saint-Gervais until the end of April. So, if you are need of a breath of fresh, mountain air, why not explore this beautiful Haute-Savoie resort instead of spending yet another holiday jostling for space on the sun loungers? Need more persausion? OK then....

We have two residences in Saint-Gervais, the Prestige standard Les Fermes de Saint-Gervais and the Confort + residence Les Arolles, so there really is something to suit all budgets and tastes as the super generous 5% discount applies to BOTH, yes both, properties! I know, I know, we are just too good to you...

Saint-Gervais is the ideal location for anyone hoping to explore the picturesque towns and villages of the Mont Blanc region, as the town is nestled halfway between Chamonix and Megève making it the perfect base for a week discovering hidden gems, as well as these tourist hot spots. Plus, the area offers moutain walks and the impressive views of the Mont Blanc a sure to inspire even the most fair-weather walkers to pull on their hiking boots and take to the hills! And, for those of you who prefer rest and relaxation to rambling and roaming, this 19th century spa town is famous for it's thermal spas so you can make time to a little 'me time'... So, if you fancy an Alpine retreat this summer, why not check out our website for more details plus prices and availability?

Sun, Ski and Savings in Serre Chevalier....

Anyone hoping to snap up a last minute bargain and really make the most of the final six weeks of the ski season should point their eyes and ears in Lagrange's direction, as we are offering a super generous 20% off all two bedroom apartments sleeping 6 people in our Lagrange Prestige residence 'Le Hameau du Rocher Blanc' in Serre Chevalier. This purse-friendly discount is on top off our existing 10% price cut, so that means you can afford to splash out on a vin chaud or two after a hard day on the slopes...

This season, Serre Chevalier has had one of the best snowfalls seen in the French Alps, something that looks set to continue until the end of April. With beautiful tree skiing opportunities on sun-drenched slopes, as well as hot spring spas (for those who prefer a massge to a snowplough) in the village of Les Bains, Serre Chevalier boasts skiing to rival the big name resorts without the crowds of tourists jostling for elbow room on the ski lifts.

The extra discount (think of it as a little end-of-season gift from Lagrange to you) is in place for bookings until April 16th, so you had better hurry if these prices sound too tempting to miss...
19/03 - 26/03: £692
26/03 - 09/04: £577
09/04 - 16/04: £764*

So, if you want to hit the slopes one last time before the season comes to an end, check out www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk for more details. Or, for those of you who prefer the more human touch, call our office on 020 7371 6111 and speak to our fabulous Sales and Reservations team!

*Prices based on accommodation-only rates and include existing 10% price cut.

Let The Train Take The Strain This Winter...

This winter, why not forgo the airport chaos, busy roads and general lack of decorum that accompanies travel by air and sea and let the train take the strain off your journey to the Alps. Here at Lagrange, we not only like to travel in style but we also like to try and keep our messy carbon footprint to a minimum, so what better way to combine the two than winding your way through France to the mountains? A chance to appreciate the French countryside after breezing through a 30 minute check-in on the Eurostar versus being elbow to elbow with strangers in what can only be described as an airborne bus? Erm, we think we'll take the former please.

And, if the idea of travelling in style wasn't enough to tempt you to swap your boarding pass for your railcard then you may be very interested to hear that Lagrange are now offering fixed rate train tickets between London and Bourg-St-Maurice, Mountiers and Chamonix throughout the season. With civilised departure and arrival times, as well the chance to stretch your legs between the Eurostar and the TGV in Paris, travelling to the Alps by train may take a little longer than flying but is far more relaxing.

Ticket prices start from just £120 for a child return and £150 for an adult return between London and Bourg-St-Maurice, which is frankly scandalous. However, if you feel like you need a teeny bit more convincing, don't just take our word for it. Instead, why not check out this article by Neil English, as he recounts his recent journey to the Alps by train. Oh, and he also stayed in some of our fabulous apartments in Plagne 1800. But, like we said, don't just take our word for it...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1335906/Skiing-holidays-train-The-Snow-Express-rails.html

For more information on train packages and accommodation, why not call 020 7371 6111 and see if we can't sweet talk you out of the Ryan Air check-in queue and into the Eurostar buffet car?