Farm house Victoria, Czech Republic, Vysočina

This farm house is a place to rent for a family or even a larger group of people in the beautiful, remote countryside of Vysočina (the Highlands) in the Czech Republic. It was recommended to us by the Stupka family who now live close by in Velka Lhota. If you drive from Prague, it might take about 2 and half hours to get there but it is worth it. The farm house is located directly in the small village of Sumrakov, which is close to Telč, Dačice, Jindřichův Hradec...and not far from Austria. The farm house is a typical Czech historical chalupa but it was completely and very tastefully redone. There are two apartments in the cottage which can be rented out separately or together. The one we stayed in sleeps 4-5 people, it is one room with kitchen area, shower and WC. The other apartment is bigger and has separate bedrooms. In the winter it is heated with wood in big stoves - you heat for yourself, which is fun. The owners are a nice family with three girls who live in the cottage next door, so you have the whole property to yourself.

Italy, Buonconvento (near Siena), San Nazario, Casa Rasa

We went to this beautiful Casa Rasa farmhouse in 2002 (amazing I still remember this...). The house is on a hilltop with panoramic views. It was recommended by word of mouth to Marketa R. and our whole group consisted of 4 adults and 5 kiddies, all staying in the spacious apartment on the first floor, which has a 10m long loggia with open arches, kitchen/living room and four bedrooms, two with private bath or shower rooms and two that share a study and bath/shoer room reached down a short staircase. The fourth bedroom has direct access to the loggia. The rooms are tall and birght, with beamed ceiling and beautiful floors laid in travertine and terracotta. Nearby is the medieval town of Buonconvento and the Benedictine monastery Monte Oliveto Maggiore. We took trips to Siena, Florence and many smaller towns nearby. Beautifull Tuscany!!! At the time we were there, there was also a small pool near the house. The owners live in the apartement downstairs. We had such a great time there - for me it was one of the best vacations ever.

Austria, Neustift in Stubaital: Skiing with Kids

Ladestatthof, Neustif in Stubaital,
originally uploaded by JohanaG.

Stubaital is a valley about 13 km from Innsbruck in Tirol, Austria, with the beautiful Stubai Glacier at its end. We have been going to a place called Ladestatthof in a village called Neustift in Stubaital. You can rent rooms or appartments with own kitchen. Prices in 2008 were about 80/100 EUR per appartement for 4 people a day. What we like about it is their "wellness area" (sauna, steam bath, etc. free of charge) and their two playrooms for kiddies which are right next to the wellness area. Another nice thing: kids under 10 get ski passes for the glacier for free. Every morning you have to drive to get to the parking lot under the glacier (about 20 min).