Living La Vida Loca
Words Krystle Sarkodie
For many of us, December 2020 was spent on home soil with restricted movement to see family and friends due to the pandemic; for 2021 most people want to stretch to greener pastures and experience new cultures to make up for not being able to travel last year. Let’s explore some great rental options for the festive season home and abroad; the main things we will be looking for are places that offer an experience, views, and also value for money; so let's see what’s on offer.
UK – London & Scotland
If you’re looking for top rentals during this festive season with great views and close connections to London’s top sights then I would suggest looking on Veeve.com. This website has luxury apartments in some of London’s most prestigious spots, all fully furnished and affordable prices.
Take this apartment below, a stunning 2 bed 2 bath apartment located in Pimlico offering stunning views of London's magnificent skyline the apartment is very well furnished. The apartment sleeps 4 people and is perfect for a small intimate gathering for close family and friends to enjoy the festive season.
There are many more luxury apartments on the site and you will find something within your set budget and be able to enjoy the beautiful sights of London during Christmas.
London may be a hot spot for tourists but we, in the South, it's nice to go up North for a festive treat, Scotland is becoming a very popular location for staycations, and below is a rental that caught my eye and offers the full package of experience, value for money and location. The Inn at John O’Groats is set overlooking beautiful green pastures of the Pentland Firth, and comprises of 20 sedum-roof lodges each with 1 -4 bedrooms; there is an open plan living room with floor to ceiling glass; so you can only imagine how breathtaking the views will be. There is also a veranda so you can host a few friends and families during the New Year fireworks; the lodges start from as little as £83 per night for 2 people, which is a bargain.
Europe – Paris & Stockholm
Let’s head over to our European counterparts where I've chosen 2 amazing cities. Paris is the city of Love but also a beautiful place to be during the festive season with locations like The Eiffel Tower, also the world-famous Christmas Market which incorporates some of the best in art, food, and trees from across Europe.
One of my top choices of places to stay this Christmas would be Hotel Chateau Frontenac, it’s 250 yards away from Avenue Champs -Elysees and 900 yards from Arc de Triomphe and a 7 minute walk away from the River Seine. The hotel has an art deco vibe with a modern twist and a stunning bar as well as a beautiful breakfast room, rooms start from about £184 if you book after 20th December and all rooms are fully air conned too.
My 2nd city in Europe is Stockholm, Stockholm is made up of 14 islands and is home to the Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum which focuses on the Nobel Prize. The rental I've chosen is Residence Perseus Apartment which is 4 stars rated luxury Apartment 5 minutes away from Stockholm Palace and a 9-minute walk away from the Museum of Medieval Stockholm. The apartment sleeps up to 10 guests and has a living room and room as well as multiple bathrooms. The apartment is furnished to a very high standard and has a regal air about it when you enter into is beautiful rooms with their high ceilings; very much an Georgian vibe with a 21st century twist but absolutely stunning.
USA – Miami & The Hamptons
Now we go Stateside and why not have a warmer climate for the Christmas period, how does Miami sound!! Good right, the sun on your skin, the sand between your toes while you eat a mince pie that you brought from Sunny England. Well, there are so many locations across Miami that I thought were amazing however my top pick has to be VHC Apartments located on Miami Beach, the Deluxe Apartments can sleep up to 5 people and consists of 2 beds with 2 bathrooms plus a kitchen/living area. The apartment is fully furnished and has beautiful views of the Miami seafront, which can be seen from the terrace; the apartment is located near the Versace Mansion and South Pointe Park, there is complimentary WiFi so you can log into your Netflix account and watch a family movie on the flat-screen TV in the living room.
The last location on my festive rental list is found just outside of New York City, and is one of the most prestigious getaways for our friends Stateside; you’ve probably already guessed it, The Hamptons. Where else could be better to spend your Christmas Holidays than with some of the Rich and Famous. The Hamptons is located on the south side fork of Long Island and is about a 2-hour drive from Manhattan; it's made up of groups of towns, villages, and Hamlets. My residence of choice is The Roundtree, Amagansett who also have been selected by both Vogue and Essence Magazine to be one of the best getaway locations in the US. The Roundtree has 3 accommodation options – room hire, Suite hire, or cottage hire so you have a wide range of options for you and your family. My personal favorites are the cottages, ranging from Studio to 3 bedroom cottages you have the choice of a large gathering or something more intimate; all cottages are fully furnished complete with kitchen and living areas as well as adequate bathrooms dependent on bedroom number.
Wherever you decide to spend Christmas this year make sure you fully enjoy your location and take advantage of every attraction because you are free to travel, but remember to stay safe always.