So many of our owners that have renovated properties for guests have mastered new crafts, learnt about sustainability, created wonderful gardens and been inventive in their attempts to reduce their impact on their environment. Here’s a little insight into the inspiring efforts of three families from our gorgeous Go Slow France guide…

The recent launch of Dog-friendly Breaks in Britain proved our hunch that Brits are truly dog-mad. Sales were huge and we had to reprint within a few weeks of publication.

The subject of ‘what is special’ always comes up when we meet our inspectors. Very often they talk about owners as much as about properties and regale us with tales of their fondest memories.

I cannot resist the lure of Italy and looking through our Italian self-catering properties and I am struck again but the sheer variety of places. I have a special fondness for

When we choose our Special Places we look for warmth and something extra special. We look for those things in our owners, too.

Told that children are not welcome, do you sigh with relief?  I tend to sigh with sadness, for it strikes me as an eternal truth that people who welcome little ones are more likely to welcome you. They are more easy-going, more at ease with themselves and more likely to go extra miles for you all.

Nancy Mitford’s views on children are thus: ‘I love children, especially when they cry and someone takes them away.' And someone called Leo Rosten memorably wrote: 'Anybody who hates dogs and babies can't be bad.' He would be lynched today.