FARM STAY PLANET

In the town of Manoppello, Abruzzo, Italy, about a half an hour outside Pescara, this very popular B&B farm stay & vineyard is on a working farm that produces its own wine, olive oil, jam and cheese, all of which guests are of course free to sample, to buy to take home, and receive a few tips on their production. They have a range of rooms and suites, and one self catering apartment with kitchenette, all of which are clean and comfortable and come with private bathroom, flat screen TV and WiFi as standard. And as well as a very good free Italian breakfast in the morning for an extra fee you can arrange evening meals too, all of which are quality and are made with the finest local ingredients. There is a shared lounge and a nice garden at the property too, and a range of services are provided by the farm owners; from packed lunches to child minding and free bike hire. Abruzzo has much to offer the visitor, with Pescara and the Adriatic coast just a half an hour from the Agriturismo, plus there are two beautifully wild national parks even closer; Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga and Parco Nazionale della Majella. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Wonderful experience. A beautiful place to stay in a beautiful setting. Perfect for a relaxing getting away. Wonderful breakfast selection and friendly staff….” “Very nice place, friendly hosts, great location the countryside, with great views towards the Abruzzo mountains….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT IL CASOLARE DI NONNO MARIO:   READ MORE

Château de Labro is a luxury B&B vineyard hotel & spa near the town, and international airport, of Rodez in what is now known as the Occitanie region of France, formerly Midi-Pyrénées. The property is a 16th century château that oozes elegance and old world class both inside and out. The food, and the wine, is fantastic and outside there are some beautiful gardens, vineyards and a swimming pool. One little novelty of the place is that they also have a luxury treehouse among the orchard trees in which you can spend the night (Look out for it on the booking page!). THE ACCOMMODATION: The above mentioned treehouse is the most popular option which is usually booked out well in advance. It’s quite a thing, more like a luxury double studio apartment than a classic treehouse, it even has a chandelier for example. A lot of people though may prefer to stay in the actual château which has marvelously romantic rooms, with four poster beds and antique furniture. Most of the rooms are doubles but they also have a family room to sleep up to four and a self catering apartment which can also sleep up to four. All of the accommodation is of the very highest quality, it is a luxury hotel after all, but what separates Château de Labro from most is the beautifully old fashioned decor. It feels a little like stepping back in time, in a good way, especially in the bedrooms, where even the modern touches are consistently tasteful. The food at the chateau is a highlight, always in season and local as much as possible, and they have a suitably good wine list. It is a vineyard hotel after all and so produces its own Clos Labro, a white made from the 6 varieties of grape grown on site; Muscat Petit Grain, Petit Manseng, Colombard, Chardonnay and Viognier. It is not a commercial wine by any means, which makes it quite special; the vineyards are small, producing only 1500 bottles a year, and so the only place you can enjoy Clos Labro is actually at Château de Labro!  You can relax around the gardens and READ MORE

Domaine de Murtoli is a truly magnificent luxury agriturismo/farm stay retreat near to both Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio, in southern Corsica, France. They offer accommodation in beautifully restored 17th-century stone cottages with quaint timbered ceilings, antique furniture and stunning views all around. Outside there are private swimming pools, beautiful gardens with sea views, and an almost 5000 acre estate which includes a working farm, a spa, golf course and private beach area. It is an exclusive, and very popular, place which has won numerous awards over the years. Unsurprisingly it books out very quickly so you’re advised to reserve well ahead of time. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are 19 cottages/villas of various sizes to choose from, from one bedroom to three, to sleep up to 8 people. All of them are beautifully presented and carefully furnished with antiques and various bits and pieces that enhance the rustic charm of the sturdy stone walls and wood timbered ceilings. All are self catering and have fully equipped kitchens with traditional stone sinks. Each cottage is nestled away in its own little section of the estate and offers great privacy. They each have a furnished terrace area outside and their own private swimming pool. There are two restaurants on the estate, one by the beach which is open in summer and inland on the estate which opens in winter. Breakfast is not included in the rate but for an extra fee you can treat yourself to a great breakfast at the restaurant if you’re not in the mood for cooking. It is open throughout the day and the food, and the wine, will not disappoint. There is a spa at the resort too, with steam room, massage, treatment and hydrotherapy rooms, and a 12 hole golf course in a magnificent setting. Fishing (both river and sea fishing) can be arranged, as can horse riding treks with special pony rides available for children too. THE FARM: The farm takes up a good proportion of the estate and it is a fully working farm which produces a lot of the ingredients for the fine food at the restaurant. You’ll find olive trees, herbs, various fruits and vegetables, READ MORE

Agriturismo L’Isola Che Non C’era  is a working farm just a 15-minute drive from the town of Apiro in Le Marche, Italy, and a ten minute drive to the lovely Lake Cingoli. It has a large garden, cute, traditional Italian farmhouse rooms and gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. Rooms at the L’Isola Che Non C’era Agriturismo all come with a desk, tiled floors and private bathroom and you’ll be treated to a great Italian style breakfast in the morning. The farm stay is roughly equidistance between Ancona and Perugia in neighbouring Umbria: A little less than an hour from Ancona and a little bit more than an hour from Perugia. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “I want to sell up and move here! This was an absolute find during our trip. It is a beautifully reconstructed old farm house with wonderful hosts, an adorable dog, chickens and a goat. It is perched on the top of a hill with beautiful views all around, fireflies at night and a stunning star scape where you can see the Milky Way….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO L’ISOLA CHE NON C’ERA:   READ MORE

In Calabria, Italy with beautiful views of the Ionian Sea, Masseria Cielogreco is a historic farmhouse set in 80 hectares of private land that produces its own olive oil, fruit and vegetables. And it is just 800 metres from the nearest beach. Masseria Cielogreco is composed of the manor house, where the owners live, and other rustic buildings including the old stables. The self catering apartments are all air conditioned and have a kitchenette and patio for outdoor dining. And there is always plenty of delicious homemade food to be sampled in the farm’s kitchen. Surrounded by olive groves and pine trees, the setting is blissfully peaceful but is just 1 km from Amendolara Marina which is a lovely little place to stroll around and where you will find some nice shops, cafes and restaurants. The ground floor of the manor house is also available for conferences, concerts and other meetings and you can also arrange bike hire (free of charge) and horse riding in the surrounding area. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Perfect in every way. I highly recommend a stay with this wonderful couple. They make you feel so special when it is really them that is special. They make you feel so welcome and at home….” “This b&b is like a castle in the sky. The accommodation is rustic looking but very comfortable and well equipped. There are gorgeous views in every direction. The owners are delightful and generous of their time and attention to your wishes….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO CIELOGRECO:   READ MORE

This organic farm stay is just outside the little village of Vorderstoder in the Upper Austrian Alps, and near to the well known Kalkalpen National Park. They have bright, clean and modern self catering apartments at the farmhouse and there’s a lot to see and do, on the farm and in the surrounding area. THE ACCOMMODATION: The have a choice of very nice apartments at Familienbauernhof Grossgrub, to sleep up to two adults and three children. They are all quite newly decorated, but very much in keeping with that classic Alpine rustic style, i.e. with traditional looking wooden panels and furniture everywhere. They all also have a balcony or at least some place from where to enjoy the lovely views. The accommodation is self catering and you’ll have a good, fully equipped kitchen at your disposal, but you can also order a very fine breakfast to start the day with if you need. There are also barbecue facilities outside and the owners organize sociable barbecue evenings over the summer months. The spa area has a nice stone sauna, an infrared cabin and a steam bath. There is also a children’s playroom and a playground in the garden, so they will be well entertained, and adults too can enjoy things like volleyball, table tennis, football and even go karting in summer. While in winter; cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and tobogganing. You can also wander the farm and meet the cattle, goats and hens which call it home. Hiking and mountain bike trails are all around this area too and just steps away from the farm. If you walk in the right direction you’ll also find a nice swimming lake just half a kilometre away, the friendly farm owners can point you in the right direction for that and other sights in the area. THE LOCATION: The cross-country ski run and the toboggan run are also right outside the farm, and they have toboggans which you can use free of charge. In terms of actual ski resorts the nearest is the Hinterstoder ski area, 6 km away while the Wurzeralm ski area is around 15 km, with a ski shuttle bus READ MORE