14 January 2007 - The Sunday Times - Sean Newsom

The 10 Best Villas by the Sea

Here are 10 of the best seafront properties available for the coming summer

If you want to step straight onto a beach, Sean Newsom has ten villas within hopping distance
Don’t just go to the beach. Live there. Hiring a villa by the sea will cost you extra — but think of the buzz each morning when you rise, walk blearily onto the terrace and take in the view. It’ll be worth every extra penny.

Villa Amboise, near L’Ile Rousse, Corsica (sleeps 4)

Simple, unassuming, fabulous: Villa Amboise sits on a low rocky outcrop, with the heave and sigh of the sea your constant companion. You can swim and snorkel off the rocks, although those with toddlers will be happier at the beach, about 400 yards away. Inside, high ceilings and cool white interiors provide a break from the blue, while nearby L’Ile Rousse is the place for sundowners. Inland, the fortress villages and footpaths of the Haute-Balagne provide a welcome contrast to the coast.

Details: one week, arriving on August 12, costs £882pp, including flights and car hire, with Corsican Places (0845 330 2059, www.corsica.co.uk), which has inland and coastal properties all over the island.