Category: Travel

Fancy some sixties style in Europe this summer? Well, you could try the Cala Del Bove near Porto Santo Stefano, Tuscany…if you have the cash.

It’s a summer seaside retreat, set right on the water’s edge and with an open plan and big stone walls – just right for a Bond villain! And the sixties vibe continues with the interior design – sixties-style furniture, globular floor lamps and big, chunky staircases. Add to that a private pool, views over the west coast of the Monte Argentario and a floodlit tennis court and you just know it’s unlikely to be cheap.

And that’s about right – it sleeps 14 and prices run from £13,000 per week. Yes, you read that right. But think about it – that’s under £1,000 per person per week for real luxury.

More pictures and details at the Global Artichoke website

Another in our series of retro locations around the world, this time from New Zealand and Circa60 – 60s-themed rental accomodation in Martinborough.

Circa60 was built in 1958 and is architecturally designed, furnished and maintained in a mid-century modern style. The open plan home is divided into kitchen, dining and living areas (including a bar and log burner), as well as three bedrooms and a weatherproof outdoor room.

And if the weather turns bad, there’s a large TV and DVD player, with films, books and CDs from the 60s, plus 60s toys and games for kids. Check out the images on the Circa60 website, along with the full list of rates, which start at $180 for the first couple, then $40 for an extra adult or $20 for an extra child.

Find out more at the Circa60 website

Not all holiday cottages are small farmhouses with log fires – check out the 70s-style Chert house in Ventnor, on the Isle Of Wight.

Built between 1967 and 1970, it was designed as an ultra-modern retirement home, built into a cliff and with views overlooking the sea. Over the years, it never changed and when the two owners died, it was bequeathed to the National Trust – and is now available as a period holiday let.

Both interior and exterior have been maintained to fit in with the original period. A central spiral staircase leads up to the first floor where two identical wings meet in a central hall way. The largely monochrome interior has bright orange bathrooms and many brilliant mosaic features. And of course, all the furniture is very much in a 70s style.

There’s a great little feature on the house on the 20th Century Society website. And if you like what you read, you can book now, with prices from £300 up for a week.

Find out more at the National Trust holiday cottages website

Until the Midland Hotel in Morecambe is restored, the best place to find some Art Deco glamour is the Hotel Borg in Reykjavik, Iceland, which re-opens in May, back to its former glory.

Built in 1930, the Hotel Borg was Reykjavik’s original hip hangout, four-star glamour that attracted the rich and famous of the era (Marlene Dietrich was a regular visitor). After a long (and costly) renovation, all 56 rooms are back to their Art Deco best, combining period pieces, custom-made furnishing and modern amenities you perhaps wouldn’t expect – like flat-screen TVs and high-speed internet.

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