Personal Stories

What stories will you tell? What will be the unique experiences that are truly meaningful? A Season Away is a truly personal experience, designed specifically around you and the experiences you desire. Below are personal stories from some of our A Season Away friends. We look forward to you adding stories of your own.

The scene was reminiscent of southern California, with a definite French twist... as the long waves rolled in off the ocean with wetsuit-clad surfers trying to stay on their long boards, high on a bluff throngs of locals were boisterously calling out for drinks at the beach bar before the sun began to set. Next door the old Basque men were oblivious to both the ocean waves of Biarritz and the sundowner party going on... they were intently tossing large steel balls in the air, trying to gamely knock their opponent’s balls out of the way... welcome to petanque...

"In a fast-forward, crazy-busy world, stepping off the treadmill of life is more than just a luxury - it's an essential part of living life to its fullest. Taking a longer break allows us to reconnect with the people who mean the most to us; to learn new things about the world and outselves; to savor moments that turn into memories that last a lifetime. A Season Away offers the greatest gift of all: time well spent."

Carl Honore, international best-selling author of In Praise of Slowness

My favorite kind of shopping... a lovely covered food market in the heart of southern France bursting with burgundy peonies, wild violet asparagus, and fragrant ewe’s milk brebis cheeses. Chef Alain pulled me aside to a display of very fresh looking poultry and asked for his “special” order. Carefully placing a paper wrapped package into my arms as if were fine china, Chef Alain cautioned me to take special care of our, “caille”, quail that we’d be cooking together later that day. A little later that morning there I was, honey white wine in hand, crisping the quail in olive oil and fresh basil picked from the garden... my first cooking lesson in France... what a memorable experience for a foodie like me!

The most precious and enduring gifts we can give ourselves and our loved ones are shared time and fascinating, enriching life experiences. A Season Away offers in-depth, unhurried opportunities to live in and explore wonderful areas, to be introduced by welcoming and knowledgeable local VillaHosts to the life, people and highlights of fabulous destinations and to come to know and be part of the fabric of a place.

The chef struggled with the huge wheel of Parmesan cheese... it was easily three feet across and about a foot or two deep and must have weighed a hundred pounds... from within came swirls of fragrant steam...he had prepared a cheesy risotto for villa owners Stefano and Stefanie at an impromptu dinner party for us on the shores of romantic Lake Como...

The bark was getting louder as we trudged up the hill in the cold January morning... I was with a trifulao, a truffle hunter, and his dog has discovered some “black gold” under a towering oak tree in the Piedmonte region of Italy. The trifulao ordered Bianca to stand down as he produced a small pitchfork like device to gently turn over the ground. In less than 20 seconds he held up a small nugget of truffle, gently brushed off the dirt, smelled it and put it into his small sack for safe keeping...

An extended time away from home allows you to become part of the village or countryside on a more personal level and to step off the treadmill of your normal frenetic lifestyle. A primary feature of A Season Away is the VillaHost who is available for a specified number of hours each week. In our case, VillaHost Bruno could not have been more charming or helpful. He took us around the villa, showed us where things were located, helped us set up our laptops, and then took us to the little market a few doors from the villa to introduce us to the owner. He also showed us where the boulangerie and pharmacy were located in our village of Caromb. We promptly named the market our little French Dean & Deluca!

Heading up into the wild country of the Pyrenees Mountains of southwest France in four-wheel drive vehicles, we were motioned to take a sharp right down a steep path. In 2-3 minutes we arrived at a shepherd’s hut where, under a simple pergola, VillaHost Wendi had arranged a sumptuous lunch prepared by a local artist. Sipping wine with our backs to the simple hut, drenched in sun, there wasn’t another soul in sight, just the towering Pyrenees keeping us company.

It was a villa trip to Italy we all wanted to create for our parents. They had raised us, even put away money for our children’s’ college. Now it was time to get together in Chianti in a big house with a pool and enjoy time together, perhaps for the last time as the family as we knew it. It was fun seeing Mom get tipsy on red wine, and Dad, with his goofy hat, telling all those god-awful jokes. Most of all, it was great to savor moments of the sunset of their life.

Each villa is carefully chosen to fulfill your needs and expectations. This is a uniquely personalized service. If you usually rent a cottage or other place at the beach or someplace else in the US for a month in the summer but have not considered renting abroad, A Season Away is an ideal option. You may have traveled extensively but probably never truly experienced a European destination like Provence until you stay put for a while... an extended stay using A Season Away creates a meaningful and unforgettable holiday for couples, families and friends traveling together.