Paris to Rome

Amazing Eiffel Tower Views from your Private Terrace

This apartment is all about the penthouse views of the Eiffel tower from the master bedroom and from 650 square feet of private terraces. To wake up to this sight from your master bed in the morning is a dream come true. The building is located on the edge of the Seine river in the middle of the Right Bank section of Paris. The streets around the apartment are full of delectable restaurants and abundant shopping opportunities. The apartment is split level with the kitchen up higher than the two bedrooms and 1 and a half baths. The décor is a simple contemporary design with traditional touches. There is a lift but you will carry the luggage up one flight to get to the penthouse. The building seems to cater to local residents and is quiet. Thoroughly enjoyable neighborhood and did I mention the spectacular views? Available through HomeAway property 370585 Muette Paris.

French Country Cottage in a Medieval Village

This beautiful cottage is ideally situated on the Armacon River in the enchanting medieval village of Semur-en-Auxois. There are great walks into town where you can enjoy the river views as well as the medieval architecture. The home is furnished with French Country Style furniture and accents. The upper floor master bedroom has a scenic balcony which overlooks the river. It feels like a retreat away from daily life. There is also a second bedroom available on the ground floor which was not made up for our stay, but would make it comfortable for two couples to share the entire home with plenty of privacy. There is a small table and chairs right next to the river on the lower level, the view quiet and idyllic, with the medieval town above and the river below. One of the best perks of this home was the romantic fireplace in the kitchen. It was cold during our November visit so it was especially pleasant to build a fire and set up a cozy dinner on the table next to it. The kitchen is filled with all the necessary accessories for cooking a full meal. Our thoughtful hosts left us a nice bottle of local wine and plenty of firewood to make our stay memorable.

Hotel des Balances

This historic 4-star, 56 room and suite hotel is a synthesis of both contemporary updates and historical design carefully merged for the best ambiance and comfort. The views over the Reuss are Incredible especially if you choose a balcony room. It is conveniently located in Old town so all of the major monuments and sites are within walking distance. Old town also has the best shopping and restaurant areas but be warned it is more expensive than most urban areas in Europe but well worth exploring .The hotel has a pleasant restaurant with outdoor seating available overlooking the Reuss or you can stroll the streets of the Old town section where you will find a large assortment of cafes and restaurants. All the rooms are designed with rich hardwood floors and fresh contemporary furnishings. What makes this hotel special is that it is beautifully situated along the Reuss and that it has the intimacy and ambiance of a small historic boutique hotel.

Lake Como Villa

This is an extraordinary, 3-story villa with a delightful garden overlooking lake Como. Each of the floors has a spectacular view of the lake. And each floor boasts gorgeous Carrara marble bathrooms. Even the laundry room is beautifully finished in marble. The main floor living area is an open floor plan with a kitchen and breakfast area, as well as a huge walk out terrace with a table, suitable for formal meals. The home is beautifully decorated with contemporary and traditional themes. Everything looks fresh and new, including the linens. The villa abuts the lakeside rock cliff, and out the back gate from the garden is walkway into the old medieval town. The pleasant surprise is the private elevator, there are also stairs, that take you to each floor. The owner met us on arrival, and told us about the history of his family home. A private parking space is provided-a very important in any small Italian town. Dining, shops, ferries and trains are short walks from the villa. Thoroughly loved this stylish home with scenic lake views. Villa Lucia Varenna Varenna Italy

Assisi

I have been to Assisi a number of times but decided to spend a few nights here as it is a good base from which to discover the hill towns in Umbria and Tuscany. Assisi is a very different type of place at night in the off season and this tranquil apartment with a scenic rooftop terrace was the perfect place to enjoy this spiritual village. Some of the best reasons to be here in the evening hours are that there are a limited number of tourists as most of them come and go during the daytime hours and the monuments and churches are lit up and are open for limited hours in the evening. La Mansarda had lovely views of the rooftops across the town. The master bedroom had large windows with splendid views too. The apartment had an open concept design with contemporary furnishings and artwork. The kitchen is fully functional with all the necessities needed for cooking a full meal. Also included was a small parking space in the private garage below the apartment. It is well located and is a short walk to the important sights. The host there is extremely helpful. It is a good value especially for the location. Home away #1080507 Assisi, Perugia, Umbria Italy

Florence

The golden view apartment is all about the views, 360 degree views from the great room on the upper floor. It occupies the entire penthouse floor of a 400 year-old Renaissance palazzo. It is newly renovated with a mix of contemporary and antique furnishings. Extremely spacious and comfortable for a couple or two couples as there are separate bathrooms at each end of the house. The bathrooms are really geared for people who enjoy baths as the shower on the upper level is pretty basic but it does have dazzling view. It is ideally located in the old town a few minutes from the duomo, great restaurants and shopping and best of all you have an elevator that takes you directly to your floor. Not easy to find in the historic part of town. Parking was not included but was located close by for a reasonable price. Via dei Bachi 5 Florence Italy 50125 HomeAway #8468904