Less than one year after successfully launching in the UK, luxury self-catering villa specialist, Les Manoirs, today announces the arrival of its new 2004/2005 brochure, which extends its predominantly Italian portfolio to include properties in Spain, Portugal, France and Ireland. Prices range from �400 in low season to �13,500 in high season per property for a week self-catering excluding flights.

Following positive customer feedback, Les Manoirs has carefully handpicked properties throughout Europe, which offer privacy and exclusivity in exquisite surroundings. Guests can choose to stay in Ch�teau du Pontet, a luxury castle sleeping over 20 people in the South-West of France; in a city apartment in Florence, Casa Isabella, or even Cielto Lindo, a Spanish villa with its own private pathway to the beach.

All properties are unique in personality and must meet a certain criteria in order to be included in Les Manoirs� brochures. Most properties are set in their own private grounds and many have their own cultural or historical story to tell � the medieval fortress of Ch�teau de Goudourville in the Midi-Pyren�es in France was once the royal residence of Charles IX and Henry IV, while Blanche Fleur in Provence even boasts its own private chapel � making it ideal for an intimate wedding in the South of France.

Les Manoirs will be launching a further range of UK properties later in March this year with an additional supplement-style brochure � all of the same standard but just a bit closer to home. This unprecedented move will make Les Manoirs the only luxury self-catering operator in the UK to offer properties throughout Europe under one brand.

Luxury added services come as standard to many of Les Manoirs� properties. A large majority of the retreats come with domestic help and provide chefs to cook sumptuous meals using local, fresh ingredients to make the guests� experiences even more authentic. Chauffeurs are available at many villas to help guests explore the area or can be on hand to offer a lift home after sampling the local wines.

The new portfolio welcomes three properties in Ireland; 22 in France (Les Manoirs previously only had a handful of properties in France); eight in Spain; three in Portugal; and a further 48 in Italy. Many of the Italian properties are also new to the Les Manoirs portfolio and all the properties have been chosen because of their supreme location � the French villas are predominantly in Provence and the C�te d�Azur, whereas the Spanish retreats sit on the Costa Blanca.

For more information, please visit: www.les-manoirs.co.uk or phone 0870 420 5729

For further media information, please contact: Susie Tempest The Saltmarsh Partnership Tel: 020 7928 1600 Fax: 020 7928 1700 E-Mail: susie@saltmarshpr.co.u