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GLOBAL SHORT RENTALS
Winner of The Only Summer Star

Winner of The Only Summer Star

The Only Team

A few months ago we asked you to spend the summer with us… Sort of! We asked you to send us your best holiday photos, and we can see that you certainly had a great time on your trips. We’ve received all kinds of pictures – artistic ones, scenic ones, funny ones, and we were surprised and delighted by the level of participation in the competition. You’re the best! We’re really glad that you’ve enjoyed yourselves so much staying in our apartments. But first of all, we’ve prepared this video to say thank you to everyone who took part: (song by Tony Panou) Well, as you know, there can only be one winner and we have to say that it’s a really deserving one: And finally, here’s our brilliant winner, the Only Summer Star, who’ll be receiving her stay completely free! Congratulations Aleksandra Graba!!!  ...
Get lost in Beijing’s Hutongs

Get lost in Beijing’s Hutongs

Mónica Boixeda

If you happened to be in the beautiful China’s capital, walking through the hutongs is a must do. These small alleys are perfect to discover the true essence of the city and its still deep-rooted traditions. There is nothing like it. The hutongs are far more than a beautiful landscape, these streets are magical places where one can escape from the modern cities and go deep into Beijing’s core. Let’s stroll through the most authentic streets in China. Strolling through the huntongs is very enjoyable, because they are pedestrian streets. It is very impressive to see that all the buildings in this area are small houses, of no more than two floors, right in the middle of a huge and chaotic city. It´s like traveling in time. This area has nothing to do with the rest of Beijing. Photo: lyng883 All houses have yards, which are the places where people frequently have social interaction; it is a meeting point for entire families. If you were wondering about the toilets, yes there are shared bathrooms, which are generally located outside of the buildings as in the ancient times. The hutongs were built during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. If you see people walking in pajamas or children with a hole on their pants, don’t panic, they do this, so they don’t have to buy diapers. Major Hutongs: While in the north of the city there are usually wider and tidy streets, in the south you’ll find chaotic and narrow streets: Qianshi Hutong is the narrower and Sanmiao Hutong is the oldest.  However, I also recommend paying a visit to...
Next Objective: Paris Fashion Week Autumn – Winter 2014

Next Objective: Paris Fashion Week Autumn – Winter 2014

Mónica Boixeda

The catwalk of Paris is one of the most glamorous in the world and one with a lot of pull among fashion designers worldwide. And the city of Paris is both the birthplace of modern and vintage. Come check out all the newest styles for the autumn and winter season of 2014. When? The last week of September.   You’ll see unending designs and colors for Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Amaya Arzuaga, Miu Miu, Chanel, Paco Rabanne, Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Loewe, Hermes, Chanel, Celine and Rochas. There’s also a concentration on textures that are ahead of even the most visionary.   Fashion week in Paris is marked by the contrast between the ostentatious and more modest creations, vanguard vs. tradition, sophisticated clothes that are quirky yet extremely straight-forward and simple. A world of contrasts. Fashion week in Paris brings an entire generation’s haute couture to the forefront of society.  Foto: mi chiel What to expect from this year’s fashion week   Black and White: In addition to fashionable colors, which I will explain below, the catwalk is also decorated in white and black, the colors of yin and yang. This combination can be seen in many of the designs of Hermès, Christian Dior, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten and, of course, Valentino.   Hues of blue: Also quite popular are various shades of blue: dark, pastel, sky, Smurf, ocean … This is a popular trend among designers both young and old.   Prints: These never go out of style. Prints with shoulder pads and turtlenecks. In all the colors and all styles. You will also see many pastel shades. Céline, Chloé,...

A welcome pack – the best way to welcome your guest

The Only Team

At Only-apartments we’ve seen very positive reactions from clients if they are welcomed… with a welcome pack. It is a very good start and they will probably feel more inclined to leave a comment saying how nice you were to them. And don’t forget: comments are the best way to attract new clients! Here’s a little interview we did to one of our owners, Joana and Francisco, who told us about what they do to keep their clients happy. You could do it too, don’t you think? First, tell us a little bit about you… We are Joana and Francisco, two siblings born and currently living in Porto, Portugal. Oportodowntown is the company we started based on the passion we share for travelling and for our home city. Having travelled around the globe and even lived outside of Portugal for some time, in São Paulo (Brazil) and London (UK) respectively, we believe Porto is one of the fantastic European cities that are worth getting to know! And how did you come up with this project? The apartments’ location, smack in the heart of the Historic Centre that was classified World Heritage by UNESCO in 1996, was also definitely a driving force behind our decision to move forward with this project. We have been advertising our DOWNTOWN ONE apartment with Only-apartments since last March and the experience has been very rewarding; it’s great to meet so many different, exciting people from such diverse backgrounds. We try to provide our guests the best experience possible, hoping to take an active part in the success of their stay! We’ve seen that you...
Discover Andalusia by Car

Discover Andalusia by Car

Aleix G. William

Andalusia is one of the most beautiful areas in Spain, but to see all it would take many more days than we mere mortals usually have for vacation. That´s why dividing it up is a great idea, plus you’ll have an excuse to return and discover another part. The best way to discover Andalusia is by car, and there’s a starting point from which each day you can see the best of the region in just 60 minutes. That starting point is the city of Seville.   Photo: jtoledo On your first day, you’ll head out from Sevilleto visit the province of Huelva, which is known for its coastline and fishing villages where you can sample the best Andalusian cuisine at extremely affordable prices. One of those villages is Isla Cristina, a fishing village known for its tapas bars and exquisite fish, especially the famous pescaíto frito (fried fish) which will delight any seafood fan. After eating your fill, it might be a good idea to take a walk around. An excellent place to do this is Ayamonte, a town on the border with Portugal and along the river Guadiana. Its sunny squares are the ideal spot to relax and enjoy a few beers. The village’s white houses make this town one of the most beautiful in the entire region.   After the gastronomic tour de Huelva, one should visit a place that is pleasing to the eye, and what place is more suited to that than the Doñana National Park. This park is located less than an hour from Seville and is a must-see when in Andalusia. Declared a...
Discovering the true essence of Venice

Discovering the true essence of Venice

Hans

Few cities in the world have as much to offer in terms of culture, art and tourism as Venice. Its special, cozy and cheerful atmosphere, combined with its impressive architecture, which whisper in your ear a small piece of its great history, have made this beautiful Italian city a tourist destination you must visit before you die. Exploring Venice as a regular tourist is a piece of cake, because wherever you go, you’ll find architectural and historical places of great value. However, for those folks who are always looking for adventures out of the ordinary, we’ve compiled a few sites to visit that will help you discovering the true essence of the city.   Photo: Moroder  The Giudecca You haven’t heard about the Giudecca? You´re missing a lot, if you like being part of the local life while traveling. The Giudecca is a quiet group of islands located on the south of Venice (just 5 minutes by ferry). Considered as the perfect place to get away from the bustle of the city, these islands are the perfect place to enjoy a walking tour around its traditional streets. Renting a holiday apartment in Giudecca is one of the best choices of accommodation in Venice, thanks to its tranquility and less expensive prices in comparison with the most tourist places of the city. Osteria al Portego The Osteria al Portego is the ideal place to explore the Venetian culture from a gastronomical perspective. This traditional tapas bar is small and very frequented by locals, because it is out of most tourist places of the city. Famous for its delicious “cicchetti” (Italian...
The Route of Le Corbusier in Paris

The Route of Le Corbusier in Paris

Mónica Boixeda

The Father of Functional Architecture This architect and Franco-Swiss painter, father of the functional architecture, was able to greatly affect the lives of people through his architecture. Le Corbusier (meaning “The Raven”) wanted to change the world through architecture and he stood by one of his principles until the end of this days: functional, practical and modern over ornate and useless. You can see his best work in Paris. Photo: Anapuig Le Corbusier used to say “une machine-à-habiter”, meaning that he saw the house as a machine for living, not as a place to hang out. And he did this from a point of view that was even metaphysical. He wanted something more for his creations and finally achieved it. And it made him one of the most influential architects of the last century.   Charles Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, as he was called, moved toParisat a very young age. In 1905, he completed his first work. It was a single-family home, a rarity at the time, called the Villa Fallet. Le Corbusier said that is when he began to refine functionality.   Traveling for a worldview He was a tireless traveler and over many years acquired sufficient experience and a more global vision of the world, not only in architecture. In 1911, he decided to go on sabbatical and travel around the world. From Vienna he traveled to Romania, and then he went through Turkey, Italy and Greece, although at the time he would have preferred to return to his routine and focus on creating functional homes and buildings. Eventually, Le Corbusier “jumped over the pond” and began to give...