A splendid Spanish house party

If you've got a tight wallet and a narrow mind, finding a villa in Spain is a piece of cake - just pick a white box with a kidney-shaped pool in a sea of other white boxes, blow up your inflatable crocodile and start basking. But if you're looking for a bit more style and local colour, here are some of the most elegant, authentic and beautifully located villas in the country - and the quality portfolios in which you'll find plenty more like them. Leave the croc at home and dive in.

CASERIAS DE SORRIBAS, near Sevares, Asturias
Sleeps 2

This is not a single villa but a collection of red-tiled cottages and farm buildings on a quiet Asturian estate. Owned and managed by a British woman who lives in the old manor house, they provide a fine base from which to explore this spectacular, undeveloped stretch of northern Spain - from the mountains of the Picos de Europa to the wild beaches of the Costa Verde. Don't imagine it's all donkeys and hay carts, though: within a 20-minute drive are two Michelin-starred restaurants. The nearest airports are Santander and Oviedo, both less than two hours' drive away, although this part of Spain is well served by Brittany Ferries' Plymouth-Santander service. One week in a one- bedroom apartment, arriving on August 5, costs £685pp, including car-ferry crossings.
With whom? Inntravel (01653 617906, www.inntravel.co.uk), which specialises in smaller properties with a strong rural character in Asturias, Catalonia, Andalusia and Mallorca.

PUERTO ROQUE, Valencia de Alcantara, Extremadura
Sleeps 4

For the ultimate in undiscovered Spain, make Extremadura your goal - it's famous for its conquistador sons, historic towns and wild, undeveloped countryside. Puerto Roque is a great base from which to explore it: a collection of five restored country cottages, offering two- or three-bedroom accommodation only a mile and a half from the Portuguese border. Inside are bright white walls, wood-burning fires, exposed beams and stonework; outside, you'll find a large shared pool and views of woodland and distant hills. You can walk to the local restaurant, and the town of Valencia de Alcantara is only 10 minutes' drive away, but bear in mind that it's 160 miles to the nearest airport, Lisbon - that's one of the reasons there's still so much room to roam here. One week, arriving on August 5, costs £801 for the two-bedroom property. For flights to Lisbon, try BA (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com), TAP (0845 601 0932, www.flytap.com) or Aer Lingus (0818 365000, www.aerlingus.com).

With whom? Travellers' Way (01527 559000, www.travellersway.co.uk; ref EXT1384), which has a varied portfolio and doesn't shy away from less developed regions. Also covered are Asturias, Galicia, Cantabria, Catalonia and Castile.

LAS BARRACAS, Gaucin, Andalusia
Sleeps 2

It may be only 90 minutes from Malaga airport, but Las Barracas is nothing like your average Andalusian apartment. A 300-year-old cottage, recently restored, it perches on a rocky hillside near Gaucin and retains many original features, including a beamed roof and a higgledy-piggledy kitchen door. Many of the star attractions of the Andalusian scene, including Jerez and Ronda, are within easy day-tripping distance, and when you're done, you can retreat to the shaded seclusion of the garden and cool off in your own pool. One week, arriving on August 5, costs £760 for the property only. Fly to Malaga with EasyJet (www.easyjet.com), BMI Baby (www.bmibaby.com) or Aer Lingus (0818 365000, www.aerlingus.com).
With whom? CV Travel (0870 606 0802, www.cvtravel.co.uk), a villa specialist for more than 30 years. It focuses on Andalusia and the Balearics, and includes many pin-up properties in its portfolio - including a stunning clifftop eyrie on Ibiza.

EL BOSQUECILLO, Minorca
Sleeps 8

Fancy something a little more, well, James Bond as your holiday backdrop? Then El Bosquecillo is the answer - a razor-sharp confection of straight lines, minimalist interiors and up-to-the-minute luxury, with a plasma TV, maid service and a pool that runs as a long, narrow streak of blue from the back doorstep. The nearest beach is a five-minute drive away, with the stunning harbour town of Mahon not much further. One week, starting on August 5, costs £5,075 for the whole property. The only direct way to fly to Minorca is by charter: try Flightline (0800 541541, www.flightline.co.uk ).
With whom? A&K Villas (0845 070 0618, www.abercrombiekent.co.uk), which specialises in top-of-the-range properties in the Costa Brava, Andalusia and the Balearics.

CASA ROSA, Villaneuva de la Concepcion, Andalusia
Sleeps 4

Looking for a remote location, but don't want to sacrifice your creature comforts? Then put Casa Rosa on your hit list.
A recent renovation, it has a far higher spec than most two-bedroom villas - you can even summon a massage therapist from the nearby Posada del Torcal for private treatments. When you're done relaxing, explore the surrounding El Torcal National Park, home to eagles, vultures, ibex and 30 kinds of orchid. Malaga is only 40 miles away, which means quick transfers from the airport - and an obligatory trip to the city's Picasso museum. One week, arriving on August 5, costs £1,485 for the entire property, including car hire.
With whom? The Owners' Syndicate (020 7801 9804, www.ownerssyndicate.com), which offers more than 150 properties in Andalusia, Catalonia, the Costa del Sol and the Balearics, ranging from purpose-built apartments to vast country manors. Fly to Malaga.

VILLA ALEXANDRE, Begur, Costa Brava
Sleeps 4

The bedrooms won't win any prizes for their decor, but with so much going on outside, who cares? Villa Alexandre sits on a steep hillside near the village of Begur, and takes the slope in easy stages - first the house, then a lawned garden and finally a terraced pool with an attractive shaded area for lounging about. Chances are that when you're not down at the beach (10 minutes' drive), this is where you'll spend most of your holiday. One week, arriving on August 5, costs £1,141 for the property. The nearest airport is Gerona, less than an hour away - fly there with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com).
With whom? Villa Centre (01223 513593, www.villacentre.com), which has a portfolio that includes more than 60 Spanish villas with pools - 18 of which are in the quieter, less developed villages of the Costa Brava and Catalonia.

EL SUEÑO, Arta, Mallorca
Sleeps 8

These days, going on a villa holiday doesn't mean you have to cook for yourself. At El Sueño, you can kick back and treat the place as your own while a chef does all the work. You'll have a nanny and a villa host on hand, too, so heaven knows how you'll cope with real life when you get back home. The nearest beach is 15 minutes away - but face it, with all that pampering on offer, and six acres of your own grounds to roam in, would you ever be bothered to go there? One week for a party of four adults and four children, starting on August 16, costs £11,900, full-board, including flights (to Palma, an hour away by car), car hire and service.
With whom? Scott Dunn (020 8682 5040, www.scottdunn.com), which has successfully applied its luxury ski-chalet concept to Mediterranean villas. Its portfolio of properties is limited, though: just eight, in Andalusia and Mallorca.

SON SALAS, Soller, Mallorca
Sleeps 10

House-party heaven is made of places like Son Salas: a 17th-century farmhouse, set in 50 acres of grounds, which has been given a modern but sensitive makeover. The delights of the north coast are near at hand, but chances are that you'll spend most of the time lounging in the cobbled courtyard or on the shaded patio, playing tennis or swimming. After dinner, the private cinema beckons. This level of luxury doesn't come cheap, but the house is
already fully booked for August: a week, starting on July 1, costs £9,350 for the whole property, including a chef. Palma airport, 35 minutes away by car, is served by EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) and BMI Baby (www.bmibaby.com).
With whom? Elegant Resorts (01244 897444, www.elegantresortsvillas.com), which offers a handful of swanky properties in Mallorca and Andalusia.

CASA DEL MOLINO, Galicia
Sleeps 12

Gastronomes, listen up. Not only is Casa del Molino near the fish markets of Pontevedra, it's within striking distance of the fashionable vineyards of the Rias Baixas. The two are a perfect match for lunch, and the house has a fine terrace on which to consume them, overlooking landscaped gardens, a large swimming pool and the waters of the Ria de Pontevedra. The nearest airport with direct flights from the UK is Santiago de Compostela, served by Ryanair (www.ryanair.com). One week, arriving on August 26, costs £2,830 for the whole property.
With whom? Vintage Travel (0845 344 0460, www.vintagetravel.co.uk), which has more than 200 properties in Spain, each with a private pool, in regions ranging from Catalonia to Galicia.