HPB provides holidays for life. As it is an investment product, however, it is subject to charges, your capital is at risk and you may not be able to cash in during your first two years. Please read "How HPB works" for a summary of the principal risks and benefits.
  • Stigliano

Stigliano, Tuscany, Italy

We organise a weekly excursion (subject to numbers), where we visit a vineyard, taste the wines and enjoy a three-course lunch in Castellina in the hub of the Chianti area.

As a result, there is plenty of mouth-watering Italian cuisine, which is also inexpensive (thanks to the absence of mass tourism). A rich variety of seafood is also available in the local markets and restaurants.

Top 5 Italian Excursions

Italy is renowned for its beautiful views, incredible culture, great food and infamous history. So while you're staying in our attractive Tuscany property, why not venture around the area on some great excursions. We have put together a list of our chosen top five excursions for visitors to Stigliano.

Cheese, wine and meat

Cheese, wine and meat

Three of the iconic things that Italy is known for all rolled into one tour; this tour includes a full day of food and wine via a 4X4 minibus. You can enjoy two sessions of wine tasting (as well as some olive oil tasting) and indulge in a three course Tuscan feast. The tour also includes a visit to a butcher's shop to savour cured meat and a medieval castle tour. The tour offers vegetarian options for those who require it. It's worth noting that due to the wine tasting a minimum age of 18 applies. The minibus sets off from central Florence, just an hour's drive from our accommodation in Stigliano, making it easy for you to get there and back.

Full day tour of everything

Full day tour of everything

If you're looking to see everything in Italy but are limited in time, then this tour will be ideal for you. Lasting 12 hours in total you will be able to see many of the iconic Italian sights including the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Plus you'll experience authentic Italian wine tasting, with a lavish lunch on top. Then there will still time for you to explore Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa at your own pace. You will spend the day chauffeured around in an air-conditioned coach with a professional guide to fill you with knowledge during your tour, as well as a detailed map for you to follow. Vegetarian options are available if specified during booking. The day tour sets off at 8.30am from the Santa Maria Novella station, which is only an hour and 20 minutes' drive from our accommodation in Stigliano.

Create your own Italian cuisine

Create your own Italian cuisine

As food is a big part of the Italian culture why not have a go at creating some of your own? Pizza and gelato are signature foods from Italy and with this cooking class you'll be shown how to create both! You will have a professional chef who will coach you through making your own pizza and gelato whilst being given the opportunity to taste some authentic Italian samples of each. All utensils, ingredients and aprons will be provided and you will also be able to enjoy a dinner with wine tastings to set off your perfect evening. The class is based in the centre of Florence which is around an hour away from Stigliano.

Siena, city of horses and music

Siena, city of horses and music

The UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic medieval city of Siena is less than half an hour away. Famous for its Il Palio horse race, Siena has at its heart the Piazza del Campo, a beautiful shell-shaped town square framed by cafés.

Here you'll find the Torre del Mangia and the striking Palazzo Pubblico, home of the Museo Civico, which is an important art museum. Also worth visiting are the Palazzo Salimbeni, the Orto Botanico dell'Università di Siena (the university's botanical garden) and the city's many churches.

Siena's Duomo is a superb example of Italian romanesque architecture. It was consecrated in 1179 and has an extraordinary interior covered in black and white horizontal stripes. You can also see its famous Gothic octagonal pulpit and Piccolomini Library, which was built in 1495.

The city has a rich musical heritage, including the Accademia Musicale Chigiana and the Siena Jazz School at the Medicean Fortress. As well as courses, concerts and festivals throughout the year, Siena also hosts the Sessione Senese per la Musica e l'Arte (SSMA), a summer music programme.

The 'Fine Towers' of San Gimignano

The 'Fine Towers' of San Gimignano

Less than an hour's drive north, San Gimignano is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This walled medieval hill town is famous for its medieval architecture and 'Fine Towers', which can be seen from miles away.

Towers in other areas have not survived, but San Gimignano's fourteen towers have been beautifully preserved. Other sights include its many churches (such as the Collegiata and Sant'Agostino), the Communal Palace and the four town squares.

While you're there, take the opportunity to explore some of the local vineyards and the white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, for which the town is known.

Florence, heart of medieval trade

Florence, heart of medieval trade

The cradle of the Renaissance, Florence (Firenze), is 90km north of Stigliano. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, the one-time capital of Italy straddles the River Arno. Cross from the old town to the 'new' area (the Oltrarno) via the Ponte Vecchio, which is crammed with jewellery shops.

Once a medieval trade and finance centre, Florence has a fabulous legacy of artistic and architectural treasures. Places to visit include the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello, the Accademia and the Pitti Palace.

The ancient charm of Pisa

The ancient charm of Pisa

Head north west of Stigliano to the medieval trading port of Pisa, just over an hour away, to visit its cathedral and famous leaning tower (the cathedral's bell tower). There are also more than 20 other historic churches, palaces and beautiful bridges.

The city, which sits at the mouth of the River Arno on the Ligurian Sea, is surrounded by its original 12th-century walls. Pisa has retained much of its ancient charm, with the 16th-century shops and houses along the Via Santa Maria and the Piazza Dei Cavalieri hinting at its rich historical past.

Before you leave...

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Take out a Holiday Property Bond before 31st October 2024, and not only will you be giving yourself, your friends and your family a lifetime of top-quality holidays. You, and the family, could also be spending a day in a winter wonderland; and meeting Father Christmas himself

For a party of up to six (a mix of adults and children), this day-trip to Lapland includes snowmobiling, husky sledding, and a reindeer sleigh ride – plus the highlight: a private family meeting with Father Christmas, where you can tell him of your Christmas wish list!

After an overnight stay at Birmingham airport’s Novotel (parking included), your flight to Finland’s northernmost region departs early in the morning of 16th December – to give you and the family as much time as possible enjoying Lapland’s Christmas magic. And after your day playing in the snow you’ll return tired but happy, to another night in a comfortable hotel bed before heading home with a boot-full of happy memories (and perhaps a gift or two).

Meals are provided on the outbound and inbound flights, plus a hearty lunch in Lapland, thermal snow suits, winter boots – everything you need to keep warm and get the most out of your day.

Invest before the end of October for your chance to win this fantastic prize. And don’t forget to keep 16th December free. Good luck!

Prize Draw rules
1. Invest by 31st October 2024 and you will be entered into the draw. 2. The winner will be drawn by a solicitor. 3. The winner will receive the prize of a day trip to Lapland for a party of six (mix of adults and children) on 16th December 2024 from Birmingham Airport. Return flights with hot meals, a range of activities and overnight accommodation and parking at Birmingham Airport at the start and end of the break is included. The trip is not suitable for infants under 2 years old. 4. The winner will be drawn from those who invest by 31st October 2024 and existing Bondholders who top up their Bond or refer friends. 5. The prize can only be claimed by those who are 18 or over and is not available to HPB employees, associates or those in their households. 6. No cash alternative available. 7. The winners will be notified by 22nd November 2024.

User Charge

The no-profit user charge is all you pay when you book your holiday. It covers the actual costs of servicing the properties, including housekeeping, laundry and maintenance of the many free-to-use-onsite facilities. It is charged per property - NOT per person. And it does not vary with the season: instead, the user-charge remains constant all year round.

For example:
A week for two in the Scottish Highlands could cost around £324 user charge, including VAT*, even at the height of the season.

A week for a party of eight in a four bedroom villa at Physkos, Turkey in August could cost around £577 in user charge

We're so confident you'll be delighted with HPB that we offer you a 'Money Back Promise'!

In regular surveys, Bondholders tell us how happy they are with HPB holidays. That's why we feel confident in giving you the extra reassurance of our unprecedented 'Money Back Promise':

If you take your first HPB holiday within three years of investing and are not, for any reason, entirely happy, you can cash in your HPB investment within 14 days of your return.

Whatever the encashment value, the parent company of the issuer of HPB will make up any difference so that you get back the full amount of your original payment, including charges.

This offer applies to a holiday at any HPB owned property which is taken by at least one of the Bondholders themselves.

Full details of the offer will be provided before you invest.

Restrictions

If you do not use our "Money Back Promise" offer explained in "How HPB works", you may cash in after two years at a value linked to that of the properties and securities but you should not expect to get back the full amount you paid because of charges and changes in the value of HPB’s properties and securities. In exceptional circumstances cashing in may be deferred for up to twelve months.

Your inflation-protected Holiday Points

HPB's holiday benefits are provided through a Holiday Points system. Each £1 you invest (including any adviser charge) adds one Holiday Point to the allocation of Holiday Points that you receive every year for as long as you hold your bond. Each time you book a holiday, you exchange Holiday Points for the accommodation you want, with the number of Holiday Points required depending on the location, size of property and season.

Here are some examples of how it works in practice (2022 rates):

For two people, holidaying out of season:
A week in Stigliano, Tuscany from 1,530 points
A week in The Trossachs, Scotland from 2,430 points
A week in St Brides Castle, Pembrokeshire from 2,260 points

And in the height of summer:
A week in Rocha Brava, Portgual from 8,190 points
A week in the Lake District from 9,760 points
A week in Le Mont de St Siméon, France from 14,180 points

If you have a minimum qualifying investment you can also book Short Notice Points Free holidays, subject to availability. Bookings can be made up to 28 days in advance for UK holidays and up to 56 days in advance for overseas. Even if you do not have a qualifying investment, you can still book Short Notice Points Free holidays up to 21 days ahead in the UK and up to 42 days ahead overseas.

Inflation protection: Your Holiday Points allocation is re-valued every year in line with the cost of providing additional holiday accommodation for new investors. This means your holiday accommodation booking power is fixed and protected against inflation. So you can look forward to top quality holidays for life.

A unique way to enjoy exclusive holidays year after year

Q. How does it work?

A. The way the Bond works is simple. Families like yours invest from £5,000 for exclusive access to a portfolio of over 1,500 top quality villas, cottages and apartments in 32 locations across 13 European countries, including over 600 properties in 19 locations in the UK. For each £1 invested you will receive one Holiday Point each year which you can use to book the properties. And when staying in them you do not pay a commercial rent, just a no-profit user charge covering actual running, maintenance and refurbishment costs. This charge is level throughout the year so there are no high season premiums. The average charge for a studio is around £360 and around £540 for a two bedroom property, for a week. Larger properties are also available. This no-profit user charge is only payable when you want to go on holiday. Your only ongoing commitment is a quarterly fee under £38 (that is around £150 a year), linked to RPIX.

Q. Will there be more properties in the future?

A. As we attract more investors the more properties we will add to the portfolio – increasing your holiday choice still further.

Q. How long can I holiday with HPB?

A. For life if you wish – the holiday benefits last as long as you hold the Bond. In due course you can pass it and the holiday benefits to your children and grandchildren, as many of our earlier investors have already done. If, however, at some point you and your family no longer wish to holiday with us you can surrender your Bond back to the company after two years or more (subject to deferral in exceptional circumstances). You will not get back the full amount you invested, although we would hope that you will have had some wonderful holidays. What you do get back will reflect initial charges (25%) taken before your money is invested in the HPB fund of holiday properties and securities. The fund itself also pays annual charges of around 2.5% of its net assets at cost, calculated monthly, as well as overheads. The value of the fund’s properties and securities can also go up or down and so, like most investments, your capital is at risk.

Q. Is the Bond available anywhere else?

A. No. HPB is available exclusively through HPB Management Limited.

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