360 Villa Focus
A villa is your private refuge. No having to share the pool or sun-loungers with other guests and no need to stick to a timetable of restaurant meal times. In a villa you can have what you want, when you want it – your private abode is exclusively yours. In this piece we highlight our favourites.
A villa is your private refuge. No having to share the pool or sun-loungers with other guests and no need to stick to a timetable of restaurant meal times. In a villa you can have what you want, when you want it – your private abode is exclusively yours. In this piece we highlight our favourites.
Best for pure luxury…
The Oxford dictionary describes luxury as ‘A state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense’. In other words, Villa C View on Saint Jean Cap Ferrat in the South of France. With a price tag that is strictly POA, this is a villa in an exclusive location. Highlights include a spa with hammam, sauna, Kinesis Technogym, massage room and an indoor exercise pool, wine cellar, outdoor pool with stunning 180 degree views, lift, full staffing including a villa manager, 3 house keepers, a chef and butler. A secluded oasis of tranquillity and privacy await at this most chic of French hideaways.
Best for the beach…
We have many villas that are just a few steps from the beach and some that are actually on the sand. Our favourite is more than that though. Villa Agnete in Corfu has a private beach just below the villa garden with its own solar heated shower, WC, fridge, loungers and barbecue. Why share the sand if you don’t have to and there is even space for mooring your yacht.
Best for a multi-generational holiday….
With quality time with your loved ones being harder to come by, multigenerational travel is fast becoming the most popular trend in the industry. Finding a place to keep everyone happy can be quite a challenge! But Sava Beach villas on pristine Natai Beach, (just north of Phuket, Thailand) is the perfect option. A luxury complex of seven fully staffed beachfront villas, ranging from 4 – 7 bedrooms, each with a huge pool and unique modern, five-star design. Our favourite is Villa Tievoli with it’s own 25m pool, beachfront lawn, private spa with two full time therapists and a kids bunk room with a full range of books & toys and even a slide! With plenty of space to have fun all together, or equally escape when seeking some quiet time. Natai Beach is 10km of unspoilt beach, much quieter than Phuket, but Phuket is close enough to visit for day trips.
Best for celebrations…
By celebrations, we mean birthday parties, special events, anniversaries and more, or maybe you don’t need an excuse to party! For this reason, our villa highlight is Villa Alessandra on Ibiza. With a bar for pre-clubbing cocktails, a pool with uber cool lighting to suit any mood, a state of the art entertainment system plus it is located on a secure private estate. With Ibiza town on your doorstep, there is no excuse for a quiet night in!
Best for young families…
We all know that when the kids are happy, so are the adults. Our family friendly villas are sourced with various criteria in mind including flat lawns, shelved entrance pools and usually with a sandy beach not so far away. Lots of toys and games also help, as does proximity to kids clubs. Our suggestion is Villa Ocre in Vale do Lobo, Portugal. A south facing heated private swimming pool – with a shallow entrance – plus a shaded terrace mean mum and dad can watch the little ones play. A quad bedroom might make for a fun kids bedroom with a cinema room for the occasional Disney moment. You could book in for a spot of golf – the villa overlooks hole 7 of the nearby Royal Golf Course – or the famous Algarve beaches are walking distance away.
Nearest kids club is the Kangaroo Club at the Dona Filipa Hotel, which is open to non residents.
Best for service…
Windward is spacious and truly fabulous on the Sandy Lane Estate in Barbados. It is a luxurious two-storey villa on Cooper Hill with swimming pool featuring 5 huge ensuite bedrooms. A large coral stone deck surrounds the pool area and the pool house has a covered bar area, BBQ and shower.
You will not have to lift a finger as rental of the villa includes a full staff of a cook, housekeeper, laundress, nightly security guard, gardener, pool service, personal villa manager and a concierge service to organise and book any activities or excursions. The staff will prepare three meals daily. If you should require extra staff such as a chef, butler or babysitting services, these can be arranged. Of course, guests at Windward also enjoy exclusive access to the Sandy Lane Beach Club.
Best for families holidaying together…
Now that Mount Agung has quietened and travel to Bali is resuming, here is the perfect villa to host you when two (or more!) families are travelling together. Villa Zambala has a great location in trendy Canggu – just a two-minute walk brings guests to the popular Berawa Beach and Finns Beach Club. This spacious seven-bedroom villa has a huge 25-metre lap pool and private gym. Thanks to a kids’ bedroom furnished with bunk beds and a shallow wading pool, Villa Zambala is the answer for multi-family travel. The villa is also staffed with a personal chef and chauffeur.