Searching for a have-the-place-to-yourself holiday with room for everyone? These villa-style stays are stylish, spacious, and ever so secluded, with all the added extras of boutique hotel service included. Read on for some standout addresses to bed down in this summer, from Greek island hideaways to Tuscan farmhouses.
Family & Friends Seaside Villa – Casa Del Mar, Mykonos, Greece
A beautiful beachfront villa and spa resort, Casa del Mar Mykonos overlooks Glifadi private cove in sun-kissed Aleomandra. Gather loved ones for alfresco meals around the sea-facing table of the Family and Friends Seaside Villa, which sleeps up to six guests across three spacious whitewashed bedrooms (each with its own bathroom). Your doors will open onto the Aegean Sea, creating a soothing soundtrack for your stay just three miles from Mykonos town.
Villa Agave – Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik, Croatia
Hotel Excelsior’s three-bedroom Villa Agave is perched on a private clifftop overlooking the postcard-perfect Lokrum Island, with 24-hour butler service, five charming stone terraces, and a spotlit pool area with Dubrovnik Old Town views.
Surrounded by glorious gardens leading to a secluded beach and the sparkling waters of the Adriatic, historic Villa Agave rests on the remains of the 16th-century chapel of St. Lazarus (two of the original walls now form part of the meditation room), within walking distance of Dubrovnik’s medieval fortress walls.
Maison du Nessay – Le Nessay, France
Sitting in splendid isolation atop the rugged Nessay Peninsula, Le Nessay is a striking redbrick turreted château which is just steps from the sandy shoreline. Check-in to La Maison du Nessay, a standalone cottage available for private hire, which is the epitome of laidback Breton living.
With its six gorgeous rooms, private swimming pool and garden, it’s ideal for family holidays or time with friends. Gather around the table in the spacious, country-style kitchen for relaxed meals – la patisserie du Nessay delivers right to your door – or cosy up by the fireplace for a film and games night in the living room which comes with a video projector, plus puzzles and board games.
Panoptis Villas – Panoptis Escape, Mykonos, Greece
This extraordinary ensemble of boutique villas overlooks the turquoise Aegean Sea and tranquil expanse of Elia Beach below. From its exclusive, hilltop position, surrounded by the wild, natural sun-caressed beauty of Mykonos, Panoptis Escape promises absolute serenity in every sense. Ranging from one- to three-bedroom villas with private pools, this island sanctuary also features an expansive Honeymoon Retreat complete with an 80-square metre outdoor area to fully soak up the sunshine. For the ultimate exclusive escape, take over all 21 bedrooms in the Panoptis estate which grants you access to all 12 private pools.
Pool Villa – Quinta da Comporta, Portugal
From the sun-bleached woods to the sandy furnishings, Quinta Da Comporta – Wellness Boutique Resort blends seamlessly with its surfer-chic surroundings of rice fields and swaying palms. Inspired by Comporta’s traditional beach bungalows, the three-bedroom Pool Villas are the epitome of rustic relaxation – and come with round-the-clock butler service. The open lounge and dining areas, fireplaces, and terraces encourage indoor-outdoor living, with a large private pool to cool off in and sundeck to bask on.
The Margi Villa - Athens, Greece
Tucked between a scented pine forest and a pristine beach, The Margi overlooks a gloriously blue bay with a pretty marina – ideal if yacht-spotting and island-hopping are on the agenda. With its sliding glass doors, furnished terraces, and coastal interiors, the four-bedroom Margi Villa puts the sparkling Aegean views front and centre. Fall asleep to the sound of the waves lapping the beach just below your room, after spending a sun-drenched, barefoot day on the Athenian Riviera.
Villa Marnia – Viesca Toscana, Italy
A tranquil Tuscan estate which was formerly the fashionable Ferragamo family’s summer home turned luxury retreat by shoe-making sensation Salvatore’s grandson, Viesca Toscana’s collection of elegant villas is set among verdant grounds dotted with cypress trees. Take your pick from seven traditionally Tuscan villas, including Villa Marnia, a beautiful six-bedroom stay exclusively set outside the Viesca estate (just 30-minutes from Florence). The rambling grounds are yours to explore, with yoga instructors and chefs on hand for private classes if you’re looking for idyllic ways to pass the time (other than beside the freshwater pool, of course).
Villa Oleander – Casa Delfino, Crete, Greece
High on a hilltop with the Cretan countryside stretching out in all directions, Villa Oleander enjoys easy access to the pretty beaches on the Akrotiri Peninsula and the buzzing harbour town of Chania, where sister property and restored 17th-century Venetian mansion, Casa Delfino Hotel & Spa, takes up prime position in the historic Old Town.
Sleeping up to 14 guests in the seven light-filled bedrooms, Villa Oleander makes the perfect holiday home for multi-generational families or those travelling with friends. The large salt-water swimming pool is wrapped up in fragrant gardens filled with olive trees and aromatic herbs, while the open-air barbeque area and pergola-shaded dining table are made for balmy summer evenings beneath the stars.
Villa Clémence - Le Vallon De Valrugues & Spa, France
Set on the edge of the Alpilles Natural Park, Le Vallon De Valrugues & Spa is as tranquil as its Provençal surroundings. There’s a cluster of honey-hued villas to take over, like the four-bedroom Villa Clémence with its traditional shutters, private pool, and fully equipped kitchen. Explore nearby Saint-Rémy-de-Provence’s sprawling countryside, which inspired Van Gogh to paint over 150 canvases, then head back to your villa for dinner in the fragrant gardens – with chirruping çicadas and clinking glasses of rosé as your summer soundtrack.
Latest stories
The dreamiest private villas to rent in Europe
Searching for a have-the-place-to-yourself holiday with room for everyone? These villa-style stays are stylish, spacious, and ever so secluded, with all the added extras of boutique hotel service included. Read on for some standout addresses to bed down in this summer, from Greek island hideaways to Tuscan farmhouses.
On the road in Provence
Fragrant lavender fields, sun-dappled vineyards, rocky Mediterranean coastlines, and buttercream-coloured hilltop villages weave a tapestry of natural beauty across Provence. From idyllic markets to ancient Roman ruins, this itinerary takes you on a road trip through the region’s most coveted cultural and historical sights. Buckle up todiscover the best of
Editor’s picks for April: from Colorado to Pakistan
Spring has well and truly sprung. If the idea of frolicking through Belgian forests or Colorado’s flower-carpeted hills appeals, read on for hotel inspiration to see you through the changing of the seasons (and beyond).
Living in paradise: what it’s like to call Mallorca home
Having successfully made the transition from holidaying to homestead — and truly living her best life in the process — here, British photographer Carlie Tasker talks about how she put down roots on the Balearic island of Mallorca, in addition to how moving abroad has influenced her thoughts on jet-setting,
