Your Next Villa Holiday
As each month passes, the pandemic of 2020 starts to feel like a distant memory. Whilst many of us may have lost loved ones during that time – including us – it has certainly taught us to cherish our moments together and make the most of our adventures. In travel terms, we are seeing a continued trend towards not just family holidays, but multigenerational adventures far & wide. Whilst there are countless variations of what that may look like for your family, our travel experts have a few recommendations…
Your cohort may prefer the amenities that a large, all-inclusive resort can provide – endless restaurants, several swimming pools, perhaps a kids club & entertainment to occupy each in their own ways. These are certainly popular and functionally easy; an unlimited amount and range of food & drink in a safe environment where the price has been paid in advance – simple. But the likelihood is that your family will be split across a number of rooms, which may or may not be near each other.
Similarly, we think a cruise is a fantastic way to holiday as a group. Comparative to a resort in terms of amenities – and perhaps all-inclusivity depending on the brand – with the added benefit of waking up somewhere new each morning. As cruise experts, we can recommend the best ships & itineraries to suit your party, so that everyone feels comfortable and has their own place to enjoy their adventure at sea. But for something a little more private & intimate, we have another suggestion;
A Private Villa
If you’ve been keeping an eye on our social media over the past month, you’ll notice that we love a villa holiday – they’re unique and allow you to create your own perfect recipe. Cooking in or eating out? A morning by the pool or an afternoon at the beach? A small family gathering or a big group of friends? The world really is your oyster and there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
Whilst private villas & residencies can be secluded (and great if you want that isolation), many are within reach of a town or village with plenty of options at your fingertips. Depending on who you’re travelling with and what the goal for the trip is, certain destinations lend themselves better to having a car hire, allowing you to explore the local area and bring those all-important bottles of wine back from the supermarket. Others, are a short walk away and often have astonishingly cheap taxis available should you wish to take the easy road.
As a travel company with luxury built into our name, we only work with a single partner and their portfolio of properties so that we can guarantee you quality throughout, not just with the villa itself but also in the service that we and they can offer during your stay. CV Villas have a fantastic selection of products across Europe, as well as parts of Asia & the Caribbean, ranging from 2 bedrooms up to 10 (or even 20!) bedrooms to accommodate those larger groups. Their portfolio includes destinations such as Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Morocco, the Caribbean, Turkey, Croatia & Sri Lanka.
From intimate, rustic chateaux nestled along the Cote d’azur, to ultra-modern villas across ‘new world Europe’ to mega-mansions hiding amongst the beaches of Barbados, there’s no shortage of choice. Many are truly standalone where for the most part, you are self-sufficient whereas some are situated within a spacious resort complex, providing a selection of additional amenities as and when you want. As you start to plan your next holiday, you’ll work with our travel experts to find the right destination and the right property for you. To showcase this, below you can find a selection of 5 residences across the world, where we’ve highlighted their key features;
Harmonia - Corfu
Harmonia is a spacious and sleek villa overlooking Corfu’s magnificent seascapes. The interiors are bright and welcoming, abundant in natural light and elegantly furnished. On the ground floor, guests will find an airy open plan living and dining area, as well as a sleek and black fully-equipped kitchen. This floor also features two lovely double bedrooms with shower room en suites, plus a guest bedroom complete with a kitchenette and cosy sofas that can be made up as beds. Head upstairs for two more double bedrooms, each opening up to a shared balcony overlooking the wonderful view. Ideal for wellness retreats, the villa also features a brilliant gym and wellness area. The villa includes a lovely terrace with a seating area, hammock, a shaded al fresco dining area, built-in barbecue and private pool. Local places of interest include Nissaki, Kaminaki and San Stephanos.
(5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, from £6,348 per week)
Trulli Linda - Puglia
Trulli Linda is a wonderful and modern villa located close to Cisternino and Locorotondo. Head inside to discover the unique living room, a large trullo cone room with cosy seating and a smart TV. The fully-equipped kitchen has two trullo cones, sleekly furnished with polished stone worktops and various Smeg essentials. Two double bedrooms are stylishly decorated with stone barrel-vaulted ceilings and an en suite bathroom with twin rainfall and waterfall showers. The third bedroom, a twin, is just as lovely, and can also be converted into a double room. Head out onto the terrace to discover a wonderful outdoor kitchen with a serving island, barbecue with a grill and plancha, and a built-in wood-burning oven. The covered terrace includes a bespoke ‘Prosecco dining table’ with two integrated ice compartments, pendant lighting and a large credenza side board.
(3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, from £1,694 per week)
Château médoc - bordeaux
Built in 1880 in the heart of vineyards, Château Médoc is an elegant estate boasting fantastic views of the Gironde estuary. The refined interiors honour the property’s history whilst still offering a host of modern amenities. Head right past the entrance hall for the dining room and semi-professional cooking space, or left for the stylish living room equipped with a vinyl record player and video projector. Upstairs are three en suite bedrooms, each impeccably decorated for a luxurious and comfortable stay. Outside, there is a large terrace with a Weber gas barbecue, a Unopiu table and a 15-metre natural infinity pool with a movable floor. The stunning 1.5-hectare garden features vegetable patches, hammocks, sun chairs and loungers. Located in the charming village of Saint-Christoly-de-Médoc; the town centre, with its small port and restaurant is just a five minutes away.
(3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, from £10,169 per week)
make the most of it
Lazy days by the pool with a chilled glass of rosé and a good book, or day trips & excursions to explore the vicinity – you have the ability to mix & match your time to your hearts content and one of the best parts about being in a bigger group, is that you don’t all have to do the same thing. You have our permission to take that afternoon nap whilst the others go out for a wander! As we said earlier, we deliver quality holidays and that includes throughout your stay;
Not only do you have access to our complimentary Concierge Service before you go, you’ll have a liaison in-resort to assist with any additional requests and a point of contact for those more specific questions that may crop up whilst you’re away. This allows you to truly maximise your holiday with, well, basically anything you can think of. Whilst the actual list may be endless, below are some popular requests and services our travel experts can arrange;
- Private Catering
- Wine Tasting
- In-Villa Spa Treatments
- Excursions
- Cooking Classes
- Dinner Reservations
- Local Recommendations (bars, restaurants, shops)
- Transfers, Taxi contacts & private drivers
- Day Passes (cultural, museums, beach clubs, etc)
- Babysitting / Childminding Services
This doesn’t mean that you have to plan every minute of every day – after all, we love a moment of spontaneity – but with the above list of services as well as your general day-to-do goings on, you really are in for a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. If you do have additional requests whilst you’re away, your liaison will be able to assist.
a touch of extra luxury
For those who want everything they’ve read above but also enjoy the finer things in life, we recommend the ABOVE Collection; a hand-picked portfolio of luxurious, fully-staffed villas that are far above the ordinary. With an elevated concierge service – able to arrange anything from tailored activities to organising car hire, private jets and beyond – you’ll be looked after throughout with the in-destination concierge too; expect to be greeted upon arrival, given a grand tour of the property and managing everything from villa-specific requests to making restaurant recommendations.
What better way to completely relax and unwind on your next holiday than to have your very own private chef? Within the ABOVE collection, a wide range of properties offer the services of an in-villa chef for the duration of your holiday. They will work with you to plan the menus, based on any special dietary requirements, to prepare exceptional local and international cuisine. They have also partnered with Ionian Nannies; a professional childcare company who will be able to provide excellent tailored childcare services during your luxury villa holiday, whether required for a night, weekend or the entire duration of your stay, these staffed villas (in select destinations) with childcare provide the perfect solution.
la dimora del santo - sicilly
Tall palms cast their distinctive shadows onto the extensive lawns and walls of this historic house, which was built as an abbey in 1300, before becoming an important stately home for several centuries and, latterly, being restored as a magnificent choice for a special holiday. Quietly secluded in over a hundred private acres, its glorious gardens encompass ponds and a peaceful Indian pavilion, lawned paths through scented plants and splendid symmetry, cypress and citrus trees, and buildings ablaze with bougainvillea and climbing roses. They are also home to a twenty metre swimming pool set into a pretty garden courtyard, served by a pool house with bar, barbecue, shaded terrace and a spa area creatively built into a round tower with a hammam and sauna. Within the property, timber raftered ceilings and huge stone arches span timelessly elegant country house décor, where various social spaces complement ten bedrooms, while two special suites are privately placed off the garden courtyard.
With cook service included and concierge services offered by the house manager, the unique La Dimora del Santo is just a ten minute drive from east coast beaches. With the option of dining either in the main dining room or on the shaded terrace and at different spots within the gardens, this is an ideal venue for a special celebration. Within very easy reach of Catania Airport, and beaches, the celebrated Baroque towns of Siracusa and Noto, the ceramics centre of Caltagirone, the celebrated mosaics at Piazza Armermina, Mount Etna, Taormina and noted vineyards, this is a perfect spot for touring. Guides can be arranged on request.
(Sleeps 25 – 13 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, cook service, from £11,569 per week)
villa dream - St tropez
Set in an enviable location on the sun-soaked hillside above St Tropez, Villa Dream offers magnificent views of the dazzling bay, port and town. Though situated in close proximity to one of the most exclusive and luxurious destinations on the Riviera, the villa retains an incredibly remote and serene feel. Once inside the villa, guests will be mesmerised by the tall ceilings and exquisite furnishings of the large sitting room, dining area and kitchen. The villa has been decorated to a very high standard, combining modernity with timeless elegance. The ground floor also features four spacious bedrooms, each designed with either a bathroom or shower room en suite. The lower ground floor is home to two further double bedrooms, each with a bathroom en suite and opening to the terrace.
Outside, the dreamy infinity pool appears to merge with the warm Mediterranean, whilst the bubbling hot tub is the perfect spot to enjoy the sublime views out to the ocean. The nearby pool house is fitted with a hammam, shower and kitchenette, perfect for afternoon refreshments. The spacious gardens are dotted with palms, olive trees, terraces, a boules court and fire pit. All amenities can be found in the centre of St Tropez, a short walk or drive away from the property. There are also several beaches 2km or less away. The closest airport is Nice, located just 104km from the villa.
(Sleeps 12 – 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, cook service, unlimited champagne, from £63,665 per week)
dar ammura - marrakech
Dar Ammura is a refined, elegant villa with magnificent Atlas Mountain views from its extensive lawned gardens. Ideally designed for al fresco living, a palm tree lined pathway leads from the house to a fantastic pool paired with individual daybeds and parasols for total relaxation amidst the tranquil gardens; poolside hammocks are poised ready for afternoon snoozing. More active types can enjoy a range of activities including volleyball, boules, badminton and table tennis, and there’s a clay surface tennis court shared with other villas on the estate.
Inside the villa is immaculately looked after, grand and spacious, tastefully decorated in a bold Moroccan colour palette with rich textiles and intricate handmade light features. A light and airy living room allows guests to relax comfortably, play chess, or dine outdoors – with doors leading out to the terrace; a TV room also functions as a library, with the option of a single bed that can be used for a child. Six impressive bedrooms and five fabulous traditional bathrooms are split across two floors, with the master suite occupying the first floor offering access to a private terrace and the roof.
Guests are served Moroccan tea on arrival. The villa’s cook with the help of an assistant prepares all meals for guests. Breakfast is taken on the main terrace with drinks/sundowners taken on the roof with hors d’oeuvres. Dinner may be taken on the roof terrace as well or by the pool under the olive trees lit with candles. Moroccan tea is served at 1100hrs am every day by the pool and English tea is served by the butler every day with homemade cakes. Other services include daily housekeeping and in-villa aromatherapy massages and yoga are available upon request at an additional cost. The villa is prepared everyday and turned down every evening. Entertainment can be organised for special events such as camels, fire eating displays, snake charmers, daqqa musicians at an extra charge.
(Sleeps 15 – 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, cook service, butler service, from £12,500 per week)
leamington pavilion - barbados
With a gate straight on to the beach, and a coral reef just offshore, this very individual house nestles in tropical gardens, where orchids, a lily pond and whimsical statuary add colour and character to manicured lawns; and, beside a fabulous swimming pool, a pair of pergolas under the palms are lit with copper chandeliers and crowned with cast monkeys. The villa has its own lawn tennis court and a small gym, but its tranquil tempo induces idyllic idling, as do the services of its obliging staff, and the delicious meals prepared by the chef. Created by architect and stage set designer Oliver Messel, Leamington Pavillion has hosted silver screen stars including Greta Garbo.
It is as glamorous now as then, with unique antiques and artworks, billowing curtains in beautiful fabrics, Aubusson tapestries on marble floors, and a glorious four-poster in the master suite. A very Italianate sitting room opens out to a shaded poolside terrace. The Rococo dining room has classical statues in wall niches and a mirrored-marble table. And a trellised summer room, with large TV, is styled in cool pastels and open to the garden. The villa’s peaceful setting is just 800m from historic Speightstown.
Leamington Cottage, in the corner of the garden, can be booked together with the main house for an extra two guests.
(Sleeps 6 – 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, chef service & welcome service, from £9,778 per week)
Whether you’re looking for an intimate escape or a big family gathering, a villa holiday is a fantastic option for you and your loved ones. Speak with our travel experts about the CV Villas portfolio across Europe & beyond, including their ABOVE Collection of luxury properties to start planning your adventure today.
