More than likely, there is one location (whether you are a warm weather or cold weather traveler) that you routinely have been calling home for the holidays. This holiday season, break the monotony of the staying in the same hotel or resort, the same room, speaking to the same people and book a top villa around the world to have your true home away from home. The following 10 villas allow you to bring your whole crew, family or friends, and have ample amount of space and luxury accommodations and amenities for a truly unforgettable holiday trip. With selected locations which all over bespoke offerings all across the world, here are 10 over the top villas to call home for the holidays
Mont Rochelle, South Africa
Covering close 39 hectares, Mont Rochelle is located in Franschhoek South Africa and includes two restaurants, a cozy bar, a spa, a gym, a heated outdoor pool and a 37-hectare vineyard and wine cellar. On the property, The Manor House is just a short walk from the main hotel building and is the newest addition to the property. Made up four deluxe suites, a bunk room for children, a games room, two private pools, a gym and outdoor dining area, the villa is the perfect home-away-from-home for eight adults looking for a luxury vacation or an upscale family escape. Overlooking the Klein Dassenberg Mountain Range your accommodation includes: daily breakfast, three-course lunch or dinner each day, complimentary wine tasting session, complimentary selection of drinks and snacks from your minibar and more. The Manor House is available for exclusive use from 31st December 2018 – 2nd January 2019 and is priced at ZAR 307,500 (approx. USD $22,200 at today’s exchange rate) for a two-night stay for up to 8 adults.
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, Australia
Located on its own 7,000-acre wildlife preserve, nestled within Australia’s World Heritage-listed Great Blue Mountains, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is easily accessible from Sydney – only two-and-a-half hours by car. Situated between the Wollemi National Park and the Gardens of Stone National Park, the ultra-luxury conservation-based resort offers signature immersive experiences including: horseback riding, wildlife safaris and the tranquil natural setting of the One&Only Spa. The pinnacle of luxury at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is the three-bedroom Wolgan Villa that serves as a completely self-contained lodge, with a beautifully landscaped garden, private terraces and swimming pool. With a generous living and dining room, and a fully equipped gourmet kitchen that makes entertaining with family and friends a pleasure, the Wolgan Villa is the ultimate destination for family discovery.
Ka Bru River, Brazil
In beautiful Bahia, Brazil Ka Bru River is a two-room villa overlooks the pristine wilderness of Itacaré’s river delta and the surrounding Atlantic rainforest. A 10-minutes’ drive from the village of Itacaré, Ka Bru River River is built on an elevated platform to give guests a 360-degree view of their surroundings. The hideaway, which offers complete privacy, is a gem of tropical architecture and features a fully equipped kitchen, an outdoor pool, daily breakfast and more. The villa is near the secluded paradisiacal beaches of fishing and the surf mecca Itacaré, which can be reached by car within 10 minutes. Other activities include water sports, yoga or cooking lessons, massage sessions and more. Overlooking the pristine wilderness of Itacaré’s river delta and the surrounding Atlantic rainforest, its oversized sliding doors between the various areas create a paradise to see from any room.
Glen Affric Estate, Scottish Highlands
Centrally within the Scottish Highlands National Nature Reserve, the 10,000-acre Glen Affric Estate includes a ten-bedroom, five-bathroom Affric Lodge and the three-bedroom Stable Cottage. About 15 miles away from Loch Ness and approximately 45 minutes by car from Inverness, the property is still reminiscent of the Victorian age and includes a whisky room and wine cave. Only one group can rent the property at a time where a chauffeured car takes guests to and from the Inverness airport, where the Duchess of Cambridge’s little brother, James Middleton, is the proprietor and host. The all-inclusive price ($16,500 per night, 10 guests – accommodation can be provided, comfortably for 10 additional guests at $460 guests per night), includes daily meals prepared by a private chef; selection of wines, Champagnes, spirits and soft drinks; range of activities – clay shooting to hiking/biking to massages and beauty treatments to local whisky and gin tastings.
Casa Dare to Dream, Costa Rica
Nestled in the mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Casa Dare to Dream is a $2 million dollar 6,500 sq. ft. luxury villa has all the amenities of a five-star resort. In the gated community of Hermosa Heights, escape to a tropical paradise where your five-bedroom villa comes with a private driver, private tour guide, concierge, villa exclusive chef and housekeeping. Each bedroom offers breathtaking panoramic views of Playa Hermosa’s nearby beach and surrounding tropical canopy, and the villa also includes outdoor amenities like a 30-ft salt mineral Infinity pool, elevated sun deck, swim up bar and full outdoor kitchen and gym overlooking the ocean. Other experiences can include private yoga, private massages on the terrace, even a private singer from a 1990’s Costa Rica boy band. While there, speak with your private tour guide to plan a variety of activities such as: hikes through the rainforest, zip lining, mud baths, hot springs, coffee shops and much more.
Bodhi Leaf Ultra Luxury Villa, Bali
The brand-new Bodhi Leaf Ultra Luxury Villa opened in November 2018 in Bali, on the sacred Petanu River. The eco-sustainable property built high up on Bali’s spectacular terraced ricefields includes: four full-time staff, personal butlers, exclusive Balinese cultural experiences, and a personal concierge to assist with dozens of bespoke experiences. Your personal chef will prepare beautiful healthy organic Indonesian dishes catering to any dietary restrictions while local transportation with private car and driver can take you on any daily excursions. The entire villa consists of 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms with a family/media room, infinity pool overlooking terraced rice fields, yoga sanctuary with unbelievable views of the holy Mt. Agung and The Indian Ocean. Extremely private, this oasis is strategically located in the traditional seaside village of Sukawati, but guests can still enjoy exclusive experiences and excursions, spa treatments, and more from its sister property just 1km away, Floating Leaf Eco-Luxury Retreat which has been awarded the best retreat center in South-East Asia four years in a row. Bodhi Leaf is unquestionably poised to accel even higher. Be one of the first to enjoy this truly unique Bali experience.
Podere Olivastra, Italy
Operated by Red Savannah, a luxury tour operator specializing in tailor-made trips around the world, Podere Olivastra is located in the Seggiano region of Southern Tuscany. The recently restored luxurious villa features three bedrooms upstairs and a fourth bedroom in the tower, La Torretta, which includes a copper bath-tub, perfectly positioned to capture the idyllic Tuscan landscape from the window. Along with an infinity-edge swimming pool, a Finnish sauna and gym, an orangery with a table tennis and dégustation room. Ideal for travelers looking to work on their cooking skills, guests can gather ingredients such as tomatoes and courgettes from the garden to cook with in the in the well-equipped Italian kitchen and can taste the locally produced and award-winning olive oil. Enjoy stunning views of Mont Amiata, an extinct volcano, and is surrounded by delightfully landscaped gardens, vines and olive orchards.
Domaine des Coteaux, France
Also part of the Red Savannah villa collection, Domaine des Coteaux is located within a working wine estate in Provence, France. The villa is a blend of eleven centuries of the site’s history mixed with elements of comfort and state-of-the-art facilities for ultimate relaxation and luxury. The seven-bedroom villa features a cascading swimming pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi, a tennis court, a pétanque court, a gym, a private wine tasting room, an outdoor kitchen, a well-stocked library, home cinema and more. Take advantage of the in-house chef who will prepare your meals using the estate’s homegrown produce, olive oil and honey in the dining area which opens onto a medieval herb garden, with an adjoining outdoor terrace. If you want to add a little more vino to your experience, book their five-day “Chene Bleu Extreme Wine” experience which includes a fully immersive and interactive wine course amidst the vineyard and offers a dedicated teaching facility, state of the art tasting room and renowned instructors.
Villa Palopó, Guatemala
Located on the shore of Lake Atitlan in the heart of the Guatemalan Highlands, Villa Palopó is located within Casa Palopo, Guatamela’s first Relais & Chateaux hotel. With panoramic views of Lake Atitlan, the villa offers a quiet retreat for the discerning traveler with unique rooms that evoke the colorful heritage of the country. The three-bedroom villa offers the best views of the lake and volcanoes and includes a full kitchen with butler and chef service, and an infinity pool with jacuzzi and outdoor palapa with a fireplace — the perfect place to unwind after a day visiting the charming Mayan towns that surround the shore of the lake. To arrive in style, guests can book a helicopter transfer from Guatemala City and land on the villa’s own helipad.
Villa Agave, Banyan Tree Cabo Marques, Acapulco, Mexico
Banyan Tree Cabo Marques is a luxury resort in Acapulco with three separate villas for vacationers to enjoy, built on high stilts over cliffs of Acapulco Diamond. While all three residences come with a living room, dining room, fully-equipped kitchen, pool with jacuzzi and solarium, the most opulent option is Villa Agave, a 8,600 sq ft, four ocean-view bedrooms and four bathroom villa. The two-story villa features a spa pavilion for private treatments and facing the Pacific Ocean, provides 180-degree views of the beautiful blue water. During your stay in the villa you also have access to Banyan Tree Cabo Marques activities and amenities including their four restaurants on site, full spa and other activities which include tequila and mezcal tastings and cooking classes.