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https://www.barrons.com/articles/europes-most-extravagant-luxury-villas-01673456536
Discerning travelers through Europe who are after the most exclusive accommodations are increasingly turning to villas.
Josh Alexander, luxury travel director at Protravel International, a travel company with more than US$1 billion in annual sales, says the number of requests he’s received for lavish villa rentals in Europe have jumped significantly since the pandemic. “I used to book maybe eight villas a year that cost US$100,000 or more a week, but now I’m booking at least 20,” he says.
Overall, Protravel has seen a 50% increase in the last two years in its high-end European villa bookings, Alexander says. The most common villa request among his clients is a property within a hotel. “A hotel villa gives you the best of two worlds,” he says. “You have the privacy and space that a home affords you combined with the amenities of a hotel, such as the spa and restaurants plus access to their staff.”
Extravagant options of hotel villas abound throughout Europe, but here some the finest:
Villa La Marchesa at Hotel Santa Caterina on the Amalfi Coast is owned and run by the Gambardella family. Dating to the 16th century, the sea-facing villa underwent a four-year restoration before its debut earlier this year, according to co-owner Crescenzo Gargano. The original vaulted ceilings, stone stairways and whitewashed facade remain, but modern luxuries have been added, including an elevator that connects the four levels, a sleek kitchen, and 100-foot swimming pool. A spacious terraced courtyard with a shaded pergola and Amalfi lemon trees are other standout features. Prices from US$6,000 a night.
Looking to Costa del Sol in Spain, the tony Marbella Club’s Villa Del Mar is a favorite among wealthy travelers. The beachfront property offers direct access to Marbella’s popular promenade. It’s built in a classic Andalusian style with elements such as ceramics, traditional patterns, and bespoke furniture in materials such as wicker and bamboo. Features include six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, a swimming pool, garden and terraces with a barbecue area, a spa treatment room, a games and cinema room, a gym, a sauna, and Turkish bath. Prices from US$16,000 a night.
In the Cotswolds region of England, Cirencester Estate, part of Mandarin Oriental’s Exclusive Homes, is situated on a 600-acre estate. The Georgian-style manor has ten bedrooms and a long list of amenities, including a tennis court, lawns and gardens, terraces and verandas, a heated outdoor swimming pool, and a terrace with a fire pit and bar. Cirencester Estate also has a sauna, hot tub, and yoga deck by its lake. Prices from US$8,400 a night.
Villa Sainte-Anne is a new option at the glamorous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes, France. Originally a private home that was built in the early 20th century, it has five bedrooms, a gym, and a well-equipped spa. The celebrated architect Luc Svetchine is behind the property’s multi-year renovation and landscape design. Highlights of his work include more than 22,000 square feet of cascading gardens and a swimming pool and terrace with views of the bay of Juan-les-Pins. Prices from US$16,856 a night.
The Philippe Starck-designed Villa W at the Lilly of the Valley hotel is another chic villa in the French Riviera. Hidden amid close to 17,000 square feet of scenic grounds, the property has a 45-foot swimming pool, three bedrooms, and unobstructed 180-degree views of the Mediterranean coastline. When it comes to the aesthetic, Starck has created a minimalist modern look that features concrete, glass, and steel. Prices from US$9,000 a night.
More rustic but still luxurious, the farmhouse at The Rooster on the Greek island of Antiparos has an endearing style that resembles a traditional Greek home. Comprising three bedrooms, it’s surrounded by a garden that grows vegetables for the hotel and has a pool, indoor/outdoor shower, and large patio that’s perfectly positioned to savor the famous Cycladic sunsets. Prices from US$1,800 a night.
Discerning travelers through Europe who are after the most exclusive accommodations are increasingly turning to villas.
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