In Roman times, the word “villa” implied a home for the privileged—“luxury,” in today’s parlance. In general 21st-century travel terms, the term villa is interpreted as a standalone structure, preferably with its own garden or at least some greenery around it. We do know that whatever the locale, a “villa” is desirable when choosing an hotel or resort. Increasingly, too, renting a substantial villa is even becoming more attractive than booking hotels or resorts that might come with a myriad of services, but not the privacy that standalone villas offer. We have now progressed, by the way, to the assumption that, wherever located, the technology found inside villas will be the latest, easy to operate, and fibre-optic WiFi will not only work throughout the whole of the inside, but outside, too.
And contrary to general expectations, villas do not need to be rural. How about Maison Montespan in Paris? It’s a few minutes’ walk from the Eiffel Tower, the Seine, and Trocadero. With an internal size of 3,500 square feet spread over three floors, and a satisfactory garden, there are five en-suite bedrooms, a media room, a fitness room, an outdoor swimming pool, and the 700-square-foot rooftop has a kitchen. You’ll have daily housekeeping, and your private butler is on hand from 8 am to 6 pm—partly to serve the breakfast and afternoon tea that are included in the price. The mouth salivates at the aroma of freshly baked croissants and macarons, à la français.
Obviously, location makes a difference when choosing villas. For beach bums, Villa Moonlight on Bali’s Gumicik Beach, at Ketewel, might be considered. There are breathtaking views out to sea from this six-bedroom establishment, which has richly elegant interiors, plus a 60-foot pool and a brigade of staff, from manager and security to butlers, housekeeping, and a private chef.
If you want what is described as an “over-sized” pool, think Aqualiving’s Rocher Estate on the Agios Lazaros peninsula on the Greek island of Mykonos. It’s less than a year old and it is so private you need a special password from federico@aqualivingvillas.com to find out more. Robb Report Hong Kong has been able to find out that the 2,500-square-foot villa, on an enormous tranche of land, can sleep 18. As well as the main pool, there’s another, exclusively for the master bedroom. Add in both indoor and outdoor kitchens, spa, gym, and huge playroom with boxing ring, table tennis, and the latest simulator video games machines to the mix. Pre-order whatever services you want. The villa has a private jetty with sea access and a helipad, and it is only 15 minutes’ drive from the Mykonos airport.
Prepare for a longer post-flight drive if you are going to Raja Mandaka, the owner’s estate villa at Nihi Sumba, Indonesia, but it is worth the 80-minute, sometimes-off-road drive from Sumba’s Tambolaka Airport. You alternatively helicopter from there (20 minutes) or from Bali (90 minutes). When he is there, Raja Mandaka is the home of Chris Burch, ex-husband of Tory Burch. When he is away, the 52,333-square-foot, six-bedroom villa can be yours. The freestanding master bedroom has its own lap pool and cold-plunge jungle waterfall pool, plus a library, a living room, an indoor dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a pizza oven. The vast outdoor entertaining space includes a deck, dining, daybeds, and a covered lounge. The master bedroom also has its own second bedroom. The rest of the accommodations are in two-floor villas dotted behind the main Raja Mandaka residence on a gentle slope. Each has a partially covered entry-level deck, living room, bathroom, and outdoor lounge, plus en-suite bedrooms. The whole thing is in Indonesian style with a Sumbanese touch. Nihi Sumba is all-inclusive, by the way, which means three daily meals (alcohol is extra), water activities, and scheduled group yoga and meditation classes. Pay extra for such specials as the resort’s justly admired Spa Safari Experience.
In India, what they call “homestays” are growing in international popularity. One particularly impressive one is The Mango House, managed by IHCL Tata’s Amã Stays & Trails division. Don’t be put off by The Mango House’s typically Indian address, “Behind Nagre High School”—it’s 2.5 hours south of another IHCL beauty, Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. The Mango House, which sleeps eight, has a private pool and it’s only five minutes’ drive to Awas Beach. Fully serviced, chefs cook whatever you want but their specialities include authentic Konkan and Maharashtrian delicacies as well as lip-smacking vada pav, simple grilled seafood, or barbeques under starlit skies.
Fitness freaks might turn to the 1,758-square-foot one- or 4,171-square-foot two-bedroom villas at Portugal’s divine Six Senses Douro Valley, a few minutes from the Douro river and in a 360-degree theatre of hilly vineyards. The villas, sometimes used by work-from-home guests, have heated lap pools with counter-current function for additional exercise. Inside, there are working fireplaces and wine fridges. You have full use of the main resort, five minutes’ walk away, so plan an agenda that might include blending in the apothecary lab, biohacking, tree climbing, wine tasting, and, without doubt, fabulous food—an essential of any away-from-home traveller, working away from home or simply sybaritically hanging out. Don’t even consider villas, anywhere in the world, without making sure you will have the necessities of luxury lifestyle.
