5 Hotels With Private Villas For A ‘Best Of Both Worlds’ Vacation
What’s better than staying in a sublime hotel? Staying in a private villa on the grounds of one – promising space, seclusion, and home comforts, alongside an abundance of activities, amenities, and excellent service. KATIE BERRINGTON chooses five of the very best around the world
Amanpuri, Phuket, Thailand
Perched on the peninsula above the Andaman Sea, a stay at Amanpuri provides the epitome of serenity. For added peace and calm – and perhaps the best vistas of the glittering turquoise waters that surround the hotel – the phenomenal villas are standalone properties (ranging in size from three to nine king-size bedrooms), designed to evoke the Buddhist architecture of ancient Ayutthaya. The cocooning, wood-clad interiors open out onto vast, coconut-palm-fringed alfresco spaces, where exquisite terraces and incredible swimming pools await. While the hotel’s varied restaurant options are tantalizing, there is also a dedicated chef on hand in the villas to curate an expert menu of local delicacies served at your own impressive dining table.
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La Residencia, a Belmond Hotel, Mallorca
Set within the grounds of the legendary La Residencia, guests can stay in the hotel’s Villa Robert Graves – a sky-blue-shuttered, three-bedroom house named after one of the many creatives inspired by the artistic flair of the Mallorcan village. This year, the design of the villa has been beautifully reimagined by Studio Ashby, imbuing it with an artful spirit befitting of the location. It’s tempting to spend sun-drenched hours by the hotel’s three centerpiece pools, in the spa, on the tennis courts, dining in the two restaurants, or swimming in the nearby crystalline cove of Cala Deià. But the villa’s well-equipped kitchen and stunning living space – including a verdant terrace complete with your own pool – offer a highly appealing alternative.
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Reschio, Umbria, Italy
Dotted across Reschio’s sprawling estate, overlooking a bucolic landscape of undulating hills, statuesque cypress trees, and breathtaking Tuscan sunsets, eight former farmhouses have been impeccably restored to offer guests their own piece of this Italian idyll. Each property is unique, preserving its original footprint, with individual features including scenic alfresco swimming pools, spa baths, picturesque gardens, outdoor dining areas, and blissful views of the estate’s castle and sweeping countryside. In the mornings, a housemaid prepares your choice of breakfast dishes – including fresh, free-range eggs from Reschio’s chickens – while the many delights of the ancient estate – from truffle foraging and horseback riding to slipping down into the cavernous spa set in the vaults below the castle – will more than fill your days.
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THE ROWHugh leather sandals$1,541.00View Product DetailsSelect a Size36 - low stock37 - out of stock38 - low stock39 - low stock40 - out of stock41 - low stock42
Jumby Bay Island, Antigua
Guests arrive at the tropical, paradisal retreat of Jumby Bay – off the northern coast of Antigua – by the resort’s boat, where expansive villas and private residences span the island’s lush landscape. These include grand estates and breezy beachfront houses with their own stretches of shore, ensuring a uniquely luxurious stay in exquisite surroundings. Each palm-lined property comes with a personal butler who can curate itineraries of wildest dreams, along with full access to the resort’s wealth of amenities – from the ocean-view spa and a plethora of pools and picture-perfect beaches to water sports, boat trips, and barbecues on the pristine sands.
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Lily of the Valley, Saint-Tropez, France
In the verdant setting of Gigaro, Lily of the Valley is a stunning retreat in the south of France – with less heady glamour than nearby Saint-Tropez, more outdoor pursuits, a connection to nature, and wellness programs. From its world-class spa to activities that amplify the beautiful surroundings (such as hiking and mountain biking overlooking the three-mile wild beach bay on which it resides), guests are invited to fully recharge and revitalize. Among the accommodation options are several private villas – each gloriously designed (our favorite, at a push, might be the Villa Pool Suite, just a few steps from Gigaro beach and featuring its eye-catching checkerboard swimming pool), all overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the hills of the Cap Lardier estate. For those seeking a more remote mountainous experience, Lily of the Valley also offers its own exclusive alpine retreat, the Courchevel Chalet.
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SAINT LAURENTGaby leather-trimmed raffia bucket bag
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