Villa Hotels: 4 Of The Best

Villa vs hotel: the ultimate holiday conundrum. Do you prioritise privacy or facilities? Convenience or freedom? Room service or home-cooked food?

We have some good news for you: these days it’s possible to have both. More and more villas are offering hotel-style facilities and services, from in-house chefs to spas to yoga pavilions. Owner of Villa Infinitum in Mallorca Nick Bampton calls it a ‘votel’ – a cross between a villa and a hotel, which is a trend we can certainly get on board with. Check out three of the best villa hotels available for bookings this summer…

Villa Infinitum, Mallorca

Villa Infinitum in Port d’Andratx might just be the most beautiful villa on the island. From its prime hillside position, the villa boasts views which can genuinely be described as jaw-dropping – and these only get better as you head upwards. The villa is set across five floors, with five king-sized bedrooms, an infinity pool, indoor spa, gym, open plan living area and billiards room. But the crown jewel has to be the glamorous roof terrace, complete with a Jacuzzi-style pool, outdoor kitchen space, and 180-vistas of the Mediterranean and Tramuntana mountains beyond. Interiors are chic and minimalist, with floor to ceiling windows throughout flooding the residence with Spanish sunlight. All bedrooms are front-facing, meaning no matter where you’re sleeping you’ll wake up to picture-perfect sea views. These are particularly spectacular from the master suite: a huge, airy space with a freestanding bath, rainfall shower and walk in wardrobe. These luxurious settings are more than matched by the service. You’ll wake up to an impressive breakfast spread each morning, and guests can book bespoke in-house services, such as private catering from Marc Fosh trained chefs, wine tasting, yacht trips around the island and spa treatments from at-home beauty booking service Ruuby. A private cellar containing every type of alcohol under the sun is restocked each week for guests, with the option to pre-order particular tipples ahead of your visit.

Book it: Take exclusive use of Villa Infinitum year-round starting from €18,000 per week based on 10 sharing. This includes daily breakfast, daily maid service and a dedicated villa manager to assist with housekeeping and additional services. Minimum stay of seven nights. infinitumvillas.com 

Kingfisher Point, Corfu

Private jetty, infinity pool, tennis courts: Kingfisher Point has everything you could ever want from a villa and more. It’s made up of two adjacent houses, Amarea and Ophelia, each sleeping eight – perfect for two families holidaying together or big groups of friends. Upon arrival you’ll be greeted with canapes and champagne, and each day a top quality chef will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, alongside a housekeeping service for four hours each day. Meanwhile a concierge will be on hand to help with your every need – whether you’re looking to hire a boat, organise something for a special occasion, or book an excursion.

Book it: This eight-bedroom villa (sleeps 16) is priced from £2,869 pp (£45,911 total), including drinks, canapes and fresh flowers upon arrival, breakfast service, chef and waitress service for lunch/dinner, housekeeping service, gardener, concierge service and complimentary Nespresso coffee. cvvillas.com

The Beach House, Barbados

Fancy a sunrise yoga class? A seafood BBQ? Paddle boarding? Nothing is too much for the team at Barbados Beach House, an ultra-luxe five-bedroom villa on the west coast of Barbados. With a butler, cook, housekeeper, gardener and security guard on-hand, you’ll be impeccably catered for here. Guests have ample space, with 1.2 acres of tropical landscaped gardens to explore alongside a cinema, gym, yoga pavilion and infinity pool. And as if that wasn’t enough, a pebbled path leads directly onto a protected beach, where you may be lucky enough to spot newly hatched turtles making their way to the sea.

Book it: The Wow House Company offers one week’s property rental of Barbados Beach House, sleeping 10 people, from £49,000 including staff. The rental rate is subject to plus 15% VAT (local government tax) plus a bed levy tax of $350 for the week. thewowhousecompany.com

Ezzahara, Morocco

Poised within the idyllic Palmeraie not far from Marrakesh, Ezzahara is an idyllic spot, surrounded by palm trees, lawns and rose gardens. However you like to spend your holiday, all bases are covered here: there’s a pool, tennis courts, a gym, a spa, a beauty centre, a cinema and a games room. All bedrooms have en suite bathrooms and many have private terraces overlooking either the gardens or the pool. The villa is fully staffed, with a chef, a driver, a concierge, and even a beauty therapist, available for massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. There’s even an on-site hairdresser. The only problem? You’ll never want to leave.

Book it: This seven-bedroom villa (sleeps 14) is priced from £2,414 pp (£33,801 total) per week, including full catering, personal laundry service, housekeeping, massage/beauty therapist, driver and one return airport transfer. cvvillas.com

Travel Trends 2019 / Last-Minute Summer Holidays