Private Villa Escapes
December 11, 2023 by Hidden Doorways
Sometimes only seclusion will do. Maybe there’s a group trip on the horizon that better suits a sprawling space rather than individual hotel rooms. Perhaps it’s a family holiday that calls for a whole casa. Or it could be that kicking back in an environment that feels akin to a home rather than a room or suite is the only definition of a de-stress getaway in which your clients are interested? Whichever statement rings true, our partners offering private, luxurious villas promise a sense of escape like no other across the entire globe, from the jungles of Costa Rica to the coves of the Greek Islands…
Costa Rica
In the oasis that is Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo – a biological corridor known for its peacefulness, biodiversity and both UNESCO World Heritage Site and Blue Zone status — are two private residencies for guests to choose between:
First is Villa Avellana that can host up to 23 guests across its ten bedrooms with their every whim tended to by the generous 20 members of staff who are there to serve throughout their experience. Guests have complete privacy but with the luxury of five-star hotel service — the very best of both worlds. There’s no risk of getting on top of one another either at Villa Avellana with over 33,000 square feet to call your own, in addition to three acres of beachfront grounds, not to mention a whole ocean to look out onto. When you’re not unwinding in its infinity-edge pool or jacuzzi, you might find yourself exploring Costa Rica’s waters in the villa’s luxury yacht before returning to your home-away-from-home for a gourmet dinner by the resident chef team.
The Hive is a luxurious hideaway on the North coast available for five-night stays and beyond (though you may never want to leave). A design aficionado’s dream, The Hive can accommodate 16 guests across its six bedrooms. The property features a screening room, a games area, spa treatment room, hammam and two kitchens to boot, making it a haven for adults and children alike. Aside from its beautiful hillside location, one of the greatest draws of The Hive is its full-time chef, ensuring gourmet cuisine is a constant during your stay. Lean into the concierge service too who will make sure guests want for nothing, arranging everything from in-villa experiences like sunrise yoga and mixology classes to outdoor excursions that will see you zip-lining through the rainforest or hiking up the side of a volcano and so much more.
Guatemala
Casa Palopó sits on the edge of the mystical Lake Atitlán. It was once a private family home and despite becoming an esteemed Relais & Chateaux, it maintains its warmth and intimacy. Brightly colored stucco walls characterize all 12 of its rooms, though for a villa of your own, book out its separate ‘Villa Palopó’. The Villa has three spacious bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom, and comes complete with chef, butler, private heated infinity pool, hot tub, and a gazebo with magical volcano and lake views.
Greece
Across Greece, there are various villa destinations worth noting. For starters, there’s one-, three-, four-, and seven-bedroom villa options at Kālesma in Mykonos. The seven-bedroom Leto Villa is the island’s ultimate private retreat, accommodating up to 14 guests within 5,200 square feet of space. Private heated pools, outdoor dining areas and sun-kissed lounges compose stunning private gathering spaces.
Crete’s Daios Cove is a magnificent estate that counts 39 villas within its 86 acres, including its crown jewel, The Mansion that they describe as being ‘presidential’. The 6,500 square feet interior on three separate levels includes a spacious open-plan living area, kitchen, three generously sized bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, staff quarters, a private heated indoor swimming pool, and a sauna and spa with views to the infinite Mediterranean. The sprawling terrace and deck area has ample space for sunbathing, lounging, and dining, while the gorgeous infinity swimming pool offers panoramic views of the stunning Cretan landscape.
Another favorite has to be Eden Villa at the Andronis Arcadia resort in Santorini’s charming Oia village. It accommodates up to 12 people over three stories and across six bedrooms decorated in Greece’s iconic white and turquoise palette. There’s a fitness center, spa room, and modern kitchen within the villa too as well as two private pools and a guaranteed sunset view to indulge in nightly.
Or if Greece’s southernmost island Zakynthos draws you in, discover Lesante Cape, where the One-, Two-, and Three-Bedroom Sea View Villas offer superb views over the sparkling waters in light-filled spaces made with exposed stone and gorgeous minimalist Grecian decor. These sun-soaked sanctuaries all have private pools, furnished terraces, and ample living spaces, combining a traditional aesthetic with top-of-the-range amenities.
The Bahamas
Private villa yes, but what about private castaway island? Great Exuma in the southern Bahamas gifts you 700 acres, 40 beaches and a choice of five private houses courtesy of the iconic Musha Cay. All five colonial-style homes have their own private beach and butler and can only be booked out by one group of guests at a time so there’s no sharing your private island with anyone other than those on the guest list (capped at 24 by the way). Days here are magical from the secluded setting to the adventures set out for you be it island treasure hunts or goldfish racing followed by a two-story silver screen theatre best enjoyed from the comfort of a beach hammock.
South Africa
With panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Ellerman House is where original Cape Edwardian mansion architecture is safeguarded admits botanical gardens and an impressive art collection. As historical and charming as the main house might be, the property’s two private villas are strikingly contemporary in design. Generously-proportioned entertainment and relaxation areas, spacious en-suite bedrooms, and a private infinity pool that puts guests at eye level with the sunset are just some of the features of these breathtaking villas. Choose Villa One for the most space, though Villa Two, smaller as it may be, feels anything but petite with its breathtaking design language, open-plan living, and floor to ceiling views onto the ocean beyond.
Italy
Nestled in the heart of Maremma countryside with the Tyrrhenian coastline and the ancient Tuscan town of Castiglione della Pescaia just a stone’s throw away, lies L’Andana. Beyond its 61 rooms and suites, it offers the sanctuary of a private four-bedroom villa overlooking the rolling Maremma hills. Named La Scuderia, it’s a sprawling two-story residence with four bedrooms, a generous kitchen and living space plus a shaded porch, pool, and garden. It was the former stable of the Grand Duke’s hunting reserve and has been transformed into a restorative hideaway that preserves many of its original 18th-century features.
France
Coquillade Provence is a hilltop resort that counts the region’s iconic lavender fields, olive groves and world-famous vineyards as neighbors. A five-star Relais & Chateaux, its rooms and suites are scattered across medieval bastilles, unique to France’s Languedoc region, plus a stunning six-bedroom villa – Bastide les Vallats. It comfortably hosts up to 14 guests in what is essentially your very own private Provençal country house complete with seven king-sized beds for sleeping in and a private pool for splashing in. There’s even a spa area — hammam and balneo bath here you come. Guests can enjoy full access to all the services and facilities available at the main hotel, including private chefs, massage therapists, a concierge, and tennis court.
Spain
If you like the sound of a grand estate and a golden Costa del Sol location flanked by the Casares Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, then feast your eyes on Finca Cortesin and its Green 10 villas. They offer breathtaking views over the Sierra Bermeja mountain range with shaded bougainvillea-clad arcades and peaceful garden courtyards within immediate reach as well as full-service living spaces and amenities. And if five bedrooms are one too many, the resort’s slightly smaller La Reserve villas present the very same luxurious features but with a four-bedroom footprint decorated with the resort’s signature Moorish meets Castilian vibe with contemporary overtones.
The Maldives
What better note to end on than the largest standalone overwater villa in the world. Gili Lankanfushi’s Private Reserve sits in the center of a sparkling, turquoise lagoon in The Maldives, the pinnacle of seclusion and sophistication. It describes itself as a ‘rustic-chic fort of dreams’, spread across multiple tiers with open-air interiors, spacious sundecks, a spa pavilion, an air-conditioned gymnasium, cinema, bar, and even a water slide plunging you straight into the Indian Ocean. A private boat is yours for the duration of your stay as well as bamboo bicycles for time spent on land.
