Villas
Private villas with their own pools, from the hills of Mallorca and the Algarve to Tuscan farmhouses, the Greek islands, Turkey and the Caribbean.
Photo by Barney Goodman on Unsplash
- Typical length
- A week or two, often with set arrival days
- Sleeps
- From two to twelve or more
- Included
- The villa and pool, linen and towels, and usually cleaning during your stay
- Best booked
- Up to a year ahead for school holidays and larger villas
A villa gives you a place of your own. Your own pool, your own terrace, breakfast when you feel like it and dinner outside as the sun goes down, with nobody else's schedule and no fight for a sunbed.
For families and groups it often makes more sense than a hotel: everyone has their own room, there's a kitchen for the children's tea, and the evenings are spent together rather than in a bar. For couples it can be the quietest holiday there is.
The right villa depends on details you only find out by asking. How far is the beach, really? Is the pool fenced, is it heated, how many steps are there to the bedrooms? We ask those questions, then book the flights, car hire or transfers so it all comes together as one holiday.
Kinds of villa
From a two-bedroom house among olive trees to an estate with staff. These are the main kinds.
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Photo by Greyy john on Unsplash Family villas
Room for everyone, a pool with a fence or alarm, a garden for running about and a beach or a town within an easy drive. Cots and high chairs can usually be arranged.
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Photo by Rafael Peier on Unsplash Villas for two
Smaller, private houses with a pool and a view, often in quieter spots up in the hills or on the edge of a village. Ideal for a honeymoon or an anniversary.
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Photo by Aleksandr Galichkin on Unsplash Large group villas
Six bedrooms or more, big terraces and long tables, for milestone birthdays, family reunions and friends travelling together.
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Photo by Claudio Carrozzo on Unsplash Farmhouses and country houses
Converted farmhouses in Tuscany, stone mas in Provence and quintas in Portugal, set among vineyards and olive groves.
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Photo by Rosemary Media on Unsplash Villas with staff
In the Caribbean and parts of Asia many villas come with a housekeeper, a cook or a butler, so it feels like your own private hotel.
Choosing your villa
Location and getting about
A villa in the hills is peaceful but usually means a car for every trip to the beach or the shops. One on the edge of a village lets you walk to dinner. We talk through what matters to you, how long the drive is from the airport, and whether a hire car or a transfer makes more sense.
The pool and outside space
Pool size, shade, sunbeds and how much of the day the terrace gets the sun all make a difference. Pools are not always heated, which matters in spring and autumn, and not all of them are fenced. We check before you book, especially when small children are going.
What's in the price
Linen and towels are provided, and most villas are cleaned during your stay, though how often varies. Some charge separately for pool heating or air-conditioning, take a refundable security deposit, or have a local tourist tax to pay on arrival. We tell you about all of these up front.
Where to go
The Mediterranean has the widest choice, a short flight from the UK, and a few places further afield do villas just as well. These are the favourites, and the months they're at their best.
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May to October
Photo by Alexis Presa on Unsplash Mallorca and Menorca
Stone fincas in the Tramuntana mountains, villas near Pollença and Alcúdia, and Menorca's quieter coves.
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April to October
Photo by William V on Unsplash The Algarve
Golden cliffs and beaches, golf, and villas near Carvoeiro, Vilamoura and the quieter western end. Mild in winter too.
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May to October
Photo by Mateo Krossler on Unsplash Mainland Spain
The Costa Blanca around Jávea, Moraira and Altea, and the white villages and hills behind the Costa del Sol.
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May to June, September to October
Photo by doozydoom on Unsplash Tuscany and Umbria
Farmhouses among vineyards and olive groves, close to Florence, Siena, Lucca and the hill towns. August is hot.
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June to September
Photo by Antony BEC on Unsplash Provence and the Côte d'Azur
Stone houses in the Luberon and hills above Nice, with lavender in flower from late June into July.
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May to October
Photo by Julian Müller on Unsplash The Greek islands
Corfu, Paxos, Kefalonia, Crete and more, with whitewashed villas over the sea and tavernas on the harbour.
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May to October
Photo by Igor Sporynin on Unsplash Turkey's Turquoise Coast
Hillside villas with sea views around Kalkan and Kaş, and the bays of the Bodrum peninsula.
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December to April
Photo by Rosemary Media on Unsplash The Caribbean
Staffed villas on Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua. The hurricane season runs from June to November.
Destinations we'd suggest
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Algarve Golden cliffs, sea caves and long sandy beaches on Portugal's sunny southern coast.
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Majorca Mountain villages, quiet coves and a stylish capital, all a short flight from home.
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Crete The largest Greek island, with mountains, gorges, Minoan palaces and beaches to suit every kind of trip.
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Turkey Pine-covered coves, ancient cities and generous hospitality along the Turquoise Coast.
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Cyprus Long sunny seasons, ancient mosaics and mountain villages, on an island that feels instantly easy.
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Lanzarote Volcanic landscapes, whitewashed villages and golden beaches, warm all through the year.
How we help
- The right villa
- Bedrooms, stairs, pool fencing, distances and views, matched to who's going.
- Getting there
- Flights at sensible times, car hire or a transfer, and directions to the door.
- Arrival
- Key collection, late arrivals and who to call locally, sorted before you leave.
- Extras
- Pool heating, cots and high chairs, a welcome pack or a chef for a night.
- Protected
- ABTA protected, and ATOL protected when your villa holiday includes flights.
Questions about villas
Do I need a car?
For most villas in the countryside, yes, for the beach, the shops and restaurants. Some villas are within walking distance of a village or beach, and some places are easy by taxi. We'll tell you which kind you're looking at.
Is the pool heated?
Some pools can be heated, usually for an extra charge, which is worth it in spring and autumn. By high summer most pools are warm enough without it.
Is the pool safe for children?
Many family villas have a fence, a gate or an alarm, but not all. We'll check, and children should always be watched around water.
What is a security deposit?
Many villas take a refundable deposit against breakages, either before you travel or on arrival. It's returned after you leave if all is well.
Is there air-conditioning?
In hot regions most villas have it, at least in the bedrooms. In a few it's metered or charged as an extra, which we'll tell you about.
Are there extra local charges?
Some places charge a tourist tax per person per night, such as the Balearic Islands and Greece. It's usually paid locally.
Which day do we arrive?
Many villas have a set changeover day, often a Saturday, in high season. Outside the busiest weeks arrivals are usually more flexible.
Can we hold a party or a wedding at the villa?
Not without permission. Many villas don't allow events or extra guests, and some need a special arrangement. Tell the team what you have in mind and we'll find villas where it's allowed.
Where should we take you?
Tell the team what you have in mind and we'll come back with ideas, usually the same day. The team reads every request.
- 01WhereA place, a few ideas, or a hotel you love
- 02WhenA month or exact dates, and how flexible you are
- 03FlightsWhich airport suits you, or none at all
- 04WhoEveryone going, with children's ages
- 05SpendA rough idea for the whole trip
- 06The detailsBoard, hotel rating, facilities, the kind of place
Photos by Barney Goodman, Greyy john, Rafael Peier, Aleksandr Galichkin, Claudio Carrozzo, Rosemary Media, Dennis van den Worm, Zion C, Mavi Atlas, Alexis Presa, William V, Mateo Krossler, doozydoom, Antony BEC, Julian Müller and Igor Sporynin on Unsplash.