30 of the world's most beautiful villas to book now
There are plenty of reasons to choose a villa for your holiday over a hotel: perhaps you're travelling in a large group, perhaps you want privacy, or maybe you just prefer to cook for yourself and not worry about getting down to breakfast on time. Staying in a villa can make you feel part of your surroundings in a way that hotels rarely manage. But the choice of villa can make or break your holiday, and we all know the heart-sinking feeling of realising, upon arrival after a long journey, that you haven't got it quite right. There's little chance of that with these immensely stylish villas. We've selected 30 of the world's most beautiful houses to rent, impeccably designed inside and out, and equipped with all the luxuries you could want for a relaxing summer holiday.
1/30Art Villa | Guanacaste Province | Costa Rica
Deep in the jungle above Playa Hermosa in the Gulf of Papagayo on the northwest coast of Costa Rica - with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean - this monolithic, concrete villa is a contemporary architectural feat that strikes the balance between indoor and outdoor living. The interior scheme softens the striking concrete walls with teak wooden furniture, ornamental tiled floors made in Nicaragua and hand-painted tiles depicting jungle landscapes forming a splashback in the kitchen. A collaboration between Czech studios Formafatal and Refuel Works, the Art Villa has five bedrooms, a spacious sitting area, a kitchen and dining area, a playroom for children, a gym and even a dance hall. The infinity pool extends out from the house and is suspended above the treetops.
Art Villa sleeps up to 10 and costs from $2,670 for a minimum three-night stay, B&B.
cristina moschella slow picture studio,cristina moschella slow picture2/30Arboli | Sicily | Italy
In the grounds of San Giuliano - the centuries-old estate of a Sicilian marquis - an outbuilding has been turned into a spacious villa, with Mount Etna as its backdrop. A 40-minute drive from Catania airport brings you to Villasmundo, a hamlet in the south east of the island, close to beaches like Spiaggia dell'Arenella, villages such as Brucoli and one of Sicily's main attractions: Syracuse and Ortigia. Arboli's four bedrooms are filled with pieces that reveal the owner's storied family history alongside carefully chosen antique furniture. Served under a pergola, breakfast includes jams made on the estate. It is the T-shaped pool, however, that is the epicentre of the house, where everyone can gather to relax. Arriving back here each evening is magical - watching as the wrought-iron gates open to reveal the magnificent façade of the main house, before you wind through cactus gardens and fields of palm on the way to the villa.
Arboli sleeps up to eight and costs from £8,050 a week through The Thinking Traveller.
3/30Paros DP, Pounda, Paros
This beautiful waterfront estate is formed by two houses set behind a narrow sandy beach, with a jetty and tennis court. It's a brilliant choice for families as each house is totally independent and private, with its own swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, parking and terraces. At the same time, the entire group can also eat together and be catered for as a group.
Walkways wind through the extensive gardens, connecting the houses and leading to the floodlit tennis court, the wooden jetty where small boats can be moored and to the beach. The estate faces Antiparos, which is an easy hop across the water. Sunsets are particularly lovely here, when the sun sets over Antiparos and the ochre walls of the house are suffused with a rosy pink glow. For the active, if tennis and a well equipped gym aren't enough, a world class kite-surfing centre is on the doorstep, and kite-surfing and scuba diving can be done from the house jetty.
Paros DP sleeps up to 16 and costs €48,300 per week in the high season.
4/30Folly Joshua Tree | California | United States
In the desert landscape of Joshua Tree National Park, architectural designer Malek Algadi's weathered steel structures offer an off-grid stay. Having come across the neglected homestead (built around 1954) while on a trip, he decided to buy and revive the two buildings. Now, these seemingly simple structures pack in all the modern comforts: a bedroom occupies the ground floor of one, with a second one upstairs open to the elements so you can sleep under the stars. In the other is a sitting, dining and kitchen space, with a ladder up to another bedroom. Outside, there is a hot tub and an atmospheric seating area around a fireplace. Within Joshua Tree's 800 acres of lunar-like scenery are incredible hiking routes, cactus gardens and rock formations. It is about a 40-minute drive from Palm Springs and two-and-a-half hours from Los Angeles, making it the perfect leg in a journey through California.
Folly Joshua Tree sleeps up to six and costs from $425 a night through Folly Collection.
5/30Villa Elias | Alenteio | Portugal
Between the creative villages of Comporta and Melides on the Alentejo coastline lies this understated sanctuary, ideally located for beach hopping and exploring this beautiful region south of Lisbon. The house was designed by local architect Nun Carvalho in the minimalist, almost monastic style of the moment, which showcases raw materials such as woven straw rugs and lighting, and wooden furniture from Ferm Living. Architectural elements like the exposed pitched roof with dark, textured beams stand out, as do built-in features. These include a curved seating unit topped with cushions in the open-plan sitting and dining room as well as custom beds, desks and shelving in the five bedrooms spread across the ground floor and a mezzanine level. There is also a playroom and yoga shala (lessons are available on request), while the pool area is scented by the pines and eucalyptus trees that surround it.
Villa Elias sleeps up to 12 and costs from €4,500 a week through Design Escapes.
6/30Villa des Fougères | Île de Ré | France
Just outside the village of Les Portes-en-Ré, the impeccably stylish house of a young French family has recently become available to rent. The owners have lived in Tokyo, Brazil and the US, and every corner is infused with their eclectic taste. Designed by architect Alain Sarfati in the early 1970s, the house is on a quiet cul-de-sac a few minutes bike ride from the village or the beaches of Marchais and Gros Jon (one of the best ways to explore île de Ré is on a bicycle). Spread across one level in a U-shape, the bungalow is ideal for families of all ages to move around, with plenty of natural light pouring through glazed doors that open onto the gardens from the sitting areas and bedrooms. Furniture and art that the family has collected on its travels can be seen throughout. In the garden, there is a large pool, as well as a tennis court.
Villa des Fougères sleeps up to eight and can accommodate a further six guests on request in additional suites; it costs from €22,000 a week through SJ Villas.
7/30Villa Giannella | Tuscany | Italy
This handsome house inspires at every turn. Located in Magliano in Toscana, a medieval hilltop town nearer to the coast than the deep heartland of Tuscany, it is surrounded by the olive groves and vineyards typical of the region. Parts of the building date back 800 years to when it was used as a nuns' cloister and now tastefully muted interiors draw attention to the original architectural elements. Exposed stone walls, vaulted ceilings and arched doorways contrast with modern features, such as the metal cladding used for the chimney breasts and staircases, and the Crittall style windows. Seven bedrooms are split between the main house and two smaller guesthouses, while two sitting areas are anchored by imposing fireplaces. Even the infinity pool is in keeping with the old-meets-new aesthetic: it cuts through the old stone wall of the estate and extends over the sloped hillside, supported by a weathered steel platform.
Villa Giannella sleeps up to 12 and costs from £10,638 a night through Onefinestay.
8/30Kerasia Beach House | Corfu | Greece
At Kerasia Beach House, you can tumble out of bed and step straight into the sea - or almost. Its garden gate opens straight onto the pebble beach, allowing you to make the most of those most magical times of day when it is slightly cooler, the light is low and you may well have it all to yourself. The villa is at the far end of Kerasia beach, in the north east of the Ionian Islands, often referred to as Durrell country. Surrounded by olive groves, the single-storey house sits within a garden newly planted by Lucie Willan (the British-born head gardener at the Sparoza Garden in Athens) and feels very private, despite its proximity to the beach. Once through the garden gate, you will find some steps up to the swimming pool on a level above, which has views of the sea. To the right is the house. You come first to its covered terrace with comfortable seating, a table for dining and an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue area. From there, you enter into a double-height kitchen, then into a large sitting room with a high ceiling Kerasia Beach House that soars into the rafters and off which are four double bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. Each has French windows leading out onto a terrace that wraps around the house. The interiors, by the Paris-based designer Tino Zervudachi. are understated but chic with a good level of comfort, including crisp white sheets, towels with contrast piping to match the fabrics in each room, and sculptural lamps and art to add interest. The villa is so well situated that you barely need to get in a car. Kerasia Taverna is just a few minutes walk along the beach and they will let you moor your boat on their jetty should you hire one for your stay. Kouloura, a little harbour with a good restaurant open from breakfast time, can be reached via the coastal path, and you can swim from the rocks en route. Kerasia Beach House sleeps up to eight and costs from €5,000 a week through Villa Collective.
It can be rented with Kerasia Hill House, which sleeps up to six and costs from €4,000 a week.
9/30Maison Dubreuil | Bordeaux | France
This charming property in the hills outside Saint-Emilion is the perfect place to combine a French vineyard experience with a rural villa holiday. Completed in 2023, the converted farmhouse is in the traditional local style using aged stone and wood, and is set in the 8.5-hectare Clos Dubreuil vineyard. The interiors reflect the American owners' heritage and also their love of the classic French aesthetic. Sitting areas are furnished with elegant wrought-iron tables and linen-covered sofas and, in the six bedrooms, a mix of floral and checked fabrics creates a fresh yet timeless feel. The heated swimming pool and outdoor dining areas are the social hub of the house. Experiences including wine tastings, picnics on the farm, dinners cooked by a private chef, cooking classes, bike and helicopter tours, and riverboat trips can be arranged for those who are keen to explore the surrounding countryside.
Maison Dubreuil sleeps up to 12 and costs from £21,337 a week through Abercrombie & Kent Villas.
10/30Villa Lilou | Formentera | Spain
Set among the pines in a coastal nature reserve on peaceful Formentera, Villa Lilou is the quintessential Balearic Island hideaway. The low-lying, white-painted house, with azure shutters and a terracotta-tiled roof, is surrounded by a Mediterranean-style garden. Winding paths and flights of steps take you to different seating areas and an inviting swimming pool surrounded by decking with views out to the sea. About 10 minutes drive from the main town, Sant Francesc Xavier, the villa is within close reach of shops and restaurants, while its private beach and trails are ideal for nature walks and are easily accessible by foot. The bohemian interiors feature straw lampshades, solid hand-carved wooden furniture and predominantly white linens, to suit the airy aesthetic typical of this island. A large wooden pergola provides shade above a long dining table lit by hanging lanterns, perfect for leisurely meals with family and friends.
Villa Lilou sleeps up to 12 and costs from £16,750 a week through Le Collectionist.
11/30Corfu MC2 | Corfu | Greece
Within only 50 minutes of landing on Corfu, you could be floating in an infinity pool staring towards the horizon at miles of blue sea and sky. Even though this newbuild is en route to many of the popular coastal haunts in the north-east of the Ionian island, when you turn off the main road and descend the steep private road, past a small cemetery and through the gates, Corfu MC2 feels wonderfully isolated. Outdoor seating is built into the rock face – shaded and totally secluded, with two different, spacious dining spaces, both elevated some 100 metres above sea level and with incredible views across the bay. As well as the open-plan sitting and dining room and well-appointed kitchen, lit by vast picture windows, there is a large barbecue tucked away at the back of the villa in an area built into the cliff. The four bedrooms and bathrooms are spacious and modern, with terraces and balconies all facing the sea, so everyone can enjoy the magnificent vista. The villa is intelligently laid out, so there is a seamless flow from the bedrooms to the sitting room and kitchen, and through to the pool and loungers. So within seconds of getting out of bed, you can flop into the pool. A small gated path leads to a rocky beach with a jetty and mooring buoys, perfect to get out on the water with one of the small day boats that are available to rent nearby.
Sleeping up to eight, Corfu MC2 costs from £7,700 a week through Five Star Greece.
November Studio12/30Villa W | St Tropez | France
Inspired by the Eames House in Los Angeles, which was designed in 1949 by Charles and Ray Eames as their home and studio, this modernist three-bedroom villa has been playfully reimagined by French architect Philippe Starck as a refuge a few minutes’ drive from glitzy St Tropez. Although part of the weight-loss-focused Lily of the Valley wellness hotel – meaning villa guests can book spa treatments, lunch at the beach club or rent paddleboards – it has its own pineforest- filled grounds and a separate entrance, making it feel completely private. Glass is the predominant material and stretches across the entire length of the minimalist two-storey building to flood the living space with natural light. Outside, at one end of the house, a chestnut arbour provides a shady dining spot (ask the butler to arrange room service here), which looks out to the wild, sandy sweep of Plage de Gigaro below. Perhaps the most fun element, though, is the narrow lap pool (below), decorated with colourful tiles in a pattern reminiscent of a Mondrian painting.
Sleeping up to six, Villa W costs from £7,750 a night.
Ana Lui Photography13/30Casa Vera | Sicily | Italy
A strong play on contrasts is the defining design principle behind this modern villa in the hills of southern Sicily. Its standout feature is a floating black steel pergola that runs above the outdoor dining and seating areas, so that the sun casts captivating lines and shadows across the house as the light changes throughout the day. Not far from Noto, the fivebedroom villa is one of the few newbuilds on the island with enough character to rival its grand masserias. The interiors are the vision of Maltese designer Gordon Guillaumier, with polished concrete floors, an industrial-style kitchen that pairs steel and marble with warmer oak, and pared-back furniture in a neutral palette, plus an eye-catching feature wall (above) of geometric tiles from the nearby village of Caltagirone, known for its majolica pottery. There is a generous dining and barbecue area to one side of the house, while a terrace spans the length of the property and has zoned areas for relaxing beside the pool or in the shade. The villa’s showstopper is the 17-metre-long infinity pool, with views out over the surrounding hills to the sea beyond, in a deep cobalt that is as stylish as the rest of the architecture.
Sleeping up to 10, Casa Vera costs from £8,847 a week through The Thinking Traveller.
14/30Casa Luum | Algarve | Portugal
Emerging out of the verdant landscape like sugar cubes, this contemporary house in the Algarve – by Lisbon-based studio Pedro Domingos – has an all-white geometric design with an emphasis on connecting indoors and outdoors. Each of the four bedrooms opens onto a terrace, beyond which is a swimming pool and an outdoor dining area. Casa Luum’s gardens are the vision of another Portuguese creative company, Sigmetum, and have been largely kept informal, giving the feeling of pouring out into the nature reserve within which the house sits. Guests are encouraged to help themselves to the selection of herbs grown in the garden and to use them to cook local Portuguese dishes. The villa interiors are clean-lined and uncluttered, with white walls and concrete floors providing the backdrop for Scandinavian pieces, and large picture windows framing the garden’s calming scenes. Casa Luum is located in the colourful market town of Loulé and you can reach some of the Algarve’s stunning beaches within a 20-minute drive. For larger groups, three-bedroom Casa Agostos next door can also be rented and has a similar minimalist aesthetic.
Sleeping six, Casa Luum costs from £2,179 a week through Oliver’s Travels.
© Miguel Flores-Vianna15/30John Stefanidis House | Patmos | Greece
When John Stefanidis found this 17th-century house in the Chora of Patmos, it had no running water or electricity, and certainly none of the whimsical blue and red details that now characterise the interiors. A labour of love with his late partner, the artist Teddy Millington-Drake, the house is far from a cookie-cutter Greek-island rental. It has what is possibly the most glorious garden on the Dodecanese island, sloping along the hill and levelled with hidden seating areas shaded by jasmine, citrus and olive trees, which fill the air with their scent. Whitewashed walls, both inside and out, provide a blank canvas for the Egyptian-born interior designer’s rich mixture of Anglo-Indian, Venetian and English furnishings. Greek and Ottoman embroidered cushions on sofas and beds are teamed with Indian textiles and Turkish rugs; Teddy’s watercolours hang on the walls alongside collected artefacts and copious books. A 19th-century four-poster bed, hung with linen curtains, is the centrepiece of one of the four bedrooms. In a sitting room, blue ceramics pick up on the colour of the occasional tables – painted with a streak of red to complement the details on the rug. While there is a chapel, there is no pool, but Patmos is renowned for its unspoilt beaches.
Sleeping up to seven, John Stefanidis House costs from €3,320 a night through Villa Collective.
16/30Sa Font | Mallorca
Compared to the party towns in the south and fashionable north-west, Mallorca’s quiet north-east coastline flies relatively under the radar. Here, at the very tip of this Balearic island, just five minutes’ walk from the historic village of Capdepera and perched on the rocks above the sea, sits this beach house, newly restored with authentic Spanish craftsmanship at its core. Thick white walls are hand-plastered and round-edged, so they are soft on the eye. Together with beamed ceilings, these showcase appealing artisanal details, such as rattan furniture, cane-panelled wardrobe doors and statement lighting. The main bedroom has its own sitting room (which doubles as an inviting television room) and a discreet bar behind saffron lacquered doors. There is a concierge service, plus a housekeeper and cook – put a request in for some traditional ensaïmada breakfast pastries and a lunch of paella. Lawns and terraces spill down the hillside, from the rooftop sunbathing deck to the heated saltwater pool. The nearest sandy beach is a five-minute stroll away, but there is a ladder you can use to climb down into the sea for a refreshing dip, and the property comes with kayaks and paddleboards. Boat hire can be arranged to collect guests from a small platform, for a day out exploring secret bays or to whizz across to Menorca for lunch. This is sophisticated coastal living at its finest.
Sleeping up to 12, Sa Font costs from €65,000 a week including staff and a cook.
17/30Braganza House | Talpe | Sri Lanka
Set within two acres of lush, tropical gardens in the coastal village of Mihiripenna, this gorgeous house is the vision of its British owner, the interior designer Chlöe Elkerton. She has updated the traditional Sri Lankan bungalow with a mix of Moroccan and Mediterranean decorative details. From the sunken sitting room with bespoke rattan furniture to the pretty Shell Room, a quiet nook for board games and books, and Lionel’s Bar by the terrazzo pool, there are plenty of social spaces for groups to gather. Of the four bedrooms, the Palm Suite is the largest, with a four-poster and botanical textiles, and double brass basins in the en-suite bathroom. The Pol Suite (named after the coconut trees in front of the house) is the only one with an outdoor shower; it has a blueand- white colour palette and hand-painted stencilling on the wall. Adjacent to the Pearl Suite, the Peacock Suite has twin beds (below). The in-house chef will whip up lunches of fresh jumbo prawns and lobster, before afternoon games of croquet on the lawn and serene sunset yoga on the deck. Historic Galle is a 20-minute drive away and you can jump into a tuk-tuk to visit nearby Talpe beach.
Sleeping up to eight, Braganza House costs from $750 a night (for a minimum stay of two nights) through Eden Villas.
STEPHANE LOUESDON18/30Villa Basmah | Essaouira | Morocco
Booking a villa within a hotel creates the perfect balance between total independence and feeling well looked after. This four-bedroom villa – in Essaouira on Morocco’s west coast – is particularly tempting. Set in the private gardens of Le Jardin des Douars, a relaxed boutique hotel with a spa and a restaurant, and easy access to a golf course, Basmah unfolds around a central courtyard with rooms decorated in rich textiles, Berber rugs and zellige tiles. It has its own heated pool and outdoor seating areas scattered throughout a wonderful lawned garden. Far less busy than Marrakech, Essaouira is a brilliant destination for families, with just as much to see and do. A shuttle zips you to and from Essaouira’s Medina, while the hotel’s concierge can book activities, such as surfing and wakeboarding on the beach, or hire a car for a day of exploring.
Sleeping up to 10, Villa Basmah costs from £4,828 a week through CV Villas.
19/30Villa Marina | Paxos | Greece
On a hill overlooking a small marina on Paxos, this special house has been added to, lived in and loved by its Italian owner for the past 25 years or so. Fittingly, there is an Italian flair about the space, set off by the elaborate wrought-iron dining chairs and tables found both inside and out, and with the paintings hung on the stone walls under the pergola in a similar vein to houses in Tuscany or Umbria. Most spectacular of all are the sprawling outdoor areas across multiple levels, which follow the curve of the hillside and are connected via stone steps. Two main buildings hold four and three bedrooms respectively, with their own kitchens and living areas, while a standalone studio is tucked further away. They are gathered around an infinity pool, an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and pizza oven, a dining space, a large seating area facing the sea and various private nooks to retreat to. Between the house and the sea is a narrow lane, which can be used to take the 10-minute drive to the port town of Gaios, or explore on foot to access several small coves for swimming. Nothing is too far out of reach on the small island of Paxos. The seaside villages of Lakka and Longos are 25 minutes’ drive away, with beaches, mountain villages and ancient olive groves en route.
Sleeping up to 15, Villa Marina costs from £21,750 a week through Scott Williams.
Martin Morrell20/30Masseria Pistola | Puglia | Italy
The landscape of Puglia is dotted with traditional masserias characterised by spherical trulli buildings with grey corbelled roofs. One fine example is the 17th-century Masseria Pistola, which sits within the Canale di Pirro valley, 20 minutes’ drive from the coastal town of Monopoli. The fields around the farmhouse (now 30 hectares of gardens and vineyards) were once used for cattle and grain cultivation, decorative references to which can be found in the house – including feeding troughs transformed into window seats. Reimagined by James Thurstan Waterworth, one of House & Garden’s Top 100 Interior Designers, the 10 bedrooms, the kitchens and the sitting room are all smart and comfortable, with the common thread being warm colours, layered textiles and antique furniture. Meals are prepared on six days by the inhouse chef, Luciano Arvizzigno. He makes use of ingredients grown at the Masseria or sourced locally; favourites include octopus and beef tagliata on a bed of rocket. The estate’s terraced Giardini Pistola was designed by Urquhart & Hunt, House & Garden’s 2022 Garden Designer of the Year, which reinstated 9,000 indigenous species of plants like hibiscus, lavender and saffron. With the option of activities such as pasta-making with Luciano or a tasting of the Masseria’s wines (the Verdeca is particularly good), you may never want to leave this secluded corner of Italy.
Sleeping up to 22, Masseria Pistola costs from €13,500 a week.
SALVA LOPEZ21/30Casa Soleto, Puglia, Italy
Midway between the rocky coves of Salento’s east coast and the sandy beaches to the west, Soleto is a charming town steeped in the past. The same could be said of this 17th-century palazzotto, which has been sensitively restored by multidisciplinary designer Andrew Trotter and his partner Marcelo Martínez. High vaulted ceilings, original terrazzo tile floors and lime plaster walls in warm, earthy tones are the backdrop for vintage furniture, jute rugs and organic linens, plus a smattering of pieces, including paintings and books, left by the previous owner. An outside staircase leads up to three spacious bedrooms, each with a bathroom. This is the biggest bedroom, which has its own terrace and a freestanding clawfoot bath. Downstairs, what was once a pair of chapels has been transformed into a monastic dining room and a snug-like space with a projector. Ideal for movie nights, it doubles up as an extra bedroom. If you breakfast in the courtyard, the only sound is church bells, while the garden room, which looks onto the plunge pool, is just the spot for afternoon tea. The house is a case study in simple, pared-back design grounded in its location.
Casa Soleto sleeps up to nine and costs from €700 a week (for a minimum of three nights).
SALVA LOPEZ22/30Can Lluïssó, Mallorca, Spain
Surrounded by lemon, olive and almond trees, this five-bedroom finca is on the outskirts of Porreres, in the rural heartland of Mallorca. Restored with traditional building techniques and materials that have been used on the Balearic island for centuries, it is largely crafted in lime, soil and stone. The result illustrates how to achieve great impact with very little. Function is at the forefront, with neutral, layered interiors featuring loose-linen-covered sofas, jute rugs, pottery and solid wood furniture creating quiet spaces to reflect and relax. At the back of the house, a dining area shaded by a jasmine-covered pergola leads out to a pool, surrounded by fragrant lavender and herbs and dry stone walls (pictured). In exchange for the remote location – you need to drive to most places of interest and to the island’s beaches – you have a feeling of total privacy in a house that celebrates a union of old and new.
Can Lluïssó sleeps up to eight and costs from €750 a night (for a minimum of five nights).
23/30Paxos TRD, Ionian Islands, Greece
Corfu’s smaller sibling, Paxos is an emerald-hued jewel in the Ionian, with three seaside villages – Gaios, Lakka and Loggos – lined with tavernas and shops epitomising slow summers in Greece. Imbued with much of the same mellow energy, this house is built of stone and limewashed wood, with doors and windows framing views of olive trees and cypresses in the gardens. There is a main building plus a guest wing – ideal for two families staying together – each of which has its own heated pool. These come together under a pergola with various seating areas.
Paxos TRD sleeps up to 16 and costs from £19,250 a week through Five Star Greece.
24/30Project Ö, south-west Finland
Rocky islets and pine-forested islands make up Finland’s Archipelago National Park. One of the islands is five-acre Skjulskäret, owned by designer couple Aleksi Hautamäki and Milla Selkimäki, who have created a gorgeous off-grid escape. A covered outdoor kitchen separates the sunset-facing sauna at one end of the wooden building from two bedrooms and a living space at the other. (Another two bedrooms are housed in a separate workshop, among the tools.) It feels minimalist yet cosy, with a log burner and a compact kitchen – breakfast and lunch baskets can be delivered and chefs booked for those who prefer not to cook. There is a wood-heated hot tub surrounded by trees, a sandy beach and a jetty with a rowing boat for exploring. But the joy is that the island is easy to walk round. Places to eat include a glass-walled A-frame structure, carefully positioned campfires and an inviting pavilion. A two-and-a-half-hour drive from Helsinki airport to Kasnäs village followed by a 20-minute boat ride, the island offers somewhere to switch off and forget the world.
Project Ö sleeps up to six and costs from €2,000 a night (for a minimum of three nights) through SJ Villas.
MR.TRIPPER25/30Mas de la Pépite, Provence, France
In an unspoilt valley, close to the Alpilles’ white stone quarries and with views over Les Baux-de-Provence, this is an excellent base for exploring the interior of this region. What makes it special, though, is the architecture: of the eight en-suite bedrooms split across a trio of buildings, two are a troglodyte design, carved into the cliff. Contrasting with the exposed stone, the decoration is grown up, with a mostly muted palette pepped up by flashes of colour – from patterned headboards and graphic print cushions to a claret bathroom and the dramatic, dark blue gym. Guests can breakfast under a pergola in the garden, where there is also a pool, boules court, open-air cinema and theatre, and there are plenty of shady seating areas for a quiet afternoon with a book.
Mas de la Pépite sleeps up to 16 and costs from £18,408 a week through CV Villas.
26/30Casa Antigua, Cartagena, Colombia
In Cartagena’s Unesco World Heritage-listed Old Town, this historic villa with a peaceful courtyard is a testament to its well-travelled owners. Original features such as double-height ceilings and wooden beams lend a sense of grandeur. Rooms are layered with an eclectic collection of decorative objects: Moroccan lanterns and ornate mirrors set the scene in one indoor-outdoor sitting area; Indian cushions, cane armchairs and ceiling-height plants fill another. Many of the seven bedrooms, including a separate, light and airy studio suite, have four-posters or metal-framed beds and en-suite bathrooms with pretty, tiled tubs. At the back of the house, a showstopping pool is lined by loungers with striking striped cushions (pictured). In the evening, staff will set up tables for candlelit suppers cooked by the private chef. A few minutes’ walk from leafy, lively Plaza de Bolívar, the townhouse is brilliantly positioned in the heart of the action yet feels like a hidden oasis of calm. The nearest beach, Playa de las Americas, is a 15-minute drive away.
Casa Antigua sleeps up to 14 and costs from €3,653 a night (for a minimum of three nights) through Welcome Beyond.
BENEDETTO TARANTINO27/30Antika, Panarea, Italy
As you approach Antika on the winding lane from the port of Panarea, only a modest pedestrian gate signposts your arrival. Continue down a set of stone steps and into the leafy garden, and the 1970s house – with its scattering of four buildings comprising the main sitting areas and bedrooms – seems unassuming. It is a fitting home for any visitor who makes the journey from Sicily to find a view of their own on this the smallest of the Aeolian Islands. There is no five-star hotel or fine dining, and no crowds or even cars on this volcanic island. As for beaches, there are only two – accessible on foot. From the terrace (above), you can see fishing boats with the catch of the day, while a handful of family-run shops sell island produce and other essentials delivered weekly from the mainland. Green-painted shutters, marmorino plastered walls, wooden doors sourced from a dealer in Piedmont and locally made tiles set the tone for the interiors, with very little else – and that is exactly the point. There are five bedrooms, a pool, an outdoor kitchen overlooking the sea and several shaded terraces.
Antika sleeps up to 10 and costs from £11,941 a week through The Thinking Traveller.
Picasa28/30Château de Baloigne, Rhones-Alpes, France
In south-east France, this hilltop chateau is set within the ruins of a medieval castle, surrounded by pine trees with the Ardèche river flowing below. Inside, furnishings are classic: Persian-style rugs on tiled and wooden floors, tapestries on walls, and heavy wooden dressers and writing desks. Guests can take the chateau with or without the renovated tower, which houses two bedrooms. Although the setting feels remote, the village of Saint-Michel-de-Boulogne is only 4km away.
Château de Baloigne sleeps up to 15 or 18 and costs from £3,339 for four nights through Oliver’s Travels.
conie suarez bravo29/30Casa Xolo, Tulum, Mexico
On the outskirts of buzzy, boho Tulum, behind thick stone walls, this low-level property is arranged around the pool (above). At one end, the main three-bedroom villa has an open-plan kitchen-dining-sitting room, which fuses modern and traditional design elements, and a glass wall facing the courtyard. At the other end, a two-bedroom guest house is ideal for those wanting a little more privacy, or families with teens. Lush living roofs and plenty of trees lend a jungle feel to the garden, where there are palm-print loungers and a table in the shade, a tennis court and a hot tub.
Casa Xolo sleeps up to 12 and costs from $950 a night through Onefinestay.
Peter Marston30/30Xinara House, Tinos, Cyclades, Greece
Tinos is one of those islands where Greeks themselves go on holiday, as it remains out of easy reach for most visitors – with no direct flights from the UK and no domestic airport, it is accessible only by ferry. Its breezy hills are dotted with 600 or so dovecotes, thought to have been introduced by the Venetians, who brought the breeding of doves to Tinos when they conquered the island in the 1200s. A scattering of white sugar-cube villages emerge from the golden-brown landscape, and beaches remain largely free of umbrellas and restaurants catering to tourists. The food is some of the best found on the Greek islands, served in traditional tavernas. Having chanced upon Tinos on the back of a holiday in Mykonos, London-based creatives Susan and Peter Marston knew they had found somewhere special. They have restored and converted an historic bishop’s house into two adjoining villas, which can be booked together or separately. Blue-and-white schemes typical of the Cyclades are enlivened by splashes of colour, with a mustard yellow and mint green kitchen, bright striped fabrics on furniture indoors and out, and artworks, textiles and rugs adding layers of pattern.
Xinara House sleeps up to 13 and costs from €3,015 for the entire property for three nights.
