Our Guide to Villa Holidays

Does your perfect holiday involve privacy and all the comforts of home, with a little luxury added on top? A villa holiday might be the perfect holiday option for you. They’re super flexible, with villas of all kinds available in top destinations around the world. Go for a luxury pad with all the lavish pools, hot tubs and views you could want, or a cosy hideaway away from it all. We’ve gathered together a few hints and tips for planning your villa holiday whether it’s your first or your old holiday fave.

Ask the experts

The best way to find the perfect villa holiday is to talk to the holiday experts – that’s us! We’ll help you to find your ideal villa in the right destination for you whether you want to experience a new country for the first time or return to an old favourite holiday haunt. Why not try villa holidays as a new way of experiencing a classic holiday like Lanzarote? Or go for an adventure in a new place altogether. From island bliss to the Italian countryside and everything in between we’ve got you covered.

Plan ahead

Villa holidays are all about experiencing a little slice of the high life where everything’s easy the moment you step off the plane. It’s not just about your flight, you should also plan your car rental or transfer to your end destination.

Get in early

The best villas book out fast so book in plenty of time to avoid disappointment. So many holidaymakers all over the world are pining for that luxurious getaway in an amazing destination like Italy, Spain, France or somewhere more far-flung. That’s why villa holidays are so popular and why finding the right villa can be a challenge. Plan your holiday in loads of time to make sure it all goes off without a hitch. You’ll get the best selection and the best prices too.

Going as a group? Collect a deposit

Planning as a group can be tricky but there are ways to make it easier, especially when it comes to organising who pays for what. Appoint a money manager whose job it’ll be to collect deposits from everyone who’s going on the trip to lock your perfect villa in place before someone else snaps it up. It’s no harm to overestimate deposit amounts so you won’t fall short if someone pulls out, and if you end up paying less you can hand it back or splash out on a bottle of bubbly!

Plan your food and drink

Planning is key to a successful holiday – while you don’t want to overplan and leave no space for spontaneity, you should make sure you generally know where your food and drink is going to be coming from! Villa holidays offer all kinds of facilities from self-catering to private chefs. You may be able to get your fridge filled with delicacies before arrival or get a welcome hamper to get you going. If you’re cooking for yourself make sure your villa has the right cooking facilities for your group, and don’t forget to check out the local restaurants too – plan for at least one night out!

Plan your activities

This is another area where you want some spontaneity but don’t get on the plane without taking the time to research some of the local attractions in your destination. Google historical sights, local towns and villages that might be worth a visit, beaches, gardens, mountain walks, theme parks, whatever you’re in to! If you don’t feel like planning out a full itinerary, at the very least make up a longlist and then you can decide what you feel like doing later.