Pure VILLENsache!

"House call" around the Mediterranean

Exclusive rental villas in prime locations with top facilities and staff are the big vacation trend for summer 2021! It's no wonder, as the desire for security and privacy is best combined with the desire for luxury and lifestyle in a temporary dream retreat. We went on a "home visit" around the Mediterranean and present properties that offer families and friends plenty of space for freedom.

Forte San Giorgio (Tuscany/Italy):

Dolce Vita and designer flair behind fortress walls

The mini-island of Capraia off the Tuscan coast has just 405 inhabitants. Reachable by car ferry from Livorno in around 2.5 hours, it is a place of peace and tranquillity - and still unknown even to most Italians. High above the volcanic cliffs in the east of the island, the Forte San Giorgio presents itself as a 3,500 m2 fortress of good designer taste. Built in the 16th century, it not only has a 50-metre-high watchtower, but also a village-like structure with a piazzetta, four gardens, shady battlements and numerous (roof) terraces. The two spectacular steel pools as well as the stylish lounges and bedrooms provide a contrast to the old walls. The kitchen, designed by a Michelin chef, is also a real treat, with staff cooking for up to 21 guests. Those who want to take to the air for sheer joy can do so from their own helipad.

11 bedrooms, 7 of which have en suite bathrooms,
10 bathrooms in total
Price from 22,520 euros per week
www.thethinkingtraveller.com

Villa Astor (Amalfi Coast/Italy):

Fabulous luxury in Sorrento

Anyone who knows the Costiera Amalfitana also knows Villa Astor - it is one of the absolute architectural icons on Italy's most famous stretch of coastline. But only very few people know about it: The villa, built in the 19th century by William Waldorf Astor and renovated a few years ago by Jacques Garcia, is also available to rent! Provided you are traveling with a maximum of eleven friends or family members and have just under 150,000 euros a week to spare. You get a lot for that: In addition to the antique portico, the open fireplaces in most of the salons and bedrooms and the library, gym and wellness area inside, there are also various terraces outside, a large pool, private access to the sea with a grotto and one of the most beautiful gardens in all of bella Italia. Butler service and a villa manager available around the clock are a matter of course in this ambience (and at this price), as are night security and top chef service.

6 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms
Price from 147,000 euros per week
www.myprivatevillas.com

Masseria Canali (Apulia/Italy):

Stylish address on the Italian boot

The fact that grapes were once pressed, olives crushed and cows milked at Masseria Canali is no longer evident in the lavishly renovated farmhouse in typical Apulian style. Instead, the open rooms with their polished concrete floors exude a touch of trendy industrial chic. A harmonious contrast - and favorite spot under the southern Italian sun - is provided by a large inner courtyard, which is accessible from all seven bedrooms and adjoins a garden with an 18-metre pool. If the maximum of 16 guests ever want to leave the masseria, there are numerous sandy beaches and the baroque towns of Lecce and Galatina within a 30-minute drive.

7 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms
Price from 8,320 euros per week
www.thethinkingtraveller.com

Mal Pas (Baleraren/Spain):

Mallorca for movie fans

The exterior of this villa in the north of the island, which is equipped with all the technical refinements, is more of a classic finca style, but the interior surprises with a purist, elegant mix of Scandinavian and Mediterranean. Those who prefer to avoid the short walk to three nearby beaches can relax in the infinity pool with a dream view over the bay of Pollença. Instead, you could also get active in the hotel's own gym with sauna/steam bath area or bubble away in the hot tub. Whatever the maximum of ten guests decide to do: After a BBQ in the garden or dinner on the terrace (optionally prepared by the private chef), it's movie night in the home cinema! Even more entertainment is on offer just a few minutes away in Alcudia.

5 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, 6 bathrooms in total
Price from 29,770 euros per week
www.thethinkingtraveller.com

Lopud 1483 (Dubrovnik/Croatia):

Modern art in the old monastery

Is it the countless relics from the Middle Ages or rather the many contemporary works by great artists such as Ólafur Elíasson that create this particularly exclusive atmosphere in Lopud 1482? It's not so easy to answer, because the property in the sea off Dubrovnik, named after its tiny home island and the year it was built, is actually a habitable work of art for up to ten guests. From the former pharmacy to old chapels and kitchens to a columned hall adorned with angel sculptures - you could spend days strolling through the former monastery with its fortress-thick walls, panoramic terraces and secluded gardens and always discover something new. Instead, you can explore the coast on the monastery's own boat, visit the nearby national park or plan a movie night in the monastery courtyard. The acoustics there are said to be at least as sensational as the ambience! At Lopud 1483, you will be pampered and looked after by our own kitchen crew - and, on request, by a private concierge and vigilant security staff.

5 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms
Price from 10,000 euros per night for a
minimum stay of 3 nights
www.myprivatevillas.com

Iola (Corfu/Greece):

Close to the gods

High above the sea and in the very best island location, this designer retreat, located around 20 minutes by car from Corfu town, is like Zeus in Olympus. On two floors, the floor-to-ceiling windows open directly onto the garden or a terrace with infinity pool and outdoor kitchen for BBQs or a quick snack. Greek gourmet cuisine is provided by the hotel's own chef, who is at the helm six days a week. Authentic island cuisine is also served to a maximum of ten guests less than five minutes' walk away in a small taverna on the beach. To work off all the delicacies later, the hotel has its own yoga studio. Afterwards, divine relaxation is the order of the day - either in the sauna or in the home cinema.

5 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms
Price from 14,790 euros per week
www.thethinkingtraveller.com

Villa Ultima (Corfu/Greece):

Ultima a first-class choice

Two pools, gardens on three levels or an elevator that connects the main house directly to the private sea access: Villa Ultima is a home of superlatives! Indoors or outdoors? Sky or sea? In the lounges and bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, all of which face the water, the boundaries are blurred. Flooded with sunlight, the gleaming white villa for up to twelve guests seems to float above Corfu's steep rocky coastline. No less heavenly: the interiors in a modern Mediterranean style with skillfully placed Asian accents. In addition to the top facilities with hammam, gym, massage room and cinema, there are exclusive services such as concierge, chef and bar service in the evening. The nearby Barbati Beach, which is one of the most beautiful on the island, is just a ten-minute drive away. With your own 24-meter yacht, complete with captain and steward, you can also reach more distant dream beaches and harbour towns.

6 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms
Price from 56,750 euros per week
www.myprivatevillas.com