A luxury villa to rent in Cap Ferret, France

SJ Villas loves this little ‘bijou’ house in Cap Ferret.

The house has been completely rebuilt and refurbished by a local architect. At the heart of the villa is a a spacious living room that opens onto a large outdoor terrace with lots of seating areas and a fully fitted outdoor kitchen.

There are three bedrooms on the ground floor in the main house, two of which share a corridor which can be closed; creating a private space for a single family or an area for children. There is a large double on the first floor (low ceiling) besides a little TV area with a desk. The fifth bedroom is a double with en suite shower room and only accessible from the garden.

The pool area is set a few steps down from the main terrace area, all of which receive plenty of sun during the day.

Villa Vine has a fantastic concierge team who will always go the extra mile to organise restaurants, boats and activities for all the guests.

A luxury beach villa to rent near Carvahal, Comporta, Portugal.

We love the contemporary open space design of the house.

Casa de Praia is a private holiday home situated on a secure gated estate just outside Carvahal. The villa is at the top of the estate with a large garden  filled with cork and pine trees. 

The house has been beautifully designed, with contemporary fittings, large open space kitchen and voluminous rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

The modern rooms are set along a long corridor, built with great floor to ceiling windows looking out to the front garden.

The last room is a bunk room with 4 large single beds and two extra hidden below.

The house is minutes walk from the local village which has a variety of convenience shop, restaurants and cafes. It is a short cycle (or drive) along a little road to the massive sandy Carvahal beach where you can also find a surf school and beach restaurants.

SJ Villas loves this private  estate designed by Portuguese decorator Marta Mantero.

Casa de Muda is one of the largest private estates in area with over 11 hectares of private land. 

The estate is made up of four cabanas, three for the bedrooms and one main cabanas with the open kitchen, indoor dining area and living room. 

The cabanas look out onto the pool and outdoor dining area. There are plenty of seating areas dotted about the estate, including a large veranda for the children. 

The estate feels spacious and very calming, surrounded by hectares of pine and cork trees.

Located in the Muda Reserve, it is about a 15 minute drive to the trendy Pego beach and about 20 mins to Comporta town. 

A luxury house to rent near Les Baux-de-Provence, Provence, France

We love this contemporary new villa set on a hilltop with majestic views of  Les Alpilles in the heart of Provence.

Le Mas Estello recently renovated by Atelier K Architecture et design is a Provencal Mas set amongst 1 hectare of private gardens.

The villa is set on a hilltop with a stunning infinity pool looking out over Provence. There are plenty of sun loungers, a boule pitch/volleyball/badminton court court for guests to enjoy.

Interiors combine the charm of modernity and tradition. On the groundfloor, the spacious living room have spacious  windows looking out over the Alpilles.

There are four bedrooms on the lower level, accommodating a total of eight guests. The two bigger bedrooms are master suites. And two are double with ensuite shower rooms. Each bedroom has a terrace with a direct access to the swimming pool.

Mas Estello is professionally staffed with a 3-hour daily maid service and a breakfast buffet laid each morning. A professional Chef can be arranged for lunch and dinner with the concierge.

A luxury villa Nag Shampa to rent in the hills of Ubud, Indonesia

With five swimming pools. excellent staff and modern relaxation facilities including a yoga shala, this private estate is the perfect escape.

Villa Nag Shampa Estate lies not too far from the mountain town of Ubud. Villa Nag Shampa Estate is a perfect private retreat with traditional Joglo style Javanese Architecture. With 5 swimming pools, full time dedicated staff and private chef, relaxation facilities, large yoga shala, the estate is great for a group of up to 16 guests.

The estate is made up of 8 over-sized bedrooms. The main buildings include the dining room, sitting room and the master bedroom. As you venture further into the estate you will discover 4 en-suite doubles that lookout over the main pool area, and 3 further en-suite doubles with their own private pools. 

Located in the peaceful village of Taro, known for an ancient rhythm of life, prayer and ceremony, the villa champions wellness of the body and mind. The chefs are local and their recipes are inspired by local and traditional cuisine cooked using organic produce from the estates own vegetable gardens.  

A luxury villa to rent in Turtle Beach, Barbados

An ultra private, gated, seafront estate with hotel standard services.

This newly renovated, gated estate has been done to the highest standards and offers a boutique hotel like experience with an unparalleled level of privacy.

The house stands in approximately 2.5 acres of what is generally acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful gardens on the island. These grounds spill onto the white-sand beach with its palm trees and, beyond, the blue waters of the Caribbean.

The twelve unique and enchanting suites are housed within The Great House, The Carriage House, Hillaby House and two cottages, all of which contain rooms that can be made up with either king or twin beds. Two rooms also feature an additional single bed ‘niche,’ perfect for younger children.

A private bathroom accompanies each suite, offering immaculate, luxurious facilities. A highlight is the open-air bathroom in the south cottage, where you can bathe under the stars within a charming and private walled patio garden.

All suites have either their own balcony or patio, and one suite is wheelchair accessible. The Carriage House upper suite can accommodate up to four guests, making it very popular with younger guests.

The main house’s interior has recently been extensively refurbished in a style that blends east coast sophistication, Barbadian flair and beachside informality. There is a private beach bar, complete with a wood-fired pizza oven.

Other areas to relax and dine in include The Great Bar, the piano room, the library, formal dining pavilion and two gazebos.

On the landside property, you will find a floodlit tennis court, a state-of-the-art gym, spa treatment rooms, a conference room, a home cinema and a games room with a pool table, backgammon and chess tables, air hockey and even a popcorn machine.

There are two skippered boats on hand.

A truly fabulous experience for large family groups or groups of friends.

A luxury villa to rent in Kassiopi, Corfu, Greece

This is a spacious and elegant private house with French windows opening onto a large terrace and sweeping views over the sea. With Kassiopi only a kilometre away, it’s a good location for families with older children wanting to go out.

Three bedrooms are situated on the ground floor level, two of which have private terraces and one has an outdoor shower. The master bedroom is set alone on the first floor affording privacy. The four other bedrooms, one of which is a twin bed, are in the garden annexe.

A large pool overlooks the sea and there is direct beach access and a private jetty.

The terrace area has three distinct outdoor eating areas, one with a huge stone table seating 16, and is served by a summer kitchen with a custom-built, wood-burning stove.

The house is staffed with a cook in high season and has a very good house manager.

A luxury villa to rent near Weligama, Sri Lanka

Villa Suri sits above a quiet beach lapped by the Indian Ocean and edged by tall palm trees. It is a good step back from the main coast road (access down a quiet lane), so is calm and peaceful with no traffic noise.

Contemporary in design, the living areas open onto a deep covered terrace and lawn with the sea glistening below.

The bedrooms are all large with big en-suite bath or shower rooms. All have been decorated simply, with polished concrete and wood furnishings and are all the same standard with good, comfortable beds, air conditioning and ceiling fans. The fifth bedroom is in an independent annexe.

The attractive pool area is between the sea and the house and is gated. Shady, with tall trees and loads of sun beds, the pool is a good size and has an infinity edge and a ‘shelf’ with a shallow area. A locked gate opens onto the beach.

This is a very good house for families but also works well for groups of friends. There is a very efficient house manger, the staff are charming, and the excellent cook has been trained by the French owners.

A luxury house to rent in Todi, Umbria, Italy

A particular favourite of ours, this house is refined, sophisticated and elegant, and perfectly placed for enjoying all that this region of Umbria has to offer.

Casa Collina is perched high above the rolling Umbrian hills with stunning views on every side. Situated only ten minutes from Todi, it is perfectly placed for exploring the many historic sights of Umbria.

The house was newly built using recycled materials from the region and has been elegantly furnished with lovely pictures and antiques.

Inside it’s very high-tech with a great music system, a good TV/cinema room and a spa with a steam bath, plunge pool and well-equipped gym. Massages can be arranged.

One double bedroom suite is on the ground floor and enjoys its own private terrace. The other three rooms are on the first floor and all are spacious and light and have amazing views. The fifth bedroom is downstairs and is in effect a small apartment with a shower room and a kitchenette. There is also a staff bedroom on this floor.

The big family kitchen is well equipped and has a dining area to one end, which leads into an elegant sitting room with a working fireplace and large French windows opening out onto both sides of the house.

The garden has been designed by Arabella Lennox Boyd and is set on two levels. The top level has an enchanting, independent garden house with large, comfortable banquettes and armchairs and a fireplace for cooler evenings. There is a great outdoor kitchen area with a barbecue, pizza oven and two different shady dining areas.

A dramatic infinity pool is on a lower level and set flush to the lawn, with magnificent views of the hills and a shady area for sun beds and other amenities, including a fridge and a changing room.

Five luxury houses to rent in San Casciano dei Bagni, Tuscany, Italy

This beautiful private estate is perched 650m above sea level with amazing views over the surrounding countryside.

Dominated by an 11th-century castillo, the hamlet consists of five beautifully renovated houses and two one-bedroom apartments, all decorated by world-class designers David Mlinaric and Hugh Henry.

They are charming, elegant and very atmospheric, combining lovely pieces of antique furniture sourced in Arezzo and Florence, pictures, rugs and lots of pretty china and pottery.

All the houses have gardens or little courtyards which are furnished for outside living and dining. Two have private pools. The houses and apartments can be taken singly or in combinations of two houses or more and work well this way. The management can organise dining facilities for the entire group.

Casa Meli and Casa Vitti share a pretty garden and are perfect when taken together for up to 14 people (to ensure privacy, Vitti is not rented if Meli is taken for eight people only). Casa Jani and Casa Teatro work well together for up to 12 guests.

The apartments are ideal for guests visiting the restaurant and wishing to stay overnight for a few days or to provide extra accommodation for groups taking all the houses. The whole estate (all five houses and two apartments) can be taken together to accommodate a maximum of 34 people. Please call for more details and prices.

The houses are all very private but within a stone’s throw of each other, with winding lanes bordered by fragrant gardens and ancient trees.

Fighine is enchanting; beautifully kept and a mini paradise for those wishing to get away from it all. It is within easy driving distance of the hundreds of beautiful villages and sights of Tuscany, including Siena, Arrezo, Rome and Florence.

There is an exceptionally high quality Michelin Star restaurant in the village, which is well known in the region and serves delicious, traditional Italian cooking.

Weddings at Fighine:
Weddings have become a speciality of Fighine, which offers everything a couple could ask for in one place, including a romantic location, beautiful chapel, Michelin Star restaurant, theatre, gardens, spectacular views, five houses and two apartments. Further accommodation can be found in the nearby town of San Casciano dei Bagni. Please call for more information on holding your wedding here.