A luxury villa to rent in Montagu, Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius

A beautifully decorated oceanfront villa with great indoor-outdoor living spaces surrounded by 100-year-old trees.

Set in the lush and verdant private grounds of Montagu in Trou d’Eau Douce and near to the Shangri-La and Tousserok beaches, this beautiful house belongs to a well-known interior designer.

It has been particularly well finished with great attention to detail and benefits from wonderful outdoor/indoor spaces and many comfortable seating areas. Hundred-year-old trees and the lush greenery of the island combine with the turquoise waters of one of the island’s most beautiful lagoons to give the house a perfect backdrop.

The bedrooms are individually decorated and one double is situated in a separate guest annexe, just steps away from the main house. All are air-conditioned.

The reception areas are spacious and cool, having been designed to benefit from the sea breezes coming off east coast.

In addition there is a very well-organised kitchen with fridges, a wine fridge and a gas Weber barbecue for outdoor summer cooking.

There is a huge and inviting pool and big verandas with a surround-sound music system for lazy afternoons or evening drinks.

The beaches below are accessible through the garden gate.

A luxury villa to rent in San Carlos, Ibiza, Spain

A beautifully traditional finca, situated near the east coast of the island within walking distance of the charming village of San Carlos.

This is a very private, gated property magically positioned overlooking the sea. It is surrounded by lush green gardens and terraces at different levels, making it a wonderful house in which to entertain guests.

The villa has five bedrooms: two suites and a further three double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. All the bedrooms open onto terraces and into the garden and are laid out with distance between them to maximise privacy. The decor is modern, stylish and comfortable.

There is a large, fully equipped, open-plan kitchen that is perfect for cooking for friends. Outside are many fabulous terraces with long wooden tables for al-fresco dining.

Situated in the garden away from the house is the large, 15m non-chlorine pool with sun loungers and decorative potted plants.

There’s also a pool house with a summer kitchen, a luxurious spa and gym area, changing and bathroom facilities and a sauna.

A luxury house to rent in Lake Como, Italy

An extraordinary, beautifully renovated mountaintop villa overlooking fabulous Lake Como.

A fine example of art nouveau architecture, Villa Pigra sits at 881m and overlooks Lake Como, the valleys and the surrounding snow-capped mountains.

Built in 1909, it has been renovated to the highest standards offering 1,231 square metres of living space. The chic zen interiors are sleek and minimalist and set off the truly breathtaking views.

With no immediate neighbours it is an oasis of calm, set near to the pretty village of Pigra, which has a few restaurants, a tennis court and its own cable car station which runs down to Argengo and the villa’s private boat and mooring.

This is a perfect place for hiking or mountain biking and six mountain bikes are available at the house.

The villa sits on a sprawling 4.5 acres of alpine gardens with a roof garden terrace on top of the pool house – the perfect sunbathing spot.

The main house terrace, and the poolside, offer wonderful al-fresco dining opportunities.

Little ones can be entertained in the playground and treehouse area.

The house comes fully staffed and with the indispensable addition of a boat with a captain for exploring the lake (NB: the boat is a separate charge).

A luxury villa to rent in Kanoni, Corfu, Greece

EOT number: 0829K10000319701

Villa Kanoni  featured in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only as well as The Executioner starring George Peppard and Joan Collins.

The unique estate is one of the neighbouring estates to Mon Repos, the summerhouse of the King of Greece and the birthplace of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Splendidly situated in a prominent position 40 metres above the sea, the villa has a beautiful panoramic view looking south-east over the Ionian Sea and famous Pondikonissi, or Mouse Island.

Located at the apex of the Kanoni estate, the villa is well away from Corfu’s tourist crowds, yet offers easy access to the restaurants and shops of Corfu Town, and is only 20 minutes away from the Corfu Golf Club.

The ten-acre estate has beach frontage and beautifully tended gardens filled with shrubs and flowers, and is shaded by hundreds of olive and cypresses trees, with bougainvillea, wisteria, plumbago and jasmine.

The sun-drenched terraces, the breathtaking views and the wonderfully calming swishing of the trees all fuse together to make this a truly spectacular house.

The villa was completely renovated 2001 during to the very highest standards of design and quality. The style of the furnishings and decor is arranged for cool, simple, elegant Mediterranean living.

The undisputed highlight of the main house is the splendid terrace (approximately 70 square meters) with stunning views.

A luxury villa to rent near Kassiopi, Corfu, Greece

This is a super spacious seven-bedroom villa that can accommodate up to 20 people, so is ideal for families with lots of kids and teenagers. It’s very well run and benefits from an excellent local concierge.

Tucked into the hills overlooking Kassiopi, the gorgeous villa offers stunning views and wonderful sunrises and sunsets. The huge terraces overlook the village of Kassiopi, which is beautifully lit at night.

The house is fronted by a huge, deep pool that even has its own wave machine. There is also a good pool house with a well-equipped gym and games room.

Teenagers love the fact that the village of Kassiopi and its safe and established nightclub for teens is just a short walk away, as are a number of popular tavernas, so there is no need for taxis.

A short stroll also takes you to the beautiful beach of Sukia.

A luxury villa to rent on Ile de Ré, France

The house is beautifully renovated with a large, open-plan, ground-floor living area and a newly appointed kitchen.

The master bedroom and generous en-suite bathroom are situated on the ground floor. On the first floor there is a second generous double bedroom with en-suite shower room and WC, as well as two further twin/double bedrooms with shared bathroom and a separate loo.

The house boasts three separate annexes. The first looks onto the pool and has a double bedroom with en-suite shower room and is ideal for grandparents or older children. There is also a wet room here for the pool. The second is at the front of the house and is a family games and TV room. The third is a laundry room with a drinks fridge and table tennis.

All rooms look onto the pretty, 500-square-metre walled garden and the heated pool, close to which is a stylish, stone-and-beam outdoor living and dining area.

The house is set back from the quiet road with private parking offered behind automatic gates.

A luxury villa to rent in Mouans Sartoux in the south of France

Moulin du Jardinier is a converted old mill house set in over seven acres of beautifully mature, landscaped gardens in the hills at Mouans Sartoux in the south of France. From the house and gardens there are open views over the valley below.

When director Sir David Lean first spotted this 15th-century, stone-built house he said, “All I want to do is lie down in the grass under an olive tree and look up through its silver-green leaves and gaze at the blue sky”.

Bought from Sir David’s widow by a young Danish couple who also fell under its spell, the house and gardens still have all their magical charm and this is one of the most wonderful retreats in the south of France.

The furnishings throughout the house blend a taste for the dramatic with a more tempered and elegant Scandinavian simplicity. Rich fabrics and beautifully executed paint effect finishes, including several entrancing murals, all create a colourful setting for the Provencal antique furniture.

The first floor offers one double bedroom and a twin, both en-suite, as well as a single bedroom with separate bathroom.

The ground floor boasts the master bedroom suite, which has his and hers bathrooms. This master suite is separated from the house by a conservatory so is very private, with French doors opening onto its own terrace and water garden. Up a spiral staircase from the conservatory you’ll find a further twin bedroom with en-suite bathroom.

The huge vaulted drawing room and dining room are perfect for entertaining and open directly onto the terraces and one of several outdoor dining areas, all with lovely views.

The large pool with green mosaic tiles nestles underneath one of the many flower terraces. At one end, the elegant pool house offers everything from a barbecue and fridge to a handmade, wrought-iron dining table and chairs.

There is a cottage adjacent providing staff (a couple) accommodation.

A luxury villa to rent in St Remy de Provence, France

A traditional Provencal farmhouse just ten minutes by bike from the restaurants, cafes and morning markets of chic and charming St Remy de Provence.

An easy walk, or short bike ride along the canal will take you straight to the heart of this much-beloved town. Synonymous with Van Gogh, who produced about 150 paintings here. St Remy is still a favourite with artists, though today it’s as much known for its excellent restaurants, luxury food stores and interior-design shops as it is for its light and landscapes.

The house itself is cool, elegant and sophisticated, decorated in a palette of tasteful, muted colours. There are three en-suite bedrooms on the first floor, (including a very spacious master suite), plus one bedroom with a spacious bathroom just directly across the corridor. Each are individually decorated, four have ceiling fans and all are air-conditioned.

The self contained, ground floor bedroom has outside access only. There are two bedrooms here with a shared shower room; one is a good double and one a bunk bedroom, good for children or teenagers. This part of the house would work well for a couple with a baby, or two children with a nanny. The garden ‘Atelier’ can house extra guests or indeed a chef.

The living areas are spacious and refined and the wonderful kitchen/dining area opens out onto two lovely terraces. A large pool (heating on request) with a shady pergola, is surrounded by landscaped gardens.

The property is set off a quiet lane not far from the famous five star, Chateau des Alpilles Hotel, and easy cycling distance not only to the centre of St Remy (9 mins) but to Les Baux de Provence (35 mins), Maussane les Alpilles etc…

A lxury villa to rent in St Tropez Area, France

Private and secluded gardens surround this house and provide loads of space for outdoor living, including large dining and barbecue areas and a huge outdoor dining table.

Shaded terraces and a pergola provide shade for afternoon siestas and an unusual stone-and-glass pool house offers yet more space for reading, chatting or taking a nap. The pool house also comes with its own bar and bathroom facilities.

The inside of the house is decorated in pale shades of white, cream and yellow with pretty French furniture and pictures. The owners have worked on the interior design, adding modern and vintage touches with delicate touches of Provençal decoration and beautiful objects as witness to their numerous trips around the world.

In front of the house is the lawn and a 15m x 8m swimming pool surrounded by teak decks and sun loungers. The organic Provençal garden is planted with beautiful trees, agapanthus and lavender, and of course contains the boules court, a Cote d’Azur essential. 

A luxury villa to rent in Grimaud, St Tropez, France

This is a large and traditional country house, comfortably furnished with plenty of outside space from which to enjoy the wonderful views.

There are large lawns for children to run around on, plenty of places to play hide and seek, a tennis court, a large pool to flop into after time in the sun, and a shaded dining area that’s perfect for enjoying a delicious Provençal lunch.

The main house and annexe provide flexible accommodation for several families or a multi-generational group. With its ancient origins, the house rambles over several levels; the kitchen and dining room overlook the comfortable sitting room below where there’s an open fire – wonderful if you are staying in the cooler months, though there is also a very efficient central heating system.

The house is in a great location, close to the beaches at Croix Valmer and Gigaro, and ideal for popping to St Tropez to watch the sun go down with a drink on the quayside.