When an overpriced hotel room or underwhelming Airbnb simply won’t do, a luxury holiday home rental is just the ticket. Offering privacy, plenty of space and enticing amenities, a private home – be it sprawling villa, stately manor or cosy cottage – is a no-brainer for the discerning traveller and their posse. Not sure where to even begin looking? We’ve scoured the internet and curated a list of the finest private homes to rent around the world, so all you have to do is make that booking and show up.
Uluwatu Estate, Bali
Available to rent as part of Mandarin Oriental’s hand-picked collection of private homes, Uluwatu Estate promises the level of luxury that we’ve come to expect from the renowned hotel group. Perched on a cliffside overlooking Nyang Nyang beach, the estate celebrates its natural surroundings with an infinity pool that juts out over the beach below, immaculate tropical lawns and living spaces that blend harmoniously into the lush greenery. Sleeping up to 18 guests, it’s the perfect retreat for large families or groups of friends.
Tinhouse, Isle of Skye
The wild and rugged Isle of Skye serves as the picturesque setting for Tinhouse, an award-winning hand-built cottage for two that sits atop the island’s cliffs overlooking the dramatic seascape of the North Atlantic. With cliff walks that can be accessed directly from the front door and two of Scotland’s finest restaurants a short taxi ride away, it’s an ideal haven for foodies and nature lovers alike.
Blakemore Farm, Chipping Campden
Set within six private acres of large gardens and surrounded by a landscape of rolling farmland and woodlands, the seven-bedroom Blakemore Farm is a bucolic country retreat. Yet despite its rural setting, there’s no shortage of things to do, thanks to the farm’s private tennis court and heated swimming pool and the close proximity of the chocolate box market towns of Chipping Campden, Broadway and Moreton-in-the-Marsh.
Maistros, Skopelos
Designed by renowned French architect Marc Held, Maistros is a design-lover’s dream. The clifftop villa is nestled within two-and-a-half acres of Skopelos's northeast coastline, surrounded by Mediterranean pines, cypress and olive trees. Living areas and a wrap-around outdoor terrace boast stunning sea views, while private beach access and a heated pool offer swimmers the best of both worlds.
Tenuta Frantoia, Sicily
Set upon the fashionable Aeolian Island of Panarea and boasting garden gate access to Panarea's only sandy beach, Tenuta Frantoio serves as a glamorous yet unpretentious summer escape. The space itself is airy and spacious, with lofty wood and cane beamed ceilings and walls of sea-view windows and doors opening onto the main terraces.
Villa Sainte-Anne, Antibes
The largest of the iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc's private villas, Villa Sainte-Anne is a discrete five-suite hideaway on the French Riviera. The historic villa is surrounded by private Italian gardens, vast terraces and a swimming pool, while its interior features a large dining room, fitness room, and private wellness area complete with sauna and hammam.
For more travel accommodation inspiration, check out our pick of the best 2024 hotel openings...
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