Christmas and New Year with The Villa Collection

21st September 2017

Its not too late to book a luxury villa holiday this Christmas and New Year!
Celebrate the season and ring in 2018 in style with a fabulous family villa, friends getaway or a romantic retreat!
With destinations across the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, USA, Europe and Far East, there is a special place for everyone.

Visit www.thevillacollection.co.uk  or email: enquiries@thevillacollection.co.uk 

Speak to one of their friendly team members on 0207 183 3554

The Rise of the Villa Resort

19th October 2016

As a specialist villa tour operator, our sister company, The Villa Collection, sells to a wide range of clients….from honeymooners looking for that ultra-special romantic celebration, to groups of friends seeking a fun getaway, to extended families finding time to enjoy happy get-togethers.

Clients looking for villa accommodation often prioritise privacy, space and independence above what is usually offered in traditional hotel stays which often prove to provide the opposite experience. Individual private villas cannot always offer the social aspects of a hotel stay, where guests meet and mingle with each other, or all the facilities enjoyed at resorts. However, many villas do have impressive facilities including pools, gyms, tennis courts and even cinemas and games rooms.

For those seeking to combine privacy with an array of on-site facilities and the chance to meet new friends, the choice of a villa resort may be the ideal option.

Many resorts have come to realise that many travellers are looking to get away from the standard cookie-cutter hotel room located along a corridor. The privacy of staying in detached accommodation, oftentimes with your own garden, driveway, pool, staff and some even beachfront, really is something to crave. Hence the rise of the villa resort!

Resorts come in many compositions, some are composed of a selection of private villas within a gated community offering a small selection of services on site, such as a communal pool, restaurant and reception. Golf courses can often be part of these resorts, for example at Royal Westmoreland  in Barbados and Tryall Club in Jamaica. The villas are usually privately owned and will offer unique interiors but will most commonly have similar footprints, such as those found at  Sugar Hill Barbados –  compare the two similar villas of Oceana and Half Century pictured below:

Oceana Sugar Hill Barbados

Oceana Sugar Hill Barbados

Half Century Sugar Hill Barbados

Half Century Sugar Hill Barbados

Another type of villa resort will offer full scale hotel accommodations with a small selection of exclusive private villas. An example of this type of resort can be found at St Regis Villa at the St Regis Resort Mauritius , where guests enjoy complete privacy, a private staff, pool, beach access and even a separate entrance but with the addition of close access to the resort’s restaurants, spa, kids’ club and communal pools.

St Regis Mauritius

St Regis Mauritius

There are other villa resorts however that will offer full facilities for all their different individual villas, which range in size according to the number of bedrooms and the location – Windjammer Landing in St. Lucia is an example of this style of resort. There is even the option of adding meal plans such as bed-and-breakfast or all-inclusive. It succeeds in blending villa accommodation with a family friendly and sociable setting.

Windjammer Landing St Lucia

Windjammer Landing St Lucia

So there is a varied choice of types of villa resorts but one thing they all have to offer is the exclusive pleasant blend of privacy and space of a villa with the services and facilities of a resort!

Top things to consider when booking a villa holiday!

4th September 2016

Our sister company, The Villa Collection, offers some great advice for those thinking of booking a villa for thir next holidays.

When thinking of booking a villa for your holiday, it makes sense to turn to a knowledgeable and experienced agent or tour operator to assist you. Here are the top things to consider and what you should expect to be asked by your chosen agent. These things will you help ensure that you enjoy the perfect accommodation for you and your friends or family on your next villa holiday!

Location Location Location….
One of the most important things is to think about what you want to be around the villa. Do you  want to be steps from the beach, walking distance to attractions, or far from anyone else and not visible to others?  Villas can’t be moved, so if you arrive only to discover it’s not in a suitable location, it can be difficult to find a suitable alternative, especially in peak seasons and at the last minute.

Who exactly is travelling?
It is critical the agent understands what your bedding requirements are for all those travelling. Do you require a certain number of twin or king beds or do you need a child room to be close to an adults room? If you are travelling with extended family, older children or friends, perhaps a villa with separate guest cottages or wings may be a good option. And if you are travelling with nannies be sure to make this clear as a self-contained apartment or cottage is useful in this instance.

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What facilities do you want in your villa?
People expect and want different things when they travel so it’s important your agent knows in advance what you would like included in your villa. This can include a gym with specific equipment, a games, media room to keep the kids entertained or a tennis court. Do you need to work while away? If so, perhaps the villa can include an office space or study with a printer and high speed internet. Barbeques, bar and entertainment areas are usually requested for larger groups. Private pools are the most requested facility but some properties may have shared pools, such as apartment or townhouse developments.

The Villa Collection Villa Amarapura Phuket 31The Villa Collection Bumpers Nest Tryall Club 16

The Villa Collection Luxury Orlando Villa at ReunionThe Villa Collection Luxury Orlando Villa at Reunion

Staff Expectations
The service levels that individual clients expect can vary dramatically. Do you want full service inclusive of butlers and chefs on hand or do you prefer to be more independent and be self-catering. Also consider that you may or may not want to have staff at the property all day, although most luxury staffed villas have professional staff that know how to balance guest privacy.  The vast majority of properties will have daily housekeeping services and laundries on property, however some may only provide housekeeping a few days a week. If you do want meals prepared then it’s important to know how sophisticated you expect this service. A professionally trained chef differs from a home trained cook and sample menus can usually provided in advance so you are aware of the standard and types of food that will be provided. Do advise the agent if you have certain allergies or specific dietary requirements in advance.

Villa Staff138-Windjammer Landing Day 3

Villa Style
Villas are usually privately owned homes, meaning that no two properties are the same and can vary greatly in terms of style, architecture and furnishings.  This can also be true if you are booking a villa or home which is part of a community or development.  It’s important that you feel at home during your stay so be sure to advise what style of villa you are looking for. Homes can range from ultra-contemporary or palatial to very rustic or traditional with lots of antiques. Also keep in mind that security deposits are required for damages and if you book a villa with expensive artifacts that are then damaged, the bill on your return home can be a hefty one, so if you are travelling with children always keep this in mind.

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For More information or to book a villa visit The Villa Collection or email enquiries@thevillacollection.co.uk