Find Your Perfect Property for Luxury Vacation Rentals
In years past, travelers looking for luxury accommodations found themselves facing limited options. Sure, they could check into any number of top tier hotels, but such establishments would often feel bland, cookie cutter and corporate. Trying to find the perfect little bungalow, amazing villa, or interestingly themed escape meant knowing someone who knew someone who knew someone.
Fortunately, all of that has changed with the advent of crowdsharing and peer to peer renting. Thanks to websites such as Airbnb and VRBO, you can discover luxury vacation rentals all across the world, grand properties in great locations that are just waiting for you to check in. Read on to learn more about truly distinctive luxury vacation rentals across the globe.
Villa Sanglung (Singaraja, Bali)
Synonymous with mountainous tropical splendor, beautiful beaches and hard partying getaways, Bali has more than earned its reputation as a world-renowned vacation hotspot. However, North Bali in general — and Singaraja in particular — works a little differently than the traditional tourist spots in South Bali. Quiet and containing swathes of largely untouched jungle, it is a quiet, contemplative area perfect for romantic getaways.
So is Villa Sanglung ($179 per night), one of a trio of gorgeous villas operated by the same couple. Praised by Forbes, Conde Nast Brides and Coastal Living, the villa initially looks like a more traditional Indonesian structure due to its thatched bamboo roof. Polished hardwood floors on the second level and sand colored tile on the first lead to a pair of bedrooms. It also boasts a private pool and an eating area that peers down a slope onto an emerald expanse of forest.
The World Famous Seashell House (Isla Mujeres, Mexico)
It might seem a little presumptuous to list your property as “world famous,” but The World Famous Seashell House ($304 per night) really has drawn the attention of publications as diverse as House Beautiful, Coastal Living Magazine and Elite Daily. It is easy to see why. This home in Isla Mujeres, a small slice of island off Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, shaped like a pair of seashells.
The exterior of the home is impressive enough, crafted as it is like a vertical conch and a sitting nautilus. The seashell theme extends beyond its exterior, too. Each bed boasts a shell shaped backboard, bathrooms have sinks constructed out of shells and mirrors bordered by them, and shower heads even end in conchs. The property’s color scheme even mirrors that of natural shells. Far from seeming gimmicky, The World Famous Shell House is full of luxurious touches such as a private pool, a guest house, proximity to the beach, and indoor and outdoor cooking areas.
Want to travel in style? Check out these 11 luxury vacation destinations and get your bags, and wallet, ready!
Hector Cave House (Santorini, Greece)
When it comes to fame, the Hector Cave House (part of a trio of properties ranging from $222 to $438 per night) has gotten even more press from mainstream magazine, travel blogs, tip websites and international publications. It is easy to see why. Located on the Greek island of Santorini, the property is carved into the side of a volcanic ridge and peers out over the Aegean Sea. All cool whites and calm neutrals, the color scheme recalls the classic architecture of the Greek Islands and meshes perfectly with the almost heartbreaking beauty that is virtually everywhere you look. Pick up a bottle of wine, relax in the hot tub and watch the sailboats slide across the waters.
Chateau d’Estoublon (Fontvieille, France)
Remember the ITV and PBS hit Downton Abbey? Fontvieille’s Chateau d’Estoublon ($11,080 per night) is like the French version of that titular estate — and you can rent it. It has tree lined entrance ways and chandeliered dining rooms, 10 full bedrooms and common areas with leather furniture and an antelope head on the wall. It also has a wood-lined library and a granite-topped bara, an in-home gym and an on-site pool. You get the idea. This is the closest you get to living like nobility.
This is even before we get to Fontvieille itself. Located one hour from Marseille, half an hour from Avignon and 20 minutes from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, you will not lack major city attractions, historical sites and picturesque wine country.
19 Century Riverside Mill (Brežice, Slovenia)
Tastemakers have begun singing Slovenia’s praises and it is not just because of the nation’s outdoor beauty. Sure, stunning tree lined slopes and rushing waterways mean there is plenty to do for athletic types, including hiking, kayaking, rafting, biking and mountain climbing. Culture buffs can also explore the simultaneously quaint and cosmopolitan capital of Ljubljana.
If you prefer your vacations on the quiet side, visiting Brežice and staying in a refitted 19 Century Riverside Mill ($307 per night) will be perfect. Located on the Krka River, this property contains three bedrooms, lots of outdoor seating where you can watch the river slide by and even a pair of boats with which you can explore the Krka. Pristinely kept, it combines farmhouse chic with Old World appeal. Yes, it still has a waterwheel!
Do you love treating yourself to the best when you are on vacation but don't always have the means? These tips for luxury travel on a budget will help!
The Oke Beach House (Rawhiti, New Zealand)
To many, New Zealand seems like nothing less than paradise on earth and The Oke Beach House ($1,046 per night) may convince a few more about the excellence of the Kiwis’ land. It perches above Hauai Bay near the uppermost point of New Zealand’s North Island, providing breathtaking views of both the ocean and the verdant mountain crags that frame it. The ultra modern property is perfect for big groups, boasting six bedrooms, a full kitchen, multiple eating areas and satellite television just in case boredom starts to beckon.
Not that it is likely to. In addition to an amazing vista, this beach-front home is near an abundance of cultural and natural attractions. From the subterranean wonders of the Waitomo Caves and the volcanic hot springs of Rotorua, to the wine country around Auckland and high-end restaurant choked Wellington, the North Island more than rivals New Zealand’s more famous South Island.
If none of the above properties quite appeal to you, take heart! You can find numerous high-end properties all over the world with Airbnb Luxe. Company-vetted high-end rentals, the units appear all over the world, offering you just the kind of luxury travel experience in distinctive properties that you want.