By Liz Simpson
The best thing about choosing a supersize villa is that even the most ginormous rentals can be incredible value if you fill all the rooms. Don’t believe us? Here are 10 sensational large villas starting from just £23 per person per night. But snaffle them fast — these beauties will go like hot cakes before the year is over.
Large villas under £50pp
Villa Sancta Maria, Croatia
Insanely good value, this lovely old stonehouse jumbo-villa in inland Istria has all-day sunshine and a boho-chic vibe, which we loved. unlike some large villas in Croatia, it’s set in big gardens – palms, lemon trees, lavender – and there’s an organic vegetable patch to pick your own produce for self-catering big, jolly meals. Extras include an outdoor gym and a sports pitch with flood lighting for competitive types. You’ll spend most of your time flopped by the turquoise pool, but when you have energy there are bicycles to explore the River Mirna valley, plus you’re only 20km from Novigrad (Croatia’s Portofino) for afternoons on the beach.
Bedrooms: 6
Guests: 12-14
Price: from £276/night or £23pppn
Culloden Cove, Jamaica
In a word, this villa is idyllic. Hummingbirds flutter around the garden, hammocks swing in a shady gazebo, and lawns lead down to an infinity pool, your own private beach and turquoise sea beyond. The setting is wonderfully peaceful, too, so there’s no need to leave the grounds. Housekeepers and chefs come with the house, and sumptuous meals like roasted yellowtail snapper can be served whenever, wherever you like. If you do venture outside, head for Pelican Bar — an off-shore wooden bar (on stilts) owned by local fisherman Floyd. There are boats to ferry you there.
Bedrooms: 5
Guests: 4-12
Price: from £435/night or £43pppn
Barford Beach House, UK
We adored the quirky surprises at this stunningly styled Cornish rental: a secret passage leading to a fantasy arcade with pool table and renovated Star Wars pinball machine; a four-poster bed fashioned from scaffolding. Talk about eclectic! You’re a short stroll from Widemouth Bay, with coastal walks starting from your doorstep, but if you’re feeling homey you can soak up the glorious views from the wood-fired alfresco hot tub on the garden terrace. Perfect for a special celebration with friends or families (there are 4 additional kids beds too). If it’s you doing the booking, bag yourself the insanely big master suite, with a cocktail and wood-burning stove.
Bedrooms: 6
Guests: 12 + 4 kids
Price: from £575/night or £48pppn
Large villas from £50-60pp
Felin Newydd House, UK
This former hunting lodge is wrapped in upper-class splendour. There’s a morning room for cups of tea; a drawing room for formal G&Ts, and it’s filled with tokens of a bygone era: rocking horses, gilded china, even and a fox’s head in the boot room. A maid comes every day to make beds and re-lay fires, while you play croquet and billiards, walk in the nearby Black Mountains, or simply horse about in the 50 acres of grounds. Wine, champagne or whisky-tasting sessions can be organised with the wine merchant who stocks the cellar (spitting out not compulsory). If you’re keen to self-cater there’s a full country kitchen — but then why sweat the small stuff when you can book a chef or catererers for your stay?
Bedrooms: 9
Guests: up to 18 (but great for 5-10)
Price: from £892/night or £50pppn
The Lodge Ronda, Spain
This sizeable country villa in Andalusia has hosted an English duchess, a celebrity chef and a political leader in its day, but you and your friends’ days will be filled with peaceful relaxation — with some seriously snazzy interiors. A vast open-plan living room is heaven to relax in; to help you relax further there’s a yoga studio in the garden, a delightful outdoor pool, and massage treatments on tap. If you don’t fancy self-catering, the Lodge offers a range of flexible meal plans. One in particular, the ‘Perfect’ plan, lived up to its name — breakfast served until whenever you want; a tapas-style lunch; then a formal gourmet dinner in the garden.
Bedrooms: 7
Guests: up to 14
Price: from £784/night or £56pppn
Liguria Design Villa, Italy
Perched like a luxury eyrie on a hillside, with stunning panoramas over mountains and sea, it’s hard not to spend your entire stay at this super-villa gawping out the window. But you’ll want to turn your gaze inwards, too: architect Monika has filled her home with a stunning blend of contemporary art and vintage Scandinavian furniture. Outside, a rim-flow pool sits in a converted cistern while orchards and gardens spill down a steep slope (vertigo sufferers be warned). The Italian glitterati spots are all within day-tripping distance: Portofino, Camogli, Genoa and the famous Cinque Terre.
Bedrooms: 5
Guests: 4-11
Price: from £574/night or £57pppn
Large villas for £60-80pp
Bali Luxury Private Villa, Bali
Believe it or not, the star attraction here isn’t the jaw-dropping tropical décor, nor the garden bathrooms, nor the infinity pool. Neither is it the charming staff, the peaceful location, or the epic views of swaying rice and palm-tree-lined surf. The real draw — for families holidaying together — is the exceptionally child friendly facilities: this Balinese super-villa allows you to enjoy an exotic yet affordable holiday with the kids! There are stair gates, football goals, even pushchairs and child seats in the chauffeured car service.
Breakfast is included in the price but other meals and wine are only charged at the local cost of ingredients and include scallop salads, seared salmon with ginger and lemongrass, and warm chocolate samosas. The 12 staff included in the rate can whip up kiddie meals and babysit if you want to go out for a drink. But why would you? Even the night security guard can knock up a frozen margarita on request!
Bedrooms: 4 + 4 kids beds
Guests: up to 12
Price: from £533/night or £66pppn
The Manor House, Menorca
We loved the style of this stunning seaview villa in central Menorca: bright orange beanbags and cool aqua basket chairs aplenty; witty vintage posters and animal masks on the walls; a high-spec kitchen; and an infinity pool lit from below at night. Bu the best part? Private access to one of Menorca’s most beautiful white sand beaches – Cala Binigaus. The Manor House is ideal for a cluster of families or a 3-generation getaway, with masses of space and a top-floor kids bedrooms (2 sets of bunk beds). Fancy a family day-out in a speedboat, a relaxing spa day, or a night of bar-hopping? The house’s concierge service can arrange all manner of bespoke activities in advance of your stay.
Bedrooms: 6
Guests: up to 14
Price: from £1021/night or £73pppn
The Beach Estates, Costa Rica
Book this pair of spacious, minimalist houses for 8 and you’ll have space for 16 adults to holiday in A-lister style. Surfers will be in their element, with world-class waves a short walk away. But if you’re here to relax, just recline on a mattressed lounger, and slip into the private infinity pools when you need to cool off. Décor is beautifully tropical and modern, and floor-to-ceiling louvre doors allow you to gaze out at the Pacific Ocean from your bed. Although families are welcome, to us these super-villas are amazing value for a large group of friends looking for the holiday of a lifetime. You can also book just 1 house for 8 (half the price!). And here’s a tip: head out with a local fisherman at dawn to catch snapper, yellowfin tuna and huahoo — chances are you’ll see whales, too — then return home for a seafood BBQ on your terrace.
Bedrooms: 8
Guests: up to 14
Price: from £1221/night or £76pppn
Stellenbosch Luxury Villa, South Africa
Families will be bewitched by the gardens surrounding this 18th century South African manor house. Explore and discover a treehouse, a tipi, a vintage rocking horse, even a zipwire! There’s a solar-heated pool and a gorgeous eco pond where you can swim among lily pads; or just jump into the alfresco Jacuzzi, complete with a pearl chandelier (yes, really). Come mealtimes, there’s a wood-fired pizza oven, or you can barbecue springbok, crocodile and ostrich steaks. Oh, and here’s one for the parents: you’re literally surrounded by magnificent world-class wineries — simply book an Uber and visit them all. Cheers!
Bedrooms: 5
Guests: up to 13
Price: from £1185/night or £118pppn
Special offers: 7 nights for 5; 10 nights for 7; 5 nights for 4
See our full collection of super-size villas
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