Luxury Travel Advisor
November 30, 2025
25 min read
All the privacy of your own place, none of the DIY. These are the villas where you can spread out, kick back, and still call room service. Because sometimes, you want the freedom of a private home, without giving up the perks that make a hotel stay so effortless. From island hideaways with personal butlers to family-friendly villa villages and design-led countryside estates, these are the stays where space and service go hand in hand.
Image courtesy of Martinhal Sagres Family Resort
Space to roam, gear on tap and kids’ clubs that take the pressure off—these villa resorts are built with families in mind. Easy logistics and activities for every age make them standouts for younger travelers.
On the western edge of the Algarve, Martinhal Sagres was built around family life, with one- to six-bedroom villas and townhouses designed for space, safety, and style. The resort’s villa collection spans across Portugal (including Martinhal Quinta do Lago) and reflects the group’s family-first DNA, backed by a baby concierge, crèche, and kids’ clubs for every age—from toddlers to teens. Between football and tennis academies, beach playgrounds, and the VW Campervan kids’ bar, even the adults will actually get to relax.
On Sardinia’s southern coast, Forte Village isn’t your regular resort—it is an entire village, with eight hotels, suites, and villas spread out across 120 acres of gardens and beach. Villa guests have access to everything the resort has to offer: 21 restaurants, a Nature Park, and more sports and activities than you can count. There’s a soccer academy run by Real Madrid coaches, tennis and fencing schools, Leisureland with bowling and go-karts, and an Acquapark for waterslide fun. The showstopper is Children’s Wonderland, with Barbie experiences, theatrical workshops, a mini vegetable garden, and its own play village. And for grown-ups, the Acquaforte Spa’s six-pool thalassotherapy circuit is pure Sardinian magic.
Set along Phuket’s longest beach, Anantara Mai Khao makes villa life easy, with all the comforts of home plus the best bits of a tropical beach resort. Its one- to three-bedroom pool villas sit among lotus ponds and palms, each with an outdoor sala, deep tub, and a villa host on call. Guests at both the main resort and neighboring Vacation Club share more than ten restaurants, bikes and buggies, and a kids’ club packed with Muay Thai, rock climbing, outdoor movie nights, and a Teen Zone. Fun fact: Some White Lotus Season Three scenes were filmed here.
Image courtesy of Soneva Fushi
Private butlers, polished design, and villas that go above and beyond. For travelers who want luxury with zero compromise.
On 81 oceanfront acres along the Kona Coast, the villa-style hale feel like private island homes—one- to four-bedroom thatched bungalows designed by award-winning Nicole Hollis with outdoor rain showers, oversized lanais, and views of the lagoon or black-lava shoreline. The swimmable coves, bikes outside every hale, and easy village layout make it ideal for families and groups. Days fall into a rhythm of sunrise outrigger paddles, snorkeling in calm bays, and lunches at Kahuwai Cookhouse, with evenings at Moana or cocktails at Shipwreck Bar.
Set high above the Aegean, Amanzoe’s one- to nine-bedroom villas are expansive Mediterranean homes framed by marble terraces, stone-clad walls, and gardens scented with lavender and olive. Each has its own pool and private chef, with some spanning multiple levels and featuring gyms or even spas. Don’t miss the Beach Club below—a serene stretch of private cabanas, saltwater pools, and turquoise coves that capture the easy rhythm of Greek island life.
Soneva Fushi’s overwater and jungle villas remain the blueprint for barefoot luxury, where the “no shoes, no news” philosophy is taken seriously. Each of the one- to nine-bedroom villas come with a personal butler (a “Mr. or Ms. Friday”) who anticipates every whim, from bikes waiting at your door to open-air movie nights under the stars. Between the overwater observatory, glassblowing studio, and coral restoration initiatives, there’s always something new to explore beyond the beach.
These sister resorts perfect the art of French villa life: Messardière’s sun-soaked Riviera residences and Courchevel’s ski-in/ski-out mountain chalets. In Saint-Tropez, three- to four-bedroom residences feel like private homes, complete with butler service, Rolls-Royce beach transfers, and thoughtful touches like Bonpoint skincare for children, an unpacking service, and pet menus. In Courchevel, the luxurious chalets sleep up to fifteen, each with a cinema, children’s playroom, and a wellness floor with an indoor pool, hammam, and Iyashi Dome.
Image courtesy of Jumby Bay Island
Sun, sand, and villas designed for easy, all-day beach living. These are the stays where days naturally drift from the water to the pool to long, golden-hour evenings.
Newly opened in 2024 on Cabo’s Golden Corridor, this modern hacienda-style village offers one- to seven-bedroom oceanview villas and residences, each with a private pool, a dedicated Villa Host, and breezy Baja-chic design. On one of Cabo’s rare swimmable beaches, the on-site Adventure Team keeps the whole family busy with activities on land and sea. Kids head to the Papalote Kids Club and its fun-packed Kids For All Seasons program, while adults enjoy at-home spa treatments or chef-prepared dinners on the terrace. Cabo villa life—fully Four Seasons level.
Set on its own private island off the coast of Antigua, Jumby Bay delivers ultra-Caribbean luxury in the most relaxed way, with two- to five-bedroom villas that come with a private chef, open-air living spaces, and the ease of a fully all-inclusive stay. Days unfold with chilled Taittinger, snorkeling trips, and bike rides along car-free paths, plus nature-focused experiences like the Hawksbill Turtle conservation program and visits to the island farm. Teens jump into sailing, mocktail classes, and beach volleyball, while The Hut, Little Jumby—the resort’s new beach club on its own tiny island—is one of the coolest places to eat and drink in the Caribbean.
An icon on the Costa del Sol since the 1950s, the Marbella Club still feels like an Andalusian estate, with low-slung villas and bungalows tucked behind private gardens and pools. The two- to four-bedroom options offer generous indoor–outdoor living, natural materials, and a few with kitchens for families who like extra flexibility. The 5,000-square-metre kids’ club is a standout, with an art studio, music room, cooking classes, and beach days, while the Marbella Club Equestrian Centre offers riding lessons for all levels.
Image courtesy of Montage Big Sky
Room to spread out, adventure at the doorstep, and independence built into every day. These villa stays give teens space to roam and families plenty to do together.
High up in the Spanish Peaks, Montage Big Sky is a resort that’s just as fun off the slopes as on. Its two- to six-bedroom residences connect to the main resort via a private underground walkway and come with mountain-view living rooms with fireplaces, full gourmet kitchens, big dining tables, game rooms, and bunk-room setups teens love. Winter days roll from ski-in/ski-out runs to the ice-skating rink, tubing hill, and beginner ski area steps from the door, before s’mores with the resort’s resident “marshmallowgist.” Beartooth Pub & Rec keeps everyone happy with bowling, arcade games, sundaes, and wood-fired pizzas.
On the coast of Messinia, The Romanos pairs one- to three-bedroom villas (many with private pools) with the ideal setup for active families. Cycle miles of coastal trails, try watersports, visit the Aqua Park, or dip into the retro-style Recreation Park with bowling, arcades, and a 1950s diner. Days stretch between the long sandy beach, four signature golf courses, and cultural trips to nearby archaeological sites—a mix of sunshine, adventure, and Greek history in one place.
Las Catalinas isn’t a resort—it’s a walkable beach town of villas, small inns, cafés, and plazas tucked between the Pacific and more than 1,000 acres of tropical dry forest. With no cars, teens can roam safely between beach clubs, smoothie stands, and the town’s network of shops and restaurants. Days are shaped by hiking and mountain-biking trails, calm swimming beaches, stand-up paddleboarding, and sunset dinners in town—a low-key, outdoorsy setup that gives families space and teens a welcome sense of independence.
Windjammer Landing is an easy fit for families who want activity by day and a laid-back, barefoot atmosphere by night. Spread across a hillside above Labrelotte Bay, the one- to four-bedroom villas and residences offer sweeping sea views and plenty of space for families. Teens can bounce between watersports, snorkeling, sailing lessons, and the resort’s lively beach hub, while younger siblings dip into the Jacquot Fun Club for everything from crafts to tennis lessons. Family activities run from beach Olympics and water-balloon tosses to silent headphone parties and cooking classes.
Image courtesy of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Big spaces, communal living, and everything you need to keep every age happy. These villa stays make group travel feel easy, flexible, and genuinely fun.
Set on a 2,700-acre estate between Florence and Pisa, Castelfalfi feels more like a revived medieval village than a resort, complete with cobbled lanes, vineyards, olive groves, and a castle at its heart. Its restored farmhouses and one- to six-bedroom villas sit quietly among the hills, many with private pools and wide Tuscan views. Groups spend their days wine tasting at the estate winery, playing the 27-hole golf course, or trying more than 40 outdoor experiences—from truffle hunting and olive picking to archery and falconry—before settling into one of the property’s many restaurants.
In the citrus-filled hills of Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Valencia’s three-bedroom villas feel purpose-built for group trips, offering full kitchens, spacious living rooms, and private patios with fireplaces for easy indoor–outdoor living. Villa guests tap into the resort’s best perks—The Pony Room’s coastal ranch cooking, the award-winning spa, and one of California’s top tennis and pickleball programs—plus more than 100 weekly fitness and wellness classes. All of it wrapped in that signature SoCal ease, just minutes from the beaches of Del Mar and La Jolla.
Set on a 22-acre private peninsula with one of the area’s most beautiful beaches, The St. Regis Punta Mita is one of Mexico’s most activity-packed luxury resorts—ideal for groups and families who want variety without sacrificing style. Its one- to three-bedroom villas sit just steps from the shore, with plunge pools, outdoor terraces, and the resort’s signature butler service. Days might include snorkeling or stand-up paddleboarding, teeing off on two Jack Nicklaus–designed golf courses, joining the nightly Champagne sabrage, or lingering over fish tacos and margaritas at Mita Mary—the resort’s beloved toes-in-the-sand boat bar.
