2015 - Page 2 of 2 - Luxury Home Rentals in Miami, Aspen & St. Tropez

Kick-start summer: Fun things to do Memorial Day Weekend in Miami

Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

Your Miami luxury villa is booked and the bags are packed. Now it’s time to plan some rewarding activities for the kickoff to summer, Memorial Day Weekend.

fairchild

Chihuly at Fairchild

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables is 83 acres devoted to conserving the natural beauty of South Florida. It’s an appropriate backdrop for Dale Chihuly’s largest and most comprehensive exhibition to date of spectacular glass sculptures. Check out Tropical Chihuly Nights on Thursday and Sunday evenings, a twinkling wonderland of glass and light.

Perez

Miami Museum Month

May is Museum Month in Miami, so you’re arriving just in time to catch it. Miami has a wealth of museums for every taste. We’re confident you’ll enjoy these two.

The centerpiece of the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in nearby Coconut Grove is the James Deering estate, a National Historic Landmark, built in 1910s. This European-inspired estate includes a main house filled with art and furnishings, 10 acres of gardens on Biscayne Bay, a hardwood hammock, and a historic village.

Perez Art Museum Miami (formerly Miami Art Museum) is Miami-Dade County’s flagship museum located in a 200,000 sq ft facility dedicated in 2013 in downtown Miami. The museum’s permanent collection is dedicated to international art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

homeshow

Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show

This very popular home show runs Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25, Memorial Day at the Broward County Convention Center. This year’s show offers a plethora of exhibits, presentations and stage events, including Chip Wade, host of the Emmy Award-wining ‘Elbow Room’ on HGTV and an art exhibit titled “At Home wit Art: Topographies.”

flamingo

Memorial Day Kidzfest at Flamingo Gardens

For families with children, this event was made for you! Flamingo Gardens is a 60- acre tropical paradise just a half hour north of Miami in Broward County. The Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary within the Gardens is home to the largest collection of Florida native wildlife including alligators, bear, bobcats, eagles, otters, peacocks, and flamingos. Kidzfest kicks up the fun a notch with some kid-centric activities like free pony rides, a bounce house, hulu hoop contest, live music, and arts and crafts activities.

If you haven’t yet booked your Miami villa vacation, there’s still time. Click here and choose the luxury villa rental that suits your family group. And let’s get summer started, Miami-style!

Posted in Miami | 2,175 Comments »

Aspen’s Top 10 Family Activities this Summer.

Tuesday, May 12th, 2015

Here comes summer, and Aspen is the place to be for family fun in the great outdoors.
Aspen summer activities

1. Go white water rafting.

aspen summer activities
Choose a half-day trip that’s a gentle glide down the Roaring Fork River with plenty of time to take in the stunning scenery, or one that’s adrenaline-charged as you negotiate Class IV rapids and “boulder gardens.” Whichever you choose, experienced guides make the trip safe and fun.

2. Ride downhill on a bicycle.

summer activities aspen

A bike tour is an ideal family activity. Whether you choose the paved road tour down from the Maroon Bells, or the smooth dirt track that follows the Roaring Fork River, you’ll have a chance to stop and learn about the wildlife and flora and fauna along the way.

3. Tour the backcountry in a 4-wheel drive.

4weheeler

Rugged but comfortable off-road vehicles charge canyons, climb foothills and traverse streams allowing amazing access to alpine forests and wildflower-carpeted high alpine meadows. Guides and drivers know just where to stop to give you that perfect photo opportunity.

4. Fly fish on the river.

Cast your rod on the Roaring Fork or Frying Pan River featuring some of the finest wild trout fishing in Western Colorado. Both rivers are designated Gold Metal Rivers by the Colorado Department of Wildlife to signify outstanding trout fisheries. Anglers enjoy spectacular vistas of mountains and canyons.

5. Hike wilderness trails.

hiking

From novice to intermediate half-day hikes of 3-4 miles to full day hikes over challenging terrain for expert hikers, there’s something for everyone on Aspen’s wilderness trails. Along the way, enjoy the pristine alpine landscape and learn about the ecology, geology and natural history of the region from knowledgeable guides.

6. Ride a horse through beautiful country.

horseriding

The original settlers in this area came on horseback so, from the saddle of your experienced packhorse, you get a perspective on what they saw so long ago. Enjoy riding through aspen groves and pine forests, accessing remote lakes and streams, and viewing scenery that will take your breath away.

7. Climb a mountainside.

climbing

Rock climbing classes are available for novice to advanced climbers. All classes teach basic skills, including knots, belaying, and movement on rock. Full and half day classes are available with AMGA certified guides. All safety equipment such as: harnesses, helmets, climbing shoes, ropes, and anchors are included.

8. Attend an open-air concert.

concert

Day and night, music takes center stage during the summer months. Whether you enjoy bluegrass, folk, rock, or classical, there’s something for every musical taste. Pick your genre, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy music in the great outdoors, an Aspen summer tradition.

9. Take a gondola ride up Aspen Mountain.

gondola

The Silver Queen Gondola, the longest single-stage gondola in the world, rises from Aspen town to the summit of Aspen Mountain, a 3,267 vertical rise. At the 11,212-foot summit, revel in the views, dine on the Sundeck, jump on the climbing wall or Eurobungy trampoline, or take a free, guided nature walk.

10. Soar over mountain peaks in a hot air balloon.

airballoons

Set off early in the morning when the air is brisk. During the flight, you’ll see amazing views from about 1,500 feet above the Colorado landscape. A champagne brunch ton landing tops it off. This is an exhilarating adventure you’ll never forget.

Villazzo is your source for Aspen luxury vacation rentals. Book your Aspen villa now for the summer season, and start planning summer days packed with exciting activities and family fun.

Posted in Aspen | 5,074 Comments »

A Tribute to Mothers

Thursday, May 7th, 2015

We love our mothers, grandmothers, daughters and moms-to-be. They give life and dispense love in the most unselfish way. During the month of May, we want to help you honor them with a luxury villa vacation and some pampering they so deserve.

Our “Celebrate the Love” package offers special pricing on a minimum 3-night stay at the fabulous Villa Contenta in Miami plus special complimentary personal services we tailor especially for your group. Mom will enjoy a relaxing massage followed by champagne. Bring along your grandmother and we’ll treat her to a new hairstyle and a mani/pedi. New moms will appreciate a full day of babysitting. And expectant moms will embrace a prenatal yoga session and natural fruit juice. Trust us to know what complimentary personal services will be just right for the women in your group.

Don’t miss your opportunity to indulge all the moms in your family and celebrate in style. Book now to assure availability.

Pick one of the following services and enjoy your stay:

Relaxing Massage with Champagne
Hair-styling and Mani-Pedi
Nanny on call
Prenatal Yoga

With 11,000 sq ft, six bedrooms and every imaginable amenity, Villa Contenta can only be described as spacious and gracious. Built in the Spanish Colonial style, this grand villa features fabulous views across Biscayne Bay towards South Beach plus a private dock and floating deck at the waterfront. There’s a large dining terrace next to the enormous 130 ft heated, walk-in pool with Jacuzzi, swim-in grotto and waterfall. Villa Contenta also features a lounge with grand piano, a full-size pool table, movie theater, and bar. Inside and out, Villa Contenta offers the ultimate in relaxation. So why not offer Mom the peace and serenity she’ll revel in!

*Valid through May for up to 12 overnight guests

Rates (3 nights minimum stay): Was $14,000 – Now $10,999*
Rates (7 nights minimum stay): Was $10,600 – Now $8,999*

Posted in Luxury Travel, Miami | 1,111 Comments »

The Ultimate All-Inclusive in Aspen

Friday, April 24th, 2015

School’s out, here comes summer! And the beautiful mountain town of Aspen is the place for family fun. Our package includes a luxury villa plus your choice of two complimentary activities per week for your group of up to 12 people during June, July or August. Two complimentary activities are available for each week you book.

River Rafting Adventures

Downhill Bicycle Tours

Backcountry 4 Wheel Drive Tours

Fly Fishing Adventures

Wilderness Hiking Tours

Horseback Adventures

Rock Climbing Adventures

With 7 bedrooms and a total of 19,000 sq ft over three floors, Villa Chepita is Fun Central for large groups. This ultra-modern estate boasts amenities your kids will love: media room, theater, bowling alley, billiards table, arcade, gym and sauna, and of course, a swimming pool.

Rates: $26,999 / night (one week minimum stay)
Rates: $13,999 / night (one month minimum stay)

Make this mountainside villa with 6 bedrooms and breathtaking views of Red Mountain your private alpine retreat. Inside, Villa Malia features vaulted ceilings pierced with massive beams. Outside, on the large stone-clad patio, make the most of Aspen’s warm days and blissfully cool evenings.

Rates: $11,999 / night (one week minimum stay)
Rates: $9,999 / night (one month minimum stay)

Posted in Aspen | 1,223 Comments »

St. Tropez at 60: Still sexy after all these years

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

The year was 1955. Brigitte Bardot came to film And God Created Woman for then-husband, Roger Vadim, and the rest, as they say, is history. When the film was released in 1956, the image of Bardot emerging from the surf in a tiny gingham bikini caused a sensation. As it turned out, the world was as captivated with this young sex siren as Bardot was with the authentic charms of St. Tropez. She popularized the two-piece swimsuit, which was born in Paris a decade before, and put St. Tropez on the map as a hedonistic playground for international playboys and creative types.

With the recent introduction of super model Kate Moss as celebrity endorser of the St. Tropez brand of self-tanning products, St. Tropez seems to have come full circle back to its beginning celebrating the beauty of the well-toned female body. The original charms of this fishing village are still here if you wander away from the glitzy beach clubs and designer boutiques, but St. Tropez will forever be known, first and foremost, as a sexy enclave where its de rigueur to see and be seen.

We needed a modern, efficient space to serve our clients in St. Tropez, but a sterile cement office block wasn’t what we were looking for. We were delighted to find a space in a charming villa in the heart of St. Tropez that reflected our aesthetic. We left the exterior untouched while renovating the interior to suit the needs of a modern business. The next time you’re visiting the French Riviera, stop in and visit us at our newly redesigned offices.

Featuring a sleek contemporary interior with stylish modern furnishings, it’s a comfortable environment in which to review our St. Tropez villas for rent. Take a seat and relax with an espresso or glass of wine while our knowledgeable staff helps you review our stunning VillaHotel collection of the ten best luxury villa rentals in the area. Each represents the ultimate in privacy, amenities, décor, ambiance, and design. We are open all year, so don’t hesitate to contact us about our Aspen luxury vacation rentals and luxury Miami vacation rentals, as well.

16 Avenue Paul Roussel – 83990 Saint-Tropez

Tel: +33 (4) 94 49 32 54

A very special Villazzo VillaHotel package with 20% savings is available on three of our most popular villas for those who book a two-week stay by April 30th. Helicopter transfer for up to six guests is included.

Here are the highlights:

Personal Chef

Personal VillaHotel Butler

Villazzo Linen, towels, bathrobes, slippers

In-Villa Mini Bars, Gift Shop, Bulgari amenities, Wine Cellar, Tea & Espresso Stations

In-Villa Spa Treatments

Daily housekeeping, Daily linen and towel change, Daily off-site laundry of all linen

Free Helicopter Airport Transfer

Terms: 2 weeks minimum stay required, booked by April 30th. Helicopter transfer from Nice, La Mole, or Toulon airports for up to six people. Discount applied to VillaHotel Peak Season rates for the months of July and August.

8 bedroom minimalist contemporary near Escalet Beach. Overlooking a beautiful sea and countryside view, Villa Margot captivates with contemporary design and comfort. This truly remarkable villa is a masterpiece of architecture, with the private, well manicured grounds giving way to a spectacular vanishing-edge pool, covered terrace, and outdoor living and dining areas. Inside, find an open floor plan, exquisite gourmet kitchen, dining room for 18 guests, and comfortable living and lounging areas with large panoramic windows. The 8 bedrooms are equally stunning, with spa-inspired en-suite bathrooms.

Rates: Was ~~€10,629~~ – Now €8,499

6 bedroom contemporary minutes from area beaches and hotspots. This contemporary masterpiece is secluded behind a private gate yet only minutes from hot spots and beaches. The spacious Villa Celine has an open floor plan with large panoramic windows that allow ample light into the holiday home and unveil the beautiful countryside. The interior in a soft white palette is punctuated by bold, modern art. Outdoor amenities make the most of the blissfully warm climate. Tropical palms surround a shimmering pool and BBQ area, and beyond splendid city views.

Rates: Was ~~€5,229~~ – Now €4,199

5 bedroom, two-story contemporary 3 minutes from St. Tropez. With a barbeque, terrace overlooking the manicured grounds and a heated lap pool dramatically lit at night, the orientation of the home is very much to the outdoors. But the interior offers every creature comfort as well. The main living areas are enhanced by a collection of well-chosen modern art. Villa Nancy features four queen bedrooms in the main house, all with en-suite baths, and a one-bedroom guesthouse with en-suite bath, ideal for staff. Guests gather for dinner around a rustic farmhouse table that seats six.

Rates: Was ~~€5,629~~ – Now €4,499

Posted in Saint-Tropez | 4,104 Comments »

10 Reasons St. Tropez is the Best Luxury Destination for 2018

Friday, January 23rd, 2015

If you are starting to plan your summer getaway, let us show you why a St. Tropez luxury villa vacation should be at the top of your list.

1) Outstanding villa accommodation. Maybe we’re bias, but we believe of all the villa rental companies out there, a Villazzo villa is your best guarantee of truly outstanding accommodation and the highest standards of personal service with our unique VillaHotel Service.

2) Breathtaking scenery. With its location on the Côte d’Azur, St. Tropez offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. The main attraction is the Bay of St. Tropez where beaches and the charming fishing port surround it like a jeweled necklace. St. Tropez has a patina of international sophistication, but you don’t have to look far to recognize that, at its roots, it’s a picturesque traditional village where daily life goes on as it has for centuries. That’s certainly part of its charm.

3) Blissful climate. Some luxury destinations can disappoint when it comes to weather, but St. Tropez from May through September is blessed with warm sunny days with little humidity and balmy nights. When the mistral wind kicks up, so does the surf, perfect for exhilarating windsurfing and sailing. The climate is perfect for growing the grapes used in the area’s famous rose wines, sampling of the many varieties encouraged at wineries located within the city.

4) Sun-kissed beaches. Whether you’re looking for the ideal family beach, a beach with a reputation as the place to “see and be seen,” or a beach where you can get an all-over tan, St. Tropez has a beach for everyone. Private beach clubs, offering sunbathing, delicious cuisine and pulsating music accompanied by creative cocktails, have long been engaged in fierce competition for popularity among jetsetters. The names to know are Bagatelle, Nikki Beach and Club 55.

5) Food and wine. After all you are in France, so delicious dining and fine wine are well within your expectations. In St. Tropez, that means plenty of seafood and local artisan produce, especially truffles and mushrooms. Sample the many rosé wines that La Provence is famous for accompanied by a favorite local dish, anchoiade, an anchovy and garlic purée spread on toast or tipped in crudités. There are two iconic restaurants not to be missed. Senequier started as a modest café more than four generations ago. Today, it’s the place to take in the views of the harbor, savor exquisite food and enjoy top-notch people watching. Chez Camille, billed as “a little taste of heaven by the sea,” serves the best Bouillabaisse, a typical Provencal fish stew.

6) World-class shopping. From tini-bikinis to curated collections by local proprietors to legendary luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and Giorgio Armani, St. Tropez is a luxury shopping nirvana.

St Tropez Beach Clubs

7) Hot clubs. When in St. Tropez, be a hedonists and dance and drink ‘til dawn. St. Tropez clubs are high end and sophisticated. None is more celebrated than the glitzy Les Caves du Roy in Hotel Byblos. It’s an indoor club as is the popular VIP Room. Drop by L’Opera, which boasts the special ambiance of being an indoor/outdoor venue.

8) The sporting life. St. Tropez offers so many sporting options: golf, tennis and water sports of every kind. But two sports are synonymous with the summer season, polo and yacht racing. Polo is a great spectator sport. Watch International teams and their beautiful polo ponies engaged in spirited competition all summer long. Summer is the advent of the mistral winds which blow in off the Mediterranean, just the right conditions for yacht racing, also attracting international boats and crews.

9) People watching. Ever since Brigitte Bardot came in 1956 to film And God Created Women and “discovered” St. Tropez, it has been a magnet for celebrities and A-listers. The Port of St. Tropez is the favored spot for people watching and you never know who you might see. Model Kate Moss, music moguls Beyonce and Jay Z, singer Rihanna, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio have been spotted recently.

10) International sophistication. Naturally, St. Tropez is a favorite summer destination for the French and other Europeans, but people of many nationalities flock here. Visitors from Brazil, Mexico and the US bring their own special cache to this charming village.

Let us help you choose the perfect luxury villa in St. Tropez. Start here.