Archive for November, 2021

The Best Global Company Retreat Destinations 

Monday, November 29th, 2021

Hand’s up who’s missed business travel. All of us, right?! In a long overdue catch up, companies are starting to come back to business travel, with company retreats providing the perfect opportunity to catch up in the many villa rentals across the world.

There’s numerous benefits in doing so. It’s an opportunity for team bonding, harnessing creative resources and learning from each other in a stress-free environment. It’s also an opportunity for teams across different locations to come together, something that has been sorely missed in recent months.

If you’re ready to be inspired, check out some of the best destinations below.

Aspen, Colorado

During the summer months, Aspen is perfect for outdoor pursuits,  come winter it’s a snow and ski paradise. Either way, this makes for a fun backdrop for hosting your work event, especially if you’re looking to combine it with outdoor activities. Another reason for its popularity, is that Aspen villa rentals are known to be well equipped with plenty of space. Villa Marylou, for instance, is the ideal spot for smaller teams to enjoy. 

Las Vegas, Nevada

The city that never sleeps also has the best spaces for hire – perfect for company events and team presentations on a large scale. It’s the reason why so many exhibitions and launches take place here. Alternatively, further away in Henderson, you can find a calmer vibe with ranches and retreats perfectly suitable for lower-key engagements. 

Athens, Greece

The lively capital of Greece is home to first-class villa rentals, grand hotels and event space, making it perfect for company retreats. With its rich history, it’s also an inspiring place to bring teams together, with the Parthenon and numerous other cultural sights to feast your eyes on. Its endless museums and architectural ruins are nothing short of inspiring, no matter what industry you’re in. 

Singapore

For inspiring architecture and modern living fused with age-old traditions, Singapore is a popular business destination for corporate retreats. A visit to the iconic Marina Sands Bay, 207 metres high, is a good place to start. The sky is most certainly the limit in this creative setting that knows no bounds.

Barcelona, Spain

Bustling Barcelona is a popular destination for both leisure and business travel, with work-hard play-hard appeal. As such, there’s endless villas for rent, restaurants for dining and private spaces for hire, for taking your team on company retreat. When the hard work is over, there’s a ton of famous galleries, museums, zoos and Olympic stadiums to wander around. As for evening activities – it’s reputation goes before it!

Miami, Florida

With some of the largest conferencing facilities, complex and hotels in USA, Miami is a popular choice for company retreats. Home to leading events such as Art Basel and the International Boat Show, the city is well-equipped for hosting large parties. This includes a wide selection of Miami villa rentals, many with waterfront docks for easy access to the water. There’s plenty of business centers for meetings, plus the downtown destination of Brickell is a fun place for after-hours entertainment. All in all, you can’t go wrong in this fun up-for-it city.

Ibiza, Balearic Islands

More than just a party island, Ibiza has capitalized on its popularity, with a cluster of new hotels, business centres and private spaces available for hire. Combined with its easy access from Europe, it makes for an attractive destination for your company retreat. With wellness high on the agenda here, you can easily hire yoga, Pilates and other instructions to your Ibiza villa rental for a full company detox. 

For the very best luxury villa rentals, for work or pleasure, visit Villazzo for an elite selection.

Top 2021 Destinations for Coming Together Over Thanksgiving

Friday, November 12th, 2021

This year Thanksgiving is set to be bigger than ever, as families make up for lost time over the past year. Taking place on Thursday 25 November in the US, the date is slowly creeping up. However, it’s never too early (or late) to plan ahead, and it all starts with a spacious vacation rental for all the family.

If you’re ready for a get-away, we’ve hand-picked seven of our favorite destinations for all the Thanksgiving feels.

For winter feels – Aspen
Warming the coldest of hearts, the powdery slopes of Aspen invite you over for a long weekend. Cosy up in front of the fire and get in the festive mood, with log fires burning and eggnog brewing! It’s a romantic choice for couples, as well as popular with families too.

With their huge kitchens and endless dining space, Aspen villa rentals were made for big family gatherings. There’s also a number of resorts serving Thanksgiving dinner, including Der Fondue Chessel and Ski Tip Lodge to name a few. When the turkey has settled, Snowmass mountain beckons with some of the best slopes you’ll find in the US.

Family fun – Miami
Miami villas are known for their decadence, style and swimming pools. If you’re looking to combine Thanksgiving with a mini break, this is the perfect place for you. Villa Sasha, for instance, boasts seven spacious bedrooms, with a large private outdoor space and plenty of indoor dining options. Thanksgiving in the sun doesn’t get better than Miami.

For big party vibes – New York City
There’s thousands of reasons why New York is a great choice for Thanksgiving. But perhaps one of the biggest is the infamous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A stalwart in the diary since 1924, it attracts millions of party-goers with giant floats, musical acts and theatrical performance from Broadway stars. Perfect for couples and friends looking to party through the Thanksgiving weekend. Just be sure to book your villa rental in advance, as it gets busy.

The ultimate get-away – Hawaii
November is a great month to visit Hawaii – the busy crowds have dispersed and the weather is perfectly warm. Just a short flight from the west coast, it manages to feel a world away. If you fancy something a little different, try a luau Thanksgiving feast, full of Polynesian flavour – fun for all the family. And while you’re there, why not hit up the waves – since it’s home to some of the best in the world.

Beach life at its best – St Barth’s
Bring together your loved ones under the luxury and beauty of one of the best St Barth’s villa rentals on the island. This is the best way to enjoy privacy and luxury under one roof. Hire in a catering company to cook up your Thanksgiving feast, or take to one of the many five-star restaurants on the island. When the celebrations are over, there’s plenty of tranquil beaches for fully relaxing and making the most of your time on the island.

Calling all kids – Orlando, Florida
One for the kids (and big kids) amongst you! Orlando is home to some of the most luxurious villa rentals, hotels and of course Disney World. This Thanksgiving, the theme park is hosting all sorts of options for families within its resort, which means you don’t have to miss out whilst having fun with Mickey Mouse. Reassuringly, the standard is high here, so you won’t go wrong wherever you decide to book.

For unrivalled luxury, Villazzo offers the very best villa rentals in the most sought-after destinations in the world.

The Lifestyles of Europe’s Top Five European Cities

Monday, November 1st, 2021

If you’re partial to Apple TV’s Ted Lasso, you might have learnt a few things about Europe. Like football is life, and tea is a religious-like ritual! But there’s more to Europe than Cristiano Ronaldo and a strong Earl Grey. Every day starts and ends differently, with fascinating customs, traditions and cuisines to experience.

We’ve picked out five of the top cultural destinations in Europe, that just so happen to have plenty of luxury villa rentals for your next visit. Curious to learn more, then read on…

The Amalfi Coast, Italy
As you wake from slumber in your Naples villa rental, the day must start with a strong espresso. The pace builds with the day, allowing you to make the most of those dreamy Amalfi coast views, whilst sinking into your pool, or taking a private yacht to the island of Capri – a popular summer jaunt. To truly experience la dolce vita, it’s all about five-star dining in three-course servings. Start with primo – usually carbs, then secondo (protein), whilst saving space for dessert and a glass of local vino. It’s not too hard to get into the local lifestyle after all, is it?!

Saint-Tropez, France
A favourite with the rich and famous, villas in St-Tropez are a must-have for mooring up and spending a few weeks over the summer months. This allows you to visit farmers markets and fish markets for the freshest produce. You can also indulge in some of the finest five-star and family-run restaurants this side of Cannes. Shopping is another popular pastime, with its quaint cobbled stoned pathways leading to designer boutiques and outlets to pick up something new. Finally, with golden stretches of beaches along its rugged coastline, local living isn’t without a brisk power walk on the promenade, giving you the St-Tropez glow.

Old Town, Mykonos
Beach life is the way of life on this fashionable Greek island, that bars, restaurants and even clubs centre around it. Mykonos Town is the bustling spot for late night fun, but the rest of the island has hidden coves of tranquillity for some much needed downtime. When not on the beach, the other popular hangout is poolside, of course. No Mykonos villa rental is complete without a plunge pool melting into the view, cocktail in hand. Yammas to that!

London, England
The weather may be rainy, but the party never stops in London. This fun, vibrant city invites you to discover its many hidden gems, with some of the best villa rentals to base yourself. There’s always something going on – from the famous Wimbledon tennis championships in the summer, to the Chelsea Flower Show in the spring, and Christmas lights and Oxford Street shopping come winter. With pubs on every street corner, along with cocktail bars and world-class restaurants, there’s no shortage of night time entertainment either. Just be sure to start the day right with a ‘greasy fry up’ and cup of ‘brew’, a local is bound to point you in the right direction!

Ibiza Town, Ibiza
Ibiza Town is a destination that must be visited at least once. If not from your luxury superyacht (the marina is full of them), then one of the Ibiza villa rentals within the city. The way of life here embraces ‘manana’ – take it at your own pace – there’s no rush. This is what also makes Ibiza Town a great place for people watching, particularly in the early hours of the morning when the town comes to life. If you’re not a morning person, this is your vibe! The days are spent mooching around, or hanging by local hip hangouts – the Blue Marlin or Bora Bora beach, where anything goes. Dining takes place later than most European destinations (9pm is early!), with plenty of cafes lining the spiral castle streets, before you hit up Pacha – the iconic club.

Looking for a luxury villa rental for your next European getaway? Visit Villazzo, for a selection of the bet.