We have collided head first into 2014! For some of us January can be a scary month — we find ourselves scanning mental lists of things we didn’t accomplish the year before. Is there anyone out there that feels unfulfilled? Frustrated by a year that did not deliver the joy and success you had expected? Are you exhausted just thinking about what is to come of this brand new year? Take that nervous energy, otherwise known as the New Year jitters, and turn it into something positive— something more profitable for your mind, body, and soul. Villazzo can help!
Posts Tagged ‘luxury villa rental’
Miami: Your autumn pick-me-up
Tuesday, October 8th, 2013
It should come as no surprise that travelers often cite fall as the best time of year to experience Miami. Although much of the country begins to cool down in the month of October, the average high temperature in Miami sits around 85 degrees (approx. 30 Celsius). With tourist season long past, there’s also more freedom to enjoy the true Miami lifestyle (think ample beach space). If you’re still planning your fall Miami getaway, Villazzo still has some of its signature VillaHotels available.
Featured:
1. Book Villa Azza (above): A modern and tropical waterfront escape on Palm Island (starting at $5,700 per night)
Instead of Buying, Think About a Luxury Villa Rental in Aspen or Miami
Monday, April 15th, 2013
With high end real estate booming in sought after cities like Aspen or Miami, many might consider getting into the game themselves. Of course, buying real estate, especially in a red hot market, comes with many considerations including location and how much time you’ll be spending in any given city. All of which makes the option of luxury villa rentals increasingly attractive for many who travel often or who are looking for vacation properties rather than more day to day family homes. The advantages of renting rather than owning your very own luxury villa as a vacation getaway are numerous, including getting a property in the best location, as well as receiving five-star service without having to staff a home year round. And when it comes to U.S. markets like Aspen or Miami, not to mention luxury European spots like St. Tropez, the booming luxury market means that prime homes aren’t always available either.
Take the 2013 Coldwell Banker Previews International Luxury Market Report, for instance. This report details sales markets in the United States when it comes to properties over $10 million sold in 2012. Aspen, Colorado was in the third spot after traditional luxury markets New York and Beverly Hills. An article in Luxury Daily outlines the report’s findings, including that the numbers “uncovered that there are a few up-and-coming areas that have not always been considered luxury real estate hubs.” To this end Betty Graham, President of Previews International at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, explains that she was “quite surprised to see Aspen have almost as many high-end sales as Beverly Hills,” a clear indication that the mountain town is as popular as ever with jet setters, but also gaining traction as a wonderful location year round.
All this is definitely good news for the sleepy but decidedly upscale town of Aspen, where according to The Aspen Business Journal, occupancy rates have been on the rise this year. The newspaper states that “occupancy rates at Aspen and Snowmass lodges in March were up 7 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively, compared to last year, according to the latest data. Numbers for April are also positive so far, according to MTRIP, a travel research program that keeps track of stats for mountain destinations. Bookings in Aspen for April are so far up 6.2 percent and they are up 49.8 percent in Snowmass compared to the same month last year, MTRIP reported.” If you’d love to enjoy the beauty of Aspen, but don’t want to deal with ever crowded lodges and resorts–or a red hot real estate market–then renting a luxury villa rental is definitely a great choice.
Not that Aspen is the only real estate market that is booming. Miami too has benefited in the luxury sector from an influx of dollars from Latin Americans eager to soak up the sun and culture in this beautiful city, according to a recent article in The Global Post. “Miami and its surroundings, according to the latest report on the luxury real estate market by Christie’s, in 2012 burst into the group of the world’s main markets of this type, thanks to the general recovery in demand and low prices,” the article states. “[And] calculations are that Miami at the end of last year had more than 2,000 residences with prices above $1 million, half of what New York has despite the fact that the population of the Miami metropolitan area does not have even one quarter the people of the Big Apple.” Of course, if you’re looking for less of a long term option in amazing Miami then one of the stunning luxury villa rentals and VillaHotels available from Villazzo–with all the comforts of home including gourmet kitchens, expansive bedrooms and baths, pools, and even elegantly appointed indoor and outdoor dining areas–are a great alternative for a getaway this spring or summer.
The New Luxury Travel Trend – Perfect for a Luxury Villa Rental!
Tuesday, December 18th, 2012
Travel professionals are always looking to pinpoint the new and popular when it comes to luxury vacations so that they can work to deliver what their clients are looking for. One trend that is rising in popularity when it comes to affluent travel? Shopping! A second big trend that is increasingly being seen is busy people looking to use their vacations to unwind, disconnect and totally escape–and what better way to do that to than find yourself a luxury villa rental to enjoy in total privacy?
According to a Euromonitor’s new Global Trends Report the prediction is that the luxury travel industry is “likely to see a rise in specialized holidays catering to tourists wanting to go shopping, or ‘escape’ from an increasingly connected world…The rise in luxury shopping trips is expected to be driven by tourists from the BRIC nations – Brazil, Russia, India and China – who are increasingly flocking to Europe and North America to throw their money around. Euromonitor said that there was already plenty of evidence of this trend, which is driven by growing middle classes in those countries, plus relatively high import taxes on luxury items.” If you’re looking to organize a vacation heavy on the shopping in Europe or North America, then you can’t really do better than locales like Miami, Aspen or St. Tropez all of which offer the very best in high end retailers and seasonal designer pop up shops.
On the other hand, if a “digital detox holiday” is more your speed then we can’t think of a better option to do just that than your very own luxury villa rental. Not only do Villazzo’s VillaHotel’s offer personalized service that more than rivals a five-star hotel, but you’ll also get all the privacy and comforts of home to enjoy during your detox. While luxury villa rentals will enable to you to stay connected if you so choose, these great properties–close to all the action, but separate enough to ensure privacy–can also be the perfect spot if you decide to unplug completely. Gorgeous locales from Miami and Aspen are wonderful spots to leave emails and phones behind while enjoying your luxury getaway.
Photos: 1. miamibeachadvisor.com / 2. coconutgroverentals / 3. jeffhirz.wordpress.com
AUTOS & VIAJES – RESIDENCIAS DE LUJO PARA UNAS VACACIONES EXTRAVAGANTES
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 |
En una cálida y amena charla con Christian Jagodzinski en su exclusiva villa La Contenta ubicada en Palm Island en Miami Beach, conversamos sobre como comenzó con este nuevo y novedoso emprendimento hotelero. Christian nos cuenta, que uno de sus grandes placeres son los viajes de lujo. Decidía vender su empresa de internet y viajar por el mundo, a lo largo de esos viajes nunca pudo encontrar una experiencia hotelera a la altura de sus expectativas. Los hoteles 5 estrellas eran menos personalizados de lo que esperaba y los pequeños boutiques de lujo carecían de calidad y constancia en sus servicios. (more…) |
St. Tropez Cited as One of the World’s Top Honeymoon Hideaways
Friday, September 24th, 2010
France, as chosen by Vogue and Mr & Mrs Smith, is a luxury villa rental paradise for newlyweds.
What do people look for in a honeymoon destination? Privacy and romance, usually, adventure sometimes, and luxury in most cases. According to Vogue Australia and elite travel site Mr and Mrs Smith,one of the best places to get all of the above is a classic choice: France. While Paris has been done to death by honeymooners for generations, the South of France remains an idyllic getaway destination for those looking to bask in their fresh nuptial happiness. “Prefer a sexy yet stylish beach getaway? The French Riviera is for you. The coast that defined seaside glamour is still a balmy playground, equally endowed with look-at-me glitz and laid-back cool,” Mr and Mrs Smith explains to Vogue. “Fancy something a little more cutting-edge?” they ask, then St. Tropez is where you and your honey need to be.
St. Tropez Voted One of the Top 10 Autumn Vacation Destinations
Friday, August 27th, 2010A luxury villa rental in St. Tropez is not just for summer fun, but also for fall adventures!
When most people think of St. Tropez, they think of summer; maybe visiting for a couple of weeks in July or for a month at the beach in August, which is Europe’s traditional time for vacations. While the Cote d’Azur is undoubtedly beautiful in the high summer months, it can also be quite hot, congested, and expensive. An alternative to jostling among the summer crowds for a beach chair or restaurant reservation is to book a luxury villa rental and head to St. Tropez as the busy summer season draws to a close. The weather at this time is still mild and the atmosphere is decidedly more casual, two of the reasons The Guardian just named St. Tropez one of their Top 10 choices for autumn sunshine vacations, together with such gorgeous places as Sardinia and Dahab.
| Beat the Crowds – Visit St. Tropez in Autumn |
So why choose fall over summer? For a variety of reasons, the first of which is the weather. Instead of sweltering heat you will be able to enjoy much more moderate temperatures of around 25C while sunning yourself by the pool at your luxury villa rental or taking a stroll in St. Tropez’s town center. Browse through the luxury shops or stop for brunch without being inundated by the summer crowds of jet-set vacationers and gawkers. As The Guardian notes, St. Tropez, the “summer playground of the glitterati, the flashiest seaside resort in the Côte d’Azur takes on a whole new identity come autumn…Most of the crowds are long gone, leaving behind a more laid-back town. Beaches which are usually packed are blissfully quiet, as are its posh boutiques.” So if you really want to enjoy St. Tropez without the bother, then visiting in the autumn could definitely be the right choice for you.
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| Annual Autumn Event: The Voiles de St. Tropz – Photo via |
And don’t think that the end of summer means the end of fun and activity in St. Tropez, either — nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, one of the biggest events of the year here, The Voiles de St. Tropez, takes place in the fall. This year, the Regatta is being held from September 25th to October 3rd, when the Société Nautique hosts about 300 sailing yachts in the annual competition. Teams from fifteen different countries will take part in the race and the entire town will be alight with the festivities that go along with this important yearly event. So don’t worry that once the summer is over, the paparazzi have packed away their lenses and N.E.R.D. stops performing at V.I.P., there won’t be anything to do in St. Tropez.
If you do decide to book an autumn getaway in St. Tropez, then a luxury villa rental, complete with VillaHotel service, (think five-star hotel then add a star, gorgeous grounds and complete privacy) is really the way to go. Of course, if you ever get tired of hanging around your own private paradise, there will still be lots to do in town, from the less busy beaches to new restaurants like Pierre Gagnaire’s Colette in the new Hotel Sezz. So forget the crowds and the sweltering sun–choose autumn for your stay in St. Tropez.
St. Tropez Luxury Villa Rental Scam Reveals Corruption in the Vacation Industry
Saturday, August 21st, 2010St. Tropez Villa Frauds Makes Booking Through a Reputable Luxury Villa Rental Outfit Increasingly Necessary
The land of sea and sun, St. Tropez is where the wealthy go to get away from it all for a few blissful weeks every summer. Many yearn to be part of the St. Tropez scene and go about booking their vacations well in advance to ensure they will be sipping champagne beachside with the stars come out in July. Unfortunately, for several U.K. families recently, dreams of a fantasy vacation were dashed when they realized the deposits they put down on what they thought were luxury villa rentals were gone. Their money stolen and the villas they rented not in existence, these victims are now beside themselves as to what to do next. This vacation scam is becoming all too common and reinforces the need to book your luxury villa rental vacation through a reputable firm that not only knows St. Tropez well, but personally inspects each luxury rental villa to ensure your vacation will be the perfect, stress free getaway you’ve been dreaming of.
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According to Britain’s Daily Mail the St. Tropez villa fraud is one of the biggest of its kind in recent memory, with over £250,000 having been stolen from unsuspected travellers yearning to join the jet set on the Cote d’Azur, and others still looking to vacation in Spain or Austria. The newspaper spoke to one couple, Claudia and Keith Louch, who lost £10,000 on a St. Tropez luxury villa rental for a family reunion. Only after arriving in France and driving to look for the villa did Claudia Louch and her husband realize that there had never been a villa at all. Understandably upset, the couple had to call their other family members to cancel the vacation, many of them being forced to lose the price of their plane tickets when they cancelled at the last minute. Worse still for people like Claudia Louch, travel insurance doesn’t generally cover these types of situations.
The problem that many of these duped vacationers are reporting is not being able to tell the real from the fake. The ads they found were on reputable websites that are, however, just listing pages for villa advertising — not a company that checks on the validity of the ads. In many cases ,the villas were also offered at a suspiciously reduced rate, making them irresistible for those who long to enjoy the St. Tropez lifestyle. Now that the truth has been revealed, of course, it seems more of a case of getting what you paid for in the most unfortunate way.
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| St. Tropez at Night |
A solution for those longing for the experience of a luxury rental villa in St. Tropez, but don’t want to worry about who they are handing over their money to, is to go through a reputable rental company. There are only a handful of truly specialized luxury villa rental providers in the exclusive St. Tropez area, and you want to look for one where the managers check each property before the keys are handed over to guests. The reputable firms are also well versed in the local culture. Aside from this intimate knowledge of St. Tropez, these reputable rental companies also offer “value added” services that make you feel as though you are sleeping in a hotel, but with a ton much more luxury. Think gaggles more privacy, gorgeous grounds, a refreshing pool, and a staff that can cater to your needs just as if you were staying at an upscale hotel. A win, win it seems.
Most long for the pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife of St. Tropez, but if you’re planning to head out to the Cote d’Azur take care where you decide to stay. Many would understandably prefer a luxury rental villa over a hotel for their stay, but choosing the right one is fraught with pitfalls as the stories out of the U.K. tell us. If you want worry free vacationing then turn to a reputable villa rental company, which will work around the clock to ensure your stay is not only as perfect as possible, but tha you never want to leave.
