If you're already a fan of villa vacationing for its flexibility, privacy, value, and room to spread out and really settle in, we applaud your travel
savvy. If you haven't yet tried this popular way of living like a local, we encourage you to give it a go, and here are a few reasons why.
Ambiance
:
Many hotel rooms are cookie-cutter boring. Most villas, however, reflect the warmth and personality of their owners, are filled with local artwork, and are
located in areas where locals live, shop, dine out, and generally enjoy everyday life. Villas also tend to be stocked with handy extras like books, CDs and
DVDs (and the means to play them), board games, and kids' lawn and pool toys.
Comfort:
Villas offer most all the comforts of home, plus the privacy to enjoy them. And you can spread out since there's plenty of room. If you want some
separation from the kids, choose a home with the master bedroom on one end and the children's bedrooms at the other. Some villas will even include baby
monitors.
Independence:
Eat when you want. Swim when you want. Enjoy cocktails on the terrace when you want. Best yet, enjoy the freedom to get up and exercise first thing in the
morning without having to put makeup on (we hear that from members all the time!). You determine your schedule, just as you would at home.
Live Like a Native:
You'll rub elbows with the locals, so you can get their take on the best beaches, the most authentic restaurants, and the freshest market ingredients to
cook up in your own kitchen. You may even strike up a conversation with your neighbor who's out walking his dog or the woman who's weeding her garden.
Economy:
You can enjoy all the comforts and conveniences of villa vacationing for about what you'd spend for a luxury hotel--and often for less. This makes villa
vacationing an especially economical way to travel with other couples or a large extended family.
Through Hideaways, you have the option of renting directly from the homeowner or tapping into the expertise of Hideaways Travel Services
to book your vacation villa. We work with a number of the most reputable property management companies around the world--meaning someone will be "on the
ground" locally should something go awry, so you'll have a seamless villa experience.
Trust your Hideaways Travel Specialist to take care of all your travel details, including flights, transfers, and pre- and post-villa hotel stays
so you can see even more of your chosen destination. To start planning, contact your Hideaways Travel Specialist at 800-843-4433,
or email ts@hideaways.com.
We love hearing from you when you've returned from enjoying a great villa vacation, so keep sending us those comments! In the meantime, here are a couple
of success stories from Hideaways members who recently took multigenerational family trips to Europe and are now firm believers in the joys of
villa vacationing.
A Scottish Sojourn
By Hideaways member Bob Matheson, Boulder, CO
With a name like Matheson and clan ties to Scotland, it seemed natural to take a family vacation there this past summer. My wife, Ester, and I traveled
through Ireland and then on to Scotland with our two sons, their wives, and their three children, ages 3 to 10. Since one son lives in Boston and the other
in Portland, Oregon, it was a really nice way for everyone to get back together after going far too long not seeing each other.
We thoroughly enjoyed our weeklong stay at Gamefield, a private home on a Scottish country estate just a few miles outside the town of Crieff. The home was
quite modern and bright, with plenty of room for the nine of us, including four good-sized bedrooms on the second floor, each with its own nice bathroom.
We rarely used the nicely equipped kitchen, since we usually grabbed meals in whatever town we happened to be in while visiting the area's castles and
villages.
We also didn't use the fenced-in yard nearly to its full capacity. I think we may have lit the barbecue grill once, though everyone enjoyed climbing into
the hot tub on multiple occasions. The kids also got a kick out of jumping on the trampoline, with close supervision. If we hadn't been on the road most of
the time, the lawn would have been the perfect place for a family game of croquet or bocce.
A real hit with our grandson and granddaughters was discovering the two horses on the other side of the fenced yard. Of course, then we had to go
buy carrots so we could feed them. We'd come back after a day of sightseeing and there they'd be, waiting patiently at the fence for a handout. I'm afraid
we spoiled them--they're probably still looking for us at that fence!
Though it rained most every day we were there, we did see some beautiful scenery and visited lots of nice little towns. And we sampled all kinds of neat
food--of course, you've got to try haggis! One day we were at a castle and had a full feast of meats and stews, while seated at long wooden trestle-style
tables and listening to harp and flute music. The whole banquet hall was lit only by candlelight, with fires going in a couple of huge fireplaces. It was
great fun, and a nice way to create some lasting family memories.
The Swartz Family Vacation Trust
By Hideaways member Don Swartz, Moses Lake, WA
Imagine 14 people representing three generations of family members, ages 2 to 68, traveling from various parts of the western U.S. to Italy for a family
vacation. That was the scenario for our latest family get-together, and it could not have turned out better!
Many years ago, my wife, Carolann, and I decided that the best gifts we could give our children and grandchildren were memories and times together--and
that idea grew into the establishment of what we call the Swartz Family Vacation Trust. It's a gift that cannot be lost, taken away, or worn out. The
result, with a growing number of participants over the years, has been trips to Maui, Monterrey, Kiawah Island, Sun River in Oregon, and rafting the
Colorado River in Utah. Our Italy trip, however, was an all-time favorite, and centered around a glorious week at a spectacularly appropriate villa, Villa
le Favole, booked through Hideaways and located below the Tuscan walled city of Montepulciano.
The entire family convened at O'Hare, traveling from Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, and flew together to Leonardo da Vinci International
Airport in Rome. As always, Darcy from Hideaways was a key part of our team, and had arranged for transportation and a two-night stay for us at
the Hotel Albergo Cesari--a real find, centrally located, and serving fantastic Italian breakfasts on the rooftop terrace.
After two days exploring the city, the 14 of us left Rome for Villa le Favole, driving four GPS-assisted rental cars. I can tell you that as a "mature"
gentleman, I prefer never to drive in Rome again. That said, we had a pleasant drive (after Grandpa let others take the lead) to Montepulciano, cruising up
a nice highway to our destination.
We arrived at the north entrance to the walled city and ventured into that enclave for a little preview. The four rental vehicles then maneuvered down the
hill and found their way to our villa. Wow!! There is no better way to describe the collective reaction of our group as we approached Villa le Favole.
What a perfect place to spend time in Tuscany, especially with a large family. The property consists of two ancient, well-appointed stone houses, each
self-contained. Carolann and I and all but the youngest grandchild stayed in one house, and in the other were three of the second-generation parents and
the "baby." That home had the main dining room and kitchen, and also was where the proprietress lived. The building had been remodeled recently, and the
accommodations were very comfortable.
We especially appreciated the many patios, dining areas, and individual rooms that could be used for mini get-togethers--very important for a group of 14.
And the bathroom facilities in both homes were quite adequate--also very important! In Grandma and Grandpa's "suite," the bathroom had a wonderful tub with
jets and a window that gave us a nice view of the grounds.
The extensive property was especially well suited to a family with young children. In fact, after several days at the villa, having ventured into
Montepulciano and other surrounding towns, our grandchildren told us they preferred being at the villa. Who could blame them? They had plenty of room to
roam, and hanging out with the many animals--ducks, turtles, sheep, chickens, a rooster, and goats--was a daily activity. The rooster crowed every morning,
sometimes a little too early for those who like to sleep in. The villa's beautiful swimming pool was a major attraction, and as usual, Grandpa went
swimming with the grandkids while the parents stayed dry.
Not only did we love Villa le Favole's amenities, we also loved its location, sitting in a beautiful valley with close proximity to Montepulciano. Tucked
into the surrounding countryside was an olive grove, a vineyard, and wheat fields, all actively farmed. Workers arrived daily to labor in those areas, and
that made our villa experience even richer.
A really fun time was had by all the day a chef arrived to present a cooking class for our family, which was followed by a delicious meal. Chef
Romeo--whose contact info I got from a friend who had taken a class with him--arrived from the Maremma region of coastal Tuscany, along with his lovely
wife, Frederica. What a find! Romeo brought some amazing fresh seafood with him, and the evening was quite special, with the family gathered in the
kitchen, learning to prepare fresh calamari, bruschetta, and risotto al mare. We finished the meal with a wonderful dessert of tiramisu.
Though our villa stay was bookended by other travels in Italy, it remains the family highlight of our trip. My summary impression of Villa le Favole: "Un posto magnifico!" Loosely translated, "A magnificent place!"
Don has much more insight to share, including some memory-making Tuscan restaurants, at http://www.Hideaways.com/traveltotuscany.
Find Your Best Villa Match
Finding the ideal vacation villa for you and your family is a little like making a love connection on one of those online matchmaker sites--you need to ask
a lot of questions first! So when it comes time to narrow down your villa choices, you might want to consider these things:
-
What are the views from the house?
- How close are the nearest neighbors? The nearest busy roads?
- Are the bedrooms air-conditioned? If not, are there screens on the windows?
- Are all bedrooms the same size, or is there a distinct master bedroom (good to know when traveling with other couples)?
- How many bathrooms are there, and how are they outfitted (shower only, Jacuzzi tub, outdoor shower)?
- What exterior living spaces are available (covered patios, terraces, gardens), and what are the outdoor furnishings like?
-
Is any housekeeping service offered?
-
Is it possible to hire a local cook/chef for a special occasion?
- How well is the kitchen equipped, and what condiments/spices are available?
- How large is the pool area, and is it fenced for safety? Is it private?
Even More Villa Know-How
Hideaways
Travel Services can book your villa vacation in locations around the world, from close-to-home destinations like Florida and Hawaii to the Caribbean, Costa
Rica, and locations throughout Europe. For just a sample, browse in Italy athttp://www.Hideaways.com/villasinitaly, or on St. Martin at http://www.Hideaways.com/villasstmartin.
Special Offer!
Get a copy of our go-to guide for successful villa vacationing, Villa Vacations Made Easy. We're offering it FREE (regular price $19.50)--we just ask that you pay $4.95 shipping & handling! This handy 28-page guide has tips
on planning your villa vacation, finding the right home, and much more; get your copy at http://www.Hideaways.com/store.