Dream villas
Exciting ways to get away from it all
A villa holiday is perfect for bringing family and friends together. From elaborate Tuscan palazzos to elegant French chateaux, these dreamy stays will suit every occasion
The classics
Palazzo Cheto, Tuscany
Never thought you could afford to hire out an entire Italian palazzo? You just need a group big enough to spread the costs. Positioned on a hilltop in the rolling Tuscan landscape near Siena, Palazzo Cheto is an exclusive villa formed from a 13th-century monastery. Its nine bedrooms show off sophisticated yet rustic design, flawlessly capturing the area’s essence and keeping the building’s original charm intact.
Catch a unique glimpse of the surrounding countryside through each window, then step outside to get fully immersed in the setting. The villa’s private swimming pool overlooks an untouched landscape stretching uninterrupted as far as eyes can see. It’s the picture-perfect place for your group’s afternoon aperitifs.
The villa comes with a maid and chef so you’ll feel as pampered as at a hotel, but with the comforts of home. Delicious aromas waft from the kitchen as beautiful meals are prepared for guests. A concierge team brings bespoke activities right to you, such as wine tasting in the cobbled courtyard or cookery classes in the kitchen. Those up for more active experiences can book yoga sessions in the on-site gym, or take scenic walks through the private estate.
And, if you can tear yourself away, there’s plenty to do beyond. Just a 25-minute drive north will find you in Siena, full of museums, family-run restaurants and medieval architecture.
BOOK IT Palazzo Cheto sleeps 18 people in nine bedrooms. Tuscany Now & More has seven nights from £779 per person; tuscanynowandmore.com
Gallini, Corfu
We have two words for you: the pool. Luminous blue, mirror-like and overlooking the sea and rolling green hills, this is the highlight of a stay at four-bedroom Gallini. Hire the Corfu coastal villa and you’ll spend all your days by its side, sprawled out on the loungers, sipping glasses of zippy Greek white wine in the shallows or chatting under the shade of the nearby pergola. When you want a change of scene, walk through the tree-lined grounds to sunbathe on rocks at the water’s edge or swim in the sea off your own private platform.
As for the evenings? Those will be spent al fresco too, barbecuing up communal feasts to devour on a shared table on the cobblestone terrace. Or going out – the bars and restaurants of St Stephano are about a 10-minute walk away. Once the sun has finally set and it�
