Not all villa rentals are created equal. The following examples—replete with compelling settings, top-tier amenities and services, and blissful details—are standouts, handpicked by our editors. Simply put, from captivating architecture to on-the-ground concierge teams, there are so many reasons to escape to these peerless retreats.
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Authentic African Luxury
Le Campement, Zannier Private Estates
Mauritius
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Located on Mauritius’s secluded south coast (the island’s most preserved area), Le Campement sits amid 1,200 forested acres, atop cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean. The grounds include verdant gardens of coconut, mango, and banana palms, freshwater ponds, wild waterfalls, and a spring-fed infinity pool. Built in the 1880s as a sugar plantation estate, the house has been transformed into an organically inspired, open-plan home. Sink into sofas and chairs slipcovered in restful azure-, natural-, and cocoa-colored linen. Outdoor living areas include a small bar and an ocean-view veranda for alfresco dining. The rooftop terrace is perfect for raising a glass to the sunset. Upon request, a private chef can prepare Mauritian dishes, and immersive wellness-at-home options include massages, yoga, and meditation classes. A path leads to a private sandy beach where guests can kitesurf and snorkel. With a little luck, those who stay between June and November may see pods of humpback whales swim by. Guests can also spot giant tortoises at the adjacent park, and championship golf is a short ride away at Heritage Awali next to the biodiverse Bel Ombre Nature Reserve. From $15,250 per week, zannierprivateestates.com
Seaside Masterpiece
Villa Embrace
St. Bart’s
5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Carved into the mountainside overlooking Gustavia, the 12,000-square-foot Villa Embrace offers watercolor views of the yacht-filled harbor and Caribbean Sea while also providing guests with complete privacy. The design-forward villa (think custom Italian sofas and handmade silk rugs) is smartly decorated in crisp whites and nautical blues, with eye-catching pops of red and orange. Artworks by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein (from the owners’ private collection) hang on the walls. Each of the property’s five suites has an outdoor shower, Japanese soaking tub, or hammam. The villa’s window walls retract for a true indoor-outdoor experience, affording easy access to the oceanfront infinity pools (there are two). Other amenities include a gym with Technogym equipment, game and entertainment rooms, and a fully equipped office. A round-the-clock service team consists of an in-house butler and private concierge, a dedicated villa manager, housekeeping, and a personal chef. Food, wine, and spirits are all included, as are pre-arrival shopping, laundry service, and airport transfers. The villa is a five-minute walk to Gustavia with its chic, duty-free shops (Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Cartier) and award-winning restaurants (L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, L’Isola, and Tamarin, to name a few). From $150,000 per week, villaembrace.com
Home on the Range
Teton Ranchstead, Lacure Villas
Jackson, Wyo.
8 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, 5 half baths
The newly built Teton Ranchstead sits on 17 private acres—secluded but just a five-minute drive to happening restaurants, word-class art galleries, and the famed antler arches that define Jackson’s Town Square. The property is also ideally located for those looking to hike in the Bridger-Teton National Forest (nearly 3.5 million acres of pristine wilderness), fly-fish the legendary Snake River, or explore Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (consistently rated as one of the top ski areas in North America) and Yellowstone National Park. Nearby stables offer daylong and overnight trail rides. Golfers will experience mountain golf at its best (eight courses are close by), with the high altitude (Jackson is at 6,237 feet) and thinner air adding yards to any drive. Back at Teton Ranchstead, the five-bedroom main house is designed for indoor-outdoor living. Large windows frame the rugged Teton Range and are perfectly positioned for wildlife sightings. Elk, moose, fox, mule deer, and bald eagles are frequent “visitors” to the property. The three-bedroom guest house has a full kitchen and private balcony with hot tub. On the main house’s lower level are such spa amenities as an indoor lap pool, a steam room, and a gym. From $87,500 per week, lacurevillas.com
Shore Thing
Eros Cyprus
Cyprus
6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
This ultra-contemporary, open-plan villa boasts a seafront location close enough for you to hear the waves lapping the sandy shore. Eros Cyprus’s large glass doors open to the infinity pool, expansive lawns lead to a private golden-sand beach, and views of the deep blue (almost cobalt) Mediterranean Sea are on display in all the rooms. Perfect for multigenerational travel, the villa has an en suite primary bedroom on the main floor and a kid-friendly bunk room on an upper level. The hospitality team of the completely serviced villa includes a host/concierge, food and beverage operations manager, housekeeping team, and a private chef who provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The meals are fresh and bursting with flavor: fish (just caught by local fishermen), Halloumi cheese, red soil potatoes (unique to Cyprus). The host can arrange personalized yoga in the villa’s garden, a day’s sail to a quiet beach, or a wine-tasting trip to the mountains (there are more than 300 family-run wineries in Cyprus). The year-round warm climate is ideal for swimming and water sports. The nearby town of Ayia Napa has dozens of high-end restaurants, boozy bars, and techno clubs. It has been called Cyprus’s version of Ibiza: everyone parties until the sun comes up. From $9,800 per week, eroscyprus.com
The Essence of Simplicity
M Beach House
Sri Lanka
4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Located on Sri Lanka’s tranquil south coast, M Beach House is a contemporary interpretation of tropical modernism. The bay-front villa’s design features separate, open-sided pavilions around a 20-meter lap pool, surrounded by shady terraces, manicured lawns, and luxuriant flower gardens. The pool house has a full kitchen and an alfresco dining area. Meals showcase produce fresh from the organic vegetable garden and fruit trees. A full household staff is on duty from 7 a.m. until after dinner service at 11 p.m. The property manager can assist in arranging everything from meal plans to water sports like diving and snorkeling. Catch the waves at Hiriketiya Bay, known for its excellent breaks. Day-trip safaris to the nearby Udawalawe and Yala national parks (1.5-hour drive) offer the very real possibility of spotting leopards, elephants, crocodiles, and sloth bears. Don’t miss kayaking around the mangrove-lined Tangalle Lagoon or hiking up to the Mulkirigala Rock Temple for the best panoramic views. Stop for a bite at the food stalls around Tangalle Market. Back at the villa, enjoy direct access to the sandy shores and azure waters of Mawella Bay and, depending on the season, watch the fishermen who typically set out to sea in their boats twice a day. From $7,000 per week, m-beach.house
Divine Inside and Out
Villa Amarisa
Kamala, Phuket, Thailand
5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Part of the Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Homes portfolio, the multilevel Villa Amarisa is dramatically perched on a cliff in Phuket’s exclusive Cape Amarin Estate. The serene art-filled living and dining area flow seamlessly out to the infinity pool and terrace, creating a harmonious indoor-outdoor living space. Intoxicating vistas of the seriously turquoise Andaman Sea are on wide display: from the 24-meter pool, from the top floor’s outdoor seating area, and through endless glass from nearly every room in the home. The stylish decor strikes a clever equilibrium between Thai style and contemporary design, with comfort always top of mind. The villa accommodates up to 12 adults and two children in five air-conditioned en suite bedrooms with Moroccan-tiled showers and private balconies. Every suite offers views of the sea or the fragrant and lush gardens (a gardener is on staff). Experience open-air dining poolside or on one of the terraces. A Mandarin Oriental–trained chef serves breakfast and afternoon tea; specially catered lunches and dinners can be ordered. Bespoke menus (based on guest preferences) feature Asian, Western, and local cuisine options. Massages and spa treatments, boat and yacht charters, and car rental can be arranged through the villa manager. Housekeeping services are daily, and there is 24-hour security. From $19,565 per week, villa-amarisa.com
—Irene Rawlings
