Around the Planet

If you enjoy the luxury and facilities of a top hotel, such as spas, golf courses and children’s clubs, yet the freedom and privacy of your own personal space, then you may be interested in the great collection of villas available through exclusive travel company ITC Classics, covering some of the best and most sought after holiday destinations on the globe. Their brochure features carefully selected properties available for private rental, ranging from intimate retreats for couples to large, spacious properties for families and groups of friends. Naturally, all the villas feature a kitchen, and many have the option of a housekeeper, butler, or chef.

Highlights from the brochure include some lovely places in the Caribbean, such as Jumby Bay, a three hundred acre private island, two miles off the coast of Antigua, with six private estate homes, all situated on the beach.

Then over on Canouan Island, Raffles Villa & Residences, has two perfect white sandy beaches, a Jim Fazio designed 18-hole golf course, and an award winning Raffles Amrita Spa, which boasts the Caribbean’s two only over-water treatment rooms.

The chic, understated villas of the Parrot Cay Estates, of the Turks & Caicos Islands, have been designed by Donna Karen and are located only ten metres from the waters edge.

If you fancy some time on the lovely island of Crete, the Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites are situated on a cliff-top with views out over the Mediterranean.

If you want to enjoy the beautiful island of Mauritius, Beau Rivage features twelve beautifully designed villas, with private gazebo, perfect for having your dinner al fresco.

The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain has twenty-three private villas, each elegantly designed with their own canopied swimming pool and panoramic views overlooking the Arabian Gulf.

At Karma Kandara in Bali there are villas that each have their own infinity pool, with stunning views out over the Indian Ocean. Guests can dine in the resort’s own restaurant, which is high on a dramatic cliff top, or relax in the Chakra Spa.

In Thailand, nestling in the coconut forest hillside, the Four Seasons Resort Samui is a chic all-villa resort that provides the perfect getaway.

But the piece de resistance must surely be Richard Branson’s very own Necker Island, part of the British Virgin Islands. Richard’s stunning, unspoilt retreat can be your own private island hideaway for you and your friends. The staff of the island will create a truly individual experience, for parties of up to twenty-eight people, arranging almost anything from spa treatments and casino nights, to beach parties and water sports.

So, decided where to go yet?