The Zabuco Honeymoon Villa is built atop a cliff in Dominica’s Secret Bay promontory.
VIVA VILLA
A newly-launched portfolio of 500 Relais & Châteaux villas aims to raise the bar for fully customizable getaways. Written by Leo Dessaux
As the world slowly begins to crack open its door to travelers, some are willing to jump right in, while others take a more cautious approach, eschewing hotels for more private experiences. Reflecting changing customer attitudes due to the pandemic, Villas by Relais & Châteaux amplifies the group's defining ethos of family spirit, local anchorage, and excellent cuisine with a collection of more than 500 villas in 30 countries. Villa vacations are nothing new, but the affiliation with Relais & Châteaux gives guests peace of mind that they can expect the same elevated service found at one of the 580-strong, largely family-run network of R&C hotels and restaurants. Each villa in the portfolio is carefully evaluated and included based on guaranteeing a genuine sense of space, being available to rent exclusively, boasting private access, and having no adjoining properties, except for properties located in city centers. "Guests of Villas by Relais & Châteaux can expect the same level of refined service as if they were staying in one of our hotels – how much they want and when is entirely up to them," said Philippe Gombert, President of Relais & Châteaux. "Now, more than ever, our guests value personal space, and our collection of incredible villas can give them confidence and peace of mind – without compromising on hospitality. Villas by Relais & Châteaux is an essential component of our ability to evolve and thrive as we begin to think beyond the pandemic." While it's hard to choose favorites among the many notable properties, we've highlighted a few of our favorites below. You 60 slmag.net
can view all of the available villas and make reservations at relaischateaux.com/us/villas/destinations. VILLA IL BORRO, ITALY Nestled in the heart of a 270-acre estate in Tuscany, the 19th-century Tuscan villa overlooks the medieval village of Il Borro. The private palazzo sleeps up to 20 people in 10 quaint en-suite bedrooms with double beds. The property boasts a heated indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a fully equipped gym, a Turkish bath, and a large billiards room. Guests can spend the day strolling through a pair of private gardens, admiring the exquisite artwork painted on the estate ceilings, or sitting by the fire enjoying fine Italian wines and charcuterie. CASA DEL ARBOL, MEXICO Just five minutes from the main hotel, Casa del Arbol is a private treetop retreat perched above the tropical rainforest with incredible views overlooking the Pacific Ocean (book during the winter months for exceptional whale-spotting) and a private beach. Crafted from crafted pine and local stone, the villa is crowned with an enclosed main bedroom surrounded by a large private terrace. A wall-free second bedroom with an outdoor shower on the floor below makes guests feel truly at one with nature. Continuing down to the lower levels, a beautiful waterfall cascades down the hillside to fill three ponds that serve as guests' very own private pools. The culinary experience is one to remember, prepared by a chef who champions local Mexican ingredients.
