Haven’t booked your summer vacation yet? It might be a little last-minute, but you’re definitely not too late to create something memorable and fun for the entire family, all at great rates. Whether you want a purely carefree beach getaway or a cultural experience requiring (just a little) brainpower, we’ve got 4 ideas to suit your summer vacation needs plus 4 villas to match.
Practice Your French in St. Barts
There are worse ways to pick up or brush up on your French than by chatting with the locals on St. Barts, the tiny Caribbean outpost that’s just as francais as Paris, only with palm trees and beaches. Best of all, summertime in St. Barts can mean big savings and much better availability, since all the celebs have gone home (sorry) and left the villas open for us normal folks!
Stay: Plein Ciel, a new and colorful villa with amazing views over Marigot
Maximize Your Quality Time in Jamaica
Villa are always a great choice for families looking for ample quality time, but few can match the family-friendliness of Sundown on Discovery Bay, one of our staff favorites in a quiet area of north coast Jamaica. Sundown has 7 bedrooms, a full staff that’s renowned for their service and a private beach all for you. You never really have to leave this idyllic slice of paradise.
Stay: Sundown on Discovery Bay of course!
Host a Soiree in Mexico
We don’t condone crazy bashes, of course, but if you’ve got an event to celebrate – special birthday, anniversary, corporate retreat, even a wedding – this summer, you can’t go wrong with the gorgeous host that is Casa La Laguna, a 6 bedroom villa in Cabo San Lucas. This fully-staffed, fully-stocked luxury pad has sexy deck space for up to 150 people, all linked by an indoor/outdoor sound system.
Stay: Casa La Laguna
Learn to Cook in Italy
This bastion of earthy, healthy cuising is a great place to pick up a few tricks, even if you’re already an experienced cook, from local experts using the best local products. Tuscany especially is replete with chefs-for-hire, who’ll show up at your villa and instruct you on the ways of Italian cooking. A fabulous meal caps off the whole process, naturally.
Stay: Alfamagia, which has a good little kitchen and availability for the summer
Like any of these ideas? Got one of your own? For more information on planning your next luxury vacation rentals, contact Luxury Retreats at 1-877-993-0100 or E-Mail.
Heather Whipps is a writer specializing in travel, culture and history. She has worked for Luxury Retreats since 2003 as its communications expert and has broad knowledge of the villa rental industry. Whipps resides in Montreal and holds a degree in Anthropology from McGill University.
