A new concept is quietly emerging in the travel industry, which beckons the luxury vacation homeowner and discerning traveler alike. It is known as ‘Villa Travel’ and it is trending rampantly through the travel industry.
Typically, when the term ‘villa’ is used, a clear reference is being made to the historic homes of Europe, and visions are conjured of centuries old Tuscan estates. Touchstone Pictures’ “Under the Tuscan Sun” had passion-seekers flocking to such estates in 2003 when the movie was released. However, it is the ‘modern’ villa that makes the scene and the catalyst, Private Trade Winds, a local Newport Beach travel service celebrating their five year anniversary, is responsible for its debut.
“Our company is very unique, as it serves both the luxury vacation homeowner looking to rent and trade their property, as well as the luxury traveler seeking a Five Star Villa Vacation Experience with the inclusion of resort-type services,” said Irene Aviles, Founder and President of Private Trade Winds. While classic villas will always be desired, modern villas which consist of single family residences, resort homes, condos and even shipboard penthouses gain in popularity. A villa can be a private ranch estate in the Sierra Nevadas, a beachfront hacienda in Mexico, or a ski-in/ski-out condo in Aspen, as long as it adheres to specifications which elevate it from a vacation home rental to a Five Star Villa Vacation.
Those qualifications are simple but each bears equal importance regardless of villa size. A ‘villa’ should be in a highly sought after destination, and should be in a coveted area within that destination. For instance, if a home is in a golf community the most desirable location would be on the Greens or with golf course views. If a villa is in a mountain destination it should be ski-in/ski-out or have majestic views of the slopes and/or surrounding mountains. The home’s interior should be rigorously vetted from kitchen type (complete vs. gourmet) to bed linens, bath amenity and robes. Finally, a villa should offer daily housekeeping, concierge, babysitting and chef services, just to name a few.
Villa travel is an exciting way to take in local surroundings and afford more space, privacy and security than a typical hotel stay. Families taking villa vacations report back with a higher sense of closeness, relaxation and a more enjoyable experience. Bringing couples, families and friends together while providing a warm and comfortable atmosphere is what ‘vacation’ is all about. Private Trade Winds, delivers just that. Private Trade Winds is proud to launch their Destination Weddings & Events Department. As a full-service licensed travel agency, Private Trade Winds can now book travel, villa accommodation and honeymoon stay, all with the inclusion of a wedding coordinator with 20+ years of experience!