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Trip Report: Luxury Retreats' European Vacation
By Heather Whipps
Our intrepid team of Luxury Retreats villa specialists and concierges first touched down in Heraklion, Crete, the largest city on this largest island in the Greek isles. Right off the bat, something in the air was different.
I noticed the smell right away," said Lauren Bultz, Luxury Retreats concierge. "It was like a sweet combination of olives and jasmine and I thought it was the guide's perfume at first. But that's just the way Crete smells."
Staying at Elounda's Royal Suite the first night, the team was treated to pool-side tapas and lounged under the stars in fluffy bathrobes. But this was far from special treatment: everyone staying at these modern spa villas is attended to with the same five-star care. Our other Cretan accommodations, Villa Despoina and Villa Stella (which share the same hillside acreage), were equally impressive; rustic but luxurious, the self-sufficient estate satiates guests with great views and even better food, all prepared fresh by the resident cook.
 
It was then on to Santorini, which blew everyone away immediately with its 360 degree views of the sea and remnants of the volcanic caldera. The village of Ia was a standout here: set in the cliffs on the island's northern edge, you can wander the windy cobblestone streets for hours just shopping and snacking, and pick up local art from several galleries. Mansion 1878 was a villa standout, for its size and ability to provide privacy for large groups traveling together.
Mykonos, with a bold party-town reputation, was a very pleasant surprise. The clubs and the music are here, but Mykonos can be delightfully quixotic in places and downright sophisticated in others. And, in the style department, nothing came close to villa Lemonitra.
A whirlwind tour of our many properties in Italy followed. With all of the villas and all of the quintessential Italian towns, you'd think that it would be a blur. Not so…especially when there's ice cream involved.
"There's this small town in Tuscany, 30 seconds away from Villa Mimmi, where you can get the best gelato in the entire world," said Peter Cheasley, a villa specialist. The villa, a uniquely renovated schoolhouse, was a favorite in itself. This area also contains some of southern Tuscany's famous thermal baths, if the ice cream wasn't enough. Our staff also loved the charm and the shopping in the walled city of Lucca.
 
Last stop…France. Short but sweet, Luxury Retreats' stay in the south of France left memories of the fantastic views and chic Cote d'Azur towns. Villa Ulysse, between Nice and Monaco, was unbelievably scenic and the perfect spot to end a European "holiday" (theirs, and yours!).
From The Empire State to the Leaning Tower
As if you needed another reason to get over to Italy next summer, Delta Airlines has just recently expanded direct service from New York City to Pisa, Tuscany. Pisa, a great destination in itself, is also a short but scenic train ride from the province's other famous sites. |
For more information on villas in Europe, please contact us:
Call 1-877-993-0100 or E-mail
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