In 2024, buyouts, private villas and exclusive use properties are leading the way in the ultra-luxurious travel space. Demand has soared by 50 per cent, with multi-gen travel now more popular than ever before. These exclusive escapes offer unrivalled control, privacy, and flexibility, putting guests back in the driver’s seat of their holiday. It’s time to say goodbye to conventional holidays and hello to highly personalised luxury with the following exclusive use properties.
Europe
Etoile Du Nord by Haute Montagne, Val D’isere, France
Becoming the latest chalet to join Haute Montagne – the ultra-lux sister company to Bramble Ski – and its collection of ultra-lux mountain properties, comes the new opening of Étoile du Nord; two impressive and contemporary adjoining chalets (East Wing and West Wing) located in the heart of Val d’Isere, opened this 2023/24 winter season. Ten years in the making, Manuel Nogueira, founding director of the London-based architecture firm, AndArchitects, has led this ambitious project since inception in 2013 in collaboration with interior designer, Nicky Dobree, from a pioneering planning permission until its completion this year. Using contemporary design principles to reinterpret the traditional chalet, no corner of the high-spec development has been overlooked.
From the dramatic floor-to-ceiling seven-metre window façade that fronts both chalets, to open-plan kitchens featuring fumed oak cabinets and large stone islands, full-height marble slabs lining the bathroom walls, to bespoke furnishings and thoughtful details crafted from local talented artisans; the overall design has been elevated to create a covetable rural-chic luxury ski chalet in Val d’Isere. Reached via a private tunnel driveway, Étoile du Nord leaves nothing to be desired; each sleeping up to 14 guests with seven bedrooms in the East Wing and six in the West Wing, guests can indulge luxurious spa areas, private cosy cinemas and game rooms, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, 24-hour concierge service and private chefs.
HOW: Rates start from £102,448 per week on a fully serviced basis, inclusive of private concierge, private chef, in-chalet ski, and boot delivery. For more information, visit hautemontagne.com.
Chalet Vicuña by Haute Montagne, Verbier, Switzerland
Another chalet making up Haute Montagne’s luxurious collection of super yachts in the snow is Chalet Vicuña, located just a short drive from the heart of Verbier, one of the most in demand ski destinations in the Alps. After undergoing a full interior refresh, Chalet Vicuña’s new look blends traditional alpine charm, with a modern, sophisticated twist. The juxtaposition between the rustic wooden edges of the chalet’s frame against polished marble and copper accents is perfectly offset by plush, soft furnishings, creating a harmonious aesthetic that is undeniably irresistible. With large windows that wrap around the chalet’s corners, guests have little option but to sit back and enjoy panoramic views of Verbier’s breathtaking mountainscape. The chalet houses six spacious double bedrooms, each with a bespoke ensuite bathroom, providing plenty of space for the whole family.
Spread across the top floor, there is an ultra-luxurious master suite boasting a separate reception area and an expansive ensuite bathroom with twin sinks and a hammam steam shower. After a long day exploring the mountains, whether it be skiing, skating or skidooing, guests can relax and unwind in the Chalet’s private gym and spa areas, featuring an indoor pool, with an integrated hot tub, a rejuvenating plunge pool, a sauna and a hamam. Accommodating up to twelve, the chalet’s sprawling open-plan living area, state-of-the-art home cinema system, and private bar combined with a round-the-clock concierge service, and a private chef, create the ideal setting for an unforgettable family holiday. Facilitated by Haute Montagne’s renowned signature service, the wishes and desires of each individual guest are seamlessly fulfilled, often before they are even known. Chalet Vicuña epitomises alpine indulgence.
HOW: Rates start from £64,057 per week on a fully serviced basis, inclusive of private concierge, private chef, in-chalet ski, and boot delivery. For more information, visit hautemontagne.com.
Villa W, Lily Of The Valley, St Tropez
Designed and completed by the renowned French architect, Philippe Starck, five-star Lily of the Valley has become one of the most sought-after spots in the French Riviera with its exclusive-use villa, Villa W. Tucked away within its own 1,559m² private grounds surrounded by lush greenery and a 17-metre pool, Villa W is the perfect discreet stay for guests to unwind and soak up the peaceful side of Saint Tropez. With three bedrooms accommodating six people across two stories, guests can enjoy the 180° uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean coastline – a view that’s become synonymous with Lily of the Valley across the world.
Just a stone’s throw from the main Lily of the Valley hotel, guests staying at Villa W are invited to take full advantage of a range of facilities, including Dr Jacques Fricker’s Shape Club – which, brand new for 2024, has launched a new wave of wellness programmes adding to its existing series of renowned treatment plans. The programmes include the Better Ageing, Sport and Detox, all starting with thorough analysis measured through groundbreaking bioimpedance and Kinvent technology. For guests of Villa W, the Shape Club is dedicated to promoting optimum health through sport, wellness and clean eating – to indulging at any of the hotel’s four restaurants. Or for those looking to simply make the most of their own private hideaway, butlers will be on hand to take care of every need and ensure a unique and personalised stay.
HOW: Prices for Villa W are on application. For more information, visit lilyofthevalley.com.
Africa
Singita Milele, Serengeti, Tanzania
The latest property to join Singita – winner of the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award at The World’s 50 Best 2023 – and its remarkable collection of African lodges and camps, comes the brand-new opening of Singita Milele; an expansive one-of-a-kind private hillside villa in the heart of Tanzania’s Serengeti, opening in May 2024. Three years in the making, South African based HK Studio has led this ambitious project, intentionally designed to minimise the barriers between guests and nature, visually, acoustically, and physically. Weaving a contemporary take on the iconic motifs of African safari into every aspect of the villa’s aesthetic, Singita Milele offers guests the epitome of spacious Serengeti luxury.
Accommodating up to ten guests, five individually designed suites each capture a unique identity inspired by the collective nouns of the region’s most renowned species: giraffe, lion, cheetah, zebra and rhino (called Journey, Pride, Coalition, Dazzle and Crash). Just a 10-minute game drive from the villa’s private airstrip, Singita Milele and the dedicated villa team leave nothing to be desired, hosting unforgettable safari experiences from exploring the bush on foot or in an open-air vehicle, to indulging wellness treatments inspired by nature’s local ingredients, or for laid back days, a 10-person movie room. Private dining, fully stocked ‘bar-deli’ fridges with freshly made delicacies all day and tailor made wine tastings remain true to Singita’s renowned food experience, while a private boma and firepit ensure enchanted starlit evenings to recount the adventures of the day.
HOW: Rates for Singita Milele start from £21,657 per night (accommodating between 1-10 guests), inclusive of all meals and beverages, dedicated villa staff including a field guide, chef, butler and housekeeping team, as well full use of private game drives vehicles. For more information, visit singita.com.
Time+Tide Chongwe House, Lower Zambezi, Zambia
Set on the confluence of the Chongwe and the Zambezi Rivers, with the Great Escarpment in the background, and the Lower Zambezi National Park as a neighbour, Chongwe is sited on one of the most beautiful spots in Zambia. The wildlife here is prolific, from herds of giant-tusked elephants and black-maned lion to packs of wild dog and big pods of hippo. Situated on a peaceful stretch of the Chongwe River in Lower Zambezi, Time + Tide Chongwe House is one of Africa’s most unique and quirky safari houses, with a private raised deck and large pool and four open-sided, en-suite double bedrooms. With its sinuous, Gaudi-esque architecture, steep thatched roof and idiosyncratic stick-fringed terraces, the uniquely designed double-storey is a dreamy spot for a romantic retreat or digital detox, or a bush safari with family or a group of friends.
The exclusive-use house has its own chef, guides and vehicles, so activities can be arranged when and where guests like. From tiger fishing and canoeing along the Chongwe River, to group excursions on foot, tracking some of the 370 bird species, to Time + Tide’s Signature Sleepout with fireside dining experiences, guests can look forward to an entirely unique stay curated to their group’s specific desires.
HOW: Accommodating up to eight guests, rates for exclusive use of Chongwe House start from £716 per adult per night on a fully inclusive basis. For more information, visit timeandtideafrica.com.
Miavana By Time + Tide, Madagascar
Miavana by Time + Tide is an ultra-exclusive private island off Madagascar’s north-east coast, offering guests access to 2,500 acres of wilderness, plus five uninhabited islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Miavana by Time + Tide is Madagascar’s number-one luxury resort and offers a 360-degree paradise for those seeking adventure, activity, wildlife, cultural connection and indulgence. Guests can heli-surf to previously uncharted waves, dive with humpback whales and take part in bespoke extreme trials such as round-island races. For soft adventure, Miavana’s vibrant house reef is untouched by climate change, with colourful corals and rich marine life, far superior to those in the Maldives. There is the cachet of lemur trekking, chameleon encounters and orchid hunting, led by guides trained to the same exceptionally high standards as at Miavana’s sister safari camps.
A fleet of boats and helicopters can take guests on first-footprint-in-the-sand excursions to the surrounding uninhabited islands. Experiential wellness includes yoga classes in the forest, listening to the dawn chorus and on the deck of a colonial-era lighthouse at sunset. Miavana’s 14 next generation blended villas have been cleverly designed by the team behind North Island in Seychelles and are among the most spacious in the Indian Ocean. The culinary team are available for 24-7 dining, creating personalised menus and maximising Madagascar’s natural larder, which includes the world’s most succulent mangoes and best quality vanilla, to its spiciest pink peppercorns, super fresh yellowfin tuna and surprising local specialities such as Africa’s first sustainably produced caviar, Madagascar Rova Caviar.
HOW: Accommodating up to 32 guests, rates for exclusive use of Miavana by Time+Tide start from £95,069 per night on a fully inclusive basis. For more information, visit miavana.com.
Sasaab, The Safari Collection, Northern Kenya
Part of The Safari Collection – a portfolio of four boutique luxury lodges, each selected for their unique individuality – is Sasaab, a spectacular luxury tented camp in the heart of the Samburu wilderness. Providing the perfect starting spot from which to explore Kenya’s untouched North, it’s a place of rich natural diversity with a unique array of animals, including the ‘Samburu Special Five’: the Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Gerenuk antelope and Somali ostrich. Perched on the edge of a river valley in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, the architecture of Sasaab blends Swahili and Moroccan design principals in which the African heat is of primary consideration.
Each of the nine canvas-sided rooms is over 100m2 with private plunge pools and breath-taking views across the Laikipia Plateau toward the jagged peaks of Mount Kenya. Surrounded by a dotted landscape of mountains, wildlife and rich cultural heritage, Sasaab is a place for real adventure. Most recently at Sasaab, has been the unveiling of the 4C centre, an exhibition space showcasing local geology, Samburu culture and community partnerships, complete with a luxury wellness centre known as ‘Spasaab.’ Guests are invited to explore the harmony of the 4Cs – Conservation, Community, Commerce and Culture. Sasaab provides the perfect equilibrium of pure luxury whilst also educating guests and respecting the local culture
HOW: Sleeping a maximum of 18 guests, rates at Sasaab start from £907 per adult on a fully inclusive basis. For more information, visit thesafaricollection.com.
Asia
Raja Madaka, Nihi Sumba, Indonesia
NIHI Sumba is a remote hideaway on Sumba, Indonesia – twice the size of Bali and just an hour’s flight away, yet totally undiscovered by mass tourism. Offering a magically pristine mix of beaches, tropical scenery and fascinating Sumbanese culture, NIHI is the ultimate destination for fun-hearted adventure lovers looking for totally secluded experiences surrounded by natural beauty and untouched wilderness.
NIHI Sumba’s Raja Mandaka, the owner’s six-villa estate, is arguably the crown jewel of the resort. The main house features a freestanding master bedroom with a lap pool and cold plunge pool, a full second bedroom with en-suite bathroom, a library, living room, an indoor dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. The vast outdoor entertaining space includes a deck, dining, daybeds, and a covered lounge. It offers the most exquisite view of the coast, with the feeling that you can step out onto the ocean. A private path leads directly down to the Boat House for water activities, socialising, and sunset cocktails. Raja Mandaka is the ideal hideaway for large families, or groups of friends desiring the little touch of privacy without compromising on the service of an ultra-luxurious resort.
HOW: Rates for the Raja Mandaka Estate start from £12,946 per night based on double occupancy per room, on a fully inclusive basis. For more information, visit nihi.com.
