How does a week on a private island off the coast of Ibiza sound? Or perhaps a few days playing lady of the manor in an English countryside mansion? Maybe a short break in a traditional Spanish villa in Mallorca's Unesco-listed north is more your vibe?
Whichever you prefer, you can now make it a reality with Mandarin Oriental.
That's because the luxury Hong-Kong hotel group has launched a new concept designed to give travellers exclusive access to stays in some of the world’s finest mansions and villas.
From Thursday, Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Homes is live with a portfolio of private abodes in hand-picked, sought-after locations across Europe, designed to offer luxury-loving travellers the ultimate home-away-from home.
From a Georgian-style manor house in a 243-hectare private estate in the heart of the Cotswolds, to a beachfront villa only a short drive from Monaco or a clifftop mansion in the Balearics, the properties come with unrivalled privacy and are available to rent year-round, starting this summer.
Each villa sleeps somewhere between eight and 20 guests and all stays come with a team of Mandarin Oriental-trained staff who will be on hand to give local insights on the destination, help set up activities and excursions and take care of all housekeeping duties.
The concept is a partnership between Mandarin Oriental and StayOne — a social network for luxury private homes. The initial selection of properties encompasses seven villas and mansions in four destinations — England, Ibiza, Mallorca and the South of France.
In-house private chefs and 24/7 concierge services
Travellers can reserve stays exclusively via the Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Homes platform and a personal concierge will guide guests through the booking process. Concierge services will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the lead-up to stays, and can assist with any pre-arrival requests, including arranging transfers or booking on-the-ground experiences.
In-house private chefs approved by Mandarin Oriental’s culinary experts will be on hand at each home to serve private dinners. The chefs will create bespoke menus for each booking, combining guest preferences and local seasonal produce.
Families travelling with children won't need to travel with bulky equipment, as Mandarin Oriental will make sure all villas are furnished with necessary cribs, highchairs and other baby-friendly gear. The company will also curate child-friendly activities for guests so that the entire family can make the most of their holiday.
Individual booking rates apply for each villa that are also dependent on the season, but stays are from €3,795 ($4,191) per night; mandarinoriental.com
