Luxury Real Estate

Courtesy of Irene Aviles, President of Private Trade Winds

So What's the Difference??

I'm glad you asked because there’s no industry specific standard clear enough to properly educate the public. The word Villa has been around for centuries, and it has always represented the grandeur of palatial summer homes in Italy and France. Today, it is important to understand what the word villa means especially to an ever growing population of affluent travelers. The luxury consumer in the USA is very different from the European traveler, and some may say that as Americans we are creatures of comfort, very specific, and perhaps demanding. We are a culture where often times comfort trumps experience.

Villa travel in Europe is as popular as it was centuries ago, but at present self-serve holiday travel in other people’s homes is the most popular option, more widely so than hotels. In the USA, vacation rentals (what we call travelling in other people’s homes), is a growing segment of US travel and largely booked online from large listing services like HomeAway and VRBO.

Villa travel in the USA is a developing market for the luxury traveler. Today, the word villa represents homes with hospitality-type services. At PTW we go as far as to say that a villa, no matter the size, is about accommodating the American palette for comfort, service and experience. We want it all - and the time is now!

So what defines a Villa and what defines a Vacation Rental?

A Villa can be defined in two categories: Classic and Modern

The Classic Villa:

Classic Villas have been around for centuries in Europe. Through the years they have been renovated in various stages from generation to generation to produce a current, and hopefully, luxurious vacation experience. Classic villas are usually large and fitted with on-site staff such as housekeepers, butlers, and cook.

The Modern Villa:

Modern Villas include luxurious accommodations in various size real estate options from 1-bedroom condos to sprawling 13-bedroom estates. They can include large and small homes, condominiums, residence clubs, fractionals and condominium hotels. Modern villas typically come with some sort of hospitality service if booked through a professionally managed organization. Since the travel industry and private homeowner renters are not consistent in using terminology, it is important to always ask about details regarding service and amenities. At PTW, all of our villas have passed a rigorous checklist of requirements to provide a 5-Star villa hospitality experience and have been branded by PTW with service and amenities to provide a 5-Star Villa Vacation. This includes professionally decorated accommodations, maid service, bath amenities with robes, complete or gourmet kitchens with bottled water and coffee, and endless concierge service to plan every step of the trip. Undoubtedly what the luxury traveler seeks.

A Vacation Rental is a generic term for short term rentals in private homes

This is a more commonly used term and refers to someone who wants to travel in homes. Websites such as VRBO and HomeAway are very successful listing services, and they allow the consumer to filter and choose the options they want to rent. Each is owned and managed separately with no consistency of quality, service or amenities. These self service websites offer a multitude of options worldwide, but no guarantee of reliability. Most of the properties listed on these sites do not provide hospitality service, amenities or concierge service, and the overall experience is not considered luxurious.

Although there is a vast array of vacation rentals worldwide, a very small percentage even come close to Villa status. Most consumers do not know the difference or realize that they have several choices. This explains why such a large percentage of Americans do not rent vacation homes, nor do they realize villa options exist, or worse how to find them!

So how do you find true luxury Villas?

Choice #1 - Buy into a Destination or Residence Club. This option is quite costly, but offers high quality, consistency and service.

Choice #2 - Find a local professionally managed Rental Company. This option is ideal if you know what you want and have a checklist of your expectations for furnishings, kitchenware, and services you want. Most likely you will not find everything you want, but it is better than trusting an on-line listing and you should find better services.

Choice #3 - Join PTW or a similar Hybrid-Club. With the recession at hand, creative entrepreneurs have recently developed the optimal option - the best of a Destination Club, with less commitment and cost. This offers the customer consistency of product, hotel-type service, amenities and most likely concierge service.

PTW villas provide clients with endless worldwide opportunities to enjoy a myriad of real estate options from homes, condos, estates, fractional properties, residence clubs and condo hotels! So many choices! All with 5-star hotel comforts, high end interior design, convenience and prime locations - plus concierge and hotel services. Since Private Trade Winds is also a private travel agency, luxury travelers get the best of the villa world, plus the finest service in all luxury travel options. Villas can be rented on an individual basis, or through our club concept for additional savings to frequent travelers.

As a long time lover of villa travel and an owner of several vacation villas myself, I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have on how you can enjoy villa travel, and/or how you can market your vacation villa to discerning and affluent travelers to yield a desirable result. Please leave your comments and I’ll be checking in regularly to respond.

The celebration of the IGTM in Valencia will mark a before and after in golf tourism in the Valencia region of Spain.

The meeting, which will take place from the 15^th to the 18^th of November in Valencia, will attract around 500 professional buyers from the world of golf, some 600 exhibitors from 60 countries and about a hundred specialized media.

The Valencia Tourism Minister highlighted that the combination of the warm climate, the convenient and fast access to the area, a consolidated global offer of golf tourism and good value for money are the factors that have finally determined that the Valencia Region (which includes the provinces of Alicante, Valencia and Castellón) should host this event.

For the minister, "golf tourism golf has become a strategic segment that needs to be encouraged and promoted."

The Tourism Council is consequently conducting familiarization trips for tour operators, attending trade fairs related to golf and establishing partnership agreements to promote this sport with different organizations.

In short, golf tourism is a segment that corresponds to a demand for higher level of spending and a longer stay. Thus, "the average 900 euros that this type of tourist spends during his stay is three times higher than the traditional tourist".

Therefore, the minister concluded that "we will continue our commitment to promote this tourism segment that has grown so much over the last few years and is extremely important for tourism development on the whole, as it diversifies the tourism offer of the region therefore reducing the seasonal tourism.”

In particular, the Cumbre del Sol residential estate in the North of the Alicante province, where Luxury Homes by VAPF is developing exclusive villas with unbeatable sea views, is located within 5km of a golf course, enabling the residents of this prestigious estate to enjoy the sport right within a hop, skip and a jump from their homes.

Courtesy of: Shawn Elliott of Shawn Elliott Luxury Homes and Estates in Long Island, NY

At the Shawn Elliott Open House of the Year Party, the evening was ALL ABOUT LUXURY. The Villa at Chestnut Hill's entry displayed an exquisite array of Maseratis, Ferraris and Rolls Royces as guests arrived.

Attendees had an opportunity to experience the passion, luxury and performance of these legendary automobiles.

By Kitty J. Laios of Kitty J. Laios Real Estate

A fantastic landscape of 5 acres embraces this magnificent Villa in Mykonos, facing the Aegean Sea (only 300m. walk distance from Lemonitra Beach).

The villa is built according to feng shui and fills its guests with a unique feeling of well being and relaxation.

You can reach the cosmopolitan town or the famous beaches of Mykonos in 5-15 minutes by car.

The harmonious composition of stone, old marble and wood create the unique atmosphere of the outdoor area.

The old marble pillar, together with the other marble antiques, dominate the pool area.

The villa consists of four luxury suites built in Cycladic style, each one with its own identity.

Old pieces from the owner's collection and unique works of art add style and character to the Villa.

By Heidi Warth of Warth & Properties

South facing. The living area is distributed over 2 floors.

Main floor: Impressive entrance area, living area at different levels with high ceilings and view to the roof vault, dining room with large picture windows and sea view, high-quality kitchen with nice details, open library, guest toilet, 1 generous master bedroom with bath en suite and dressing area, 1 utility room.

Basement: 2 double bedrooms with dressing area and each with 1 bathroom en suite, 1 store room. 2 other guest apartments each with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom and with access to the garden.1 apartment for employees with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom, kitchen and living room.

Very good qualities, impressive architecture, first class construction quality, comfortable layout with large light-flooded rooms, underfloor heating, reversible A/C, fireplace, big window surfaces, picture windows, double glazing, impressive glass, wooden and high-grade steel works, high ceilings with visible, massive wooden beams, teak built-in closets, alarm, wine cellar, plant room.

Very inviting and extensive open and covered terraces with summer kitchen and barbecue, very pretty pool scenery, pre installation for wellness spa area with sauna and shower temple, fitness studio with access to the garden.Wonderful Mediterranean garden with automatic irrigation system, nice quiet surroundings, privacy and easy access.

Double garage and parking spaces for several cars.

Features

· Fitness studio with access to the garden

· Impressive glass, wooden and high-grade steel works

· Pre installation for wellness spa area with sauna and shower temple

By Heidi Warth of Warth & Properties

Region: Palma - Son Vida - Mallorca

Construction Year: 2008

Plot: 2,600 m²

Living Area: 600 m²

Number of Bedrooms: 5

Price: 4,700,000 €

Monthly rental: 12,000 €

The living area is distributed over 2 floors. Ground floor: entrance hall, spacious living/dining-room, kitchen, several utility rooms, guest WC, large guest area with living room, bedroom and bathroom. Upper floor: impressing master suite with dressing area and bathroom, 3 bedrooms each with bathroom en suite, office. Separate fitness-area with bathroom. Extraordinary qualities and first-class equipment, underfloor heating, air conditioning, large panoramic windows, „Corian“ bathroom, „Boffi“ kitchen, domotic systems. Very inviting open and covered terraces, big swimming pool. Private and quiet location. Garage for 2 cars.

Note: The above-mentioned rental price will be applied to long-term contracts (at least 12 months).

By Kitty J. Laios of Kitty J. Laios Real Estate

Two wonderful island homes at the highly desirable location of Agios Sostis, on a large plot of land. Agios Sostis is known for one of the best sandy beaches of the Mediterranean.

An ideal proposition for a large family, two or more friendly families or an investment opportunity as one of the two villas can be rented out throughout the summer season.

Built in the traditional island style with stone built areas and white washed walls, the villas offer absolute relaxation as well as ideal entertainment areas such as the outdoor bar and pergola.

The houses, which are identical, are on two levels with the large reception area and kitchen with informal dining area on the ground floor, as well as the master bedroom. On the 1^st floor there are another 3 sunny bedrooms with bathrooms, and one of the bedrooms has its own attic. There is also a guest house with its own kitchen and bathroom, which sleeps 4.

Total grounds area: 5400m2

Main house: 380m2

1 master bedroom with 1 double bed

1 bedroom with 1 double bed

1 bedroom with 1 double bed and attic

1 bedroom with 2 single beds

Reception area with fireplace

Hall

Informal dining area

Large fully equipped kitchen

3 bathrooms

Fireplace

Garage

Garden

Guest House: 75m2

2 bedrooms with 1 double bed

Kitchen

Bathroom

Independent Entrance

· Both villas offer a/c, satellite tv and are fully furnished,

· Shared amenities: swimming pool, bbq with outdoor dining area, garage, garden.

Price: 4.000.000€

By Kitty J. Laios of Kitty J. Laios Real Estate

The Villa is built on the hillside overlooking Super Paradise Beach, just 5 minutes from the airport. The views are across the beach and the adjacent river gorge. Great care has been taken in positioning the villa on the site, in order to enhance the dramatic views. Emphasis has been placed on privacy, concealed access and security.

All the bedrooms have large modern en suite bathrooms. The outside living areas have been carefully designed for living and entertaining in the long hot summer days and cool evenings.

The Villa has been constructed to high specifications using the most modern materials and equipment. VRV air-conditioning and under floor heating is a standard feature. The walls and ceilings are double insulated to ensure cool in summer and warmth in winter.

The large timber windows and doors are double glazed with tropical style shutters. The internal doors are manufactured from solid laminated marine ply with rubber gaskets to ensure excellent sound insulation between rooms.

The finest state of the art sanitary ware and accessories have been used in the spacious bathrooms. The toilets are wall hung with concealed cisterns.

All brassware is by Gessi. Unusual cast aluminum basins and accessories have been custom designed by Ironwood Creations.

The Italian kitchens with their ergonomic design are stylish and modern Flooring surfaces range from timber in the bedrooms, porcelain in the bathrooms and antiquated stone in the living areas.

By Kitty J. Laios of Kitty J. Laios Real Estate

LEGRAINA, Built on a green hill right on the sea and with direct access to two beaches, this stunning 500m2 villa offers the best of modern architecture coupled with a unique view of the Ancient Temple of Poseidon at Sounio and the Aegean Sea.

The villa is set in a 6000m2 plot full of Mediterranean plants, such as vines and olive trees, wonderful external areas, all with beautiful sea views, covered terraces, a swimming pool, bbq, a basketball court (which could be converted into a helipad) and ample parking space. Close to Athens and the airport and yet with the feeling of a luxury seaside resort, this is an ideal home for year round.

The ground floor has two reception areas with fireplaces, a dining room, kitchen, boudoir with wc, 1 master bedroom with dressing room and mezzanine level, a guest room with private bathroom, 565m2 of terraces, a swimming pool with bbq and external bar.

On the lower ground level there are 4 master bedrooms (two with dressing rooms), a spacious living area, kitchen and bar, and terraces. This level also houses a professional kitchen/food preparation area, a laundry room, staff quarters (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms), as well as a separate dining area with its own kitchen and wc.

There is a wonderful guest house on the property with a living room, kitchen and bedroom with bathroom.

By Raphael Harris of World Real Estate Immobiliare

One of the few houses on the seaside in Capri and forever the only home nearby the famous Faraglioni rocks. This unique combination makes the site and property exclusive. The house, built in 1913, includes an authentic Roman cistern, which can be transformed into an appealing extra room.

The home has two floors, each equipped with a kitchen, a bathroom, an extra toilet and a separate entrance. The upper floor, which holds 90 sqm, has a central oil heating system and a very big terrace of 110 sqm with amazing ocean views. The ground floor with 50 sqm, offers a terrace space of 70 sqm. Through a private access, one can go directly through the garden to the beach or to a boat anchored nearby. The Faraglioni Villa is one of the most famous and prestigious houses in Capri. It will offer you a new life shared between the mountains, infinite sea and the security in the property value of Capri, which is one of the most secure in the world. It is an enchanting place for you, your family and friends to rest, a prestigious place for one to meet business partners in a not so formal atmosphere. One can certainly not go wrong with the Faragiloni Villa.