Why choose a villa holiday?
Top of our list is for freedom: do exactly what you like and when. You have the absolute pleasure of structuring your holiday as you wish, with privacy and space just for you and your companions. It’s like being at home but even better perhaps, with glorious weather (usually!) and few chores to be done. 
Plus the joy of a pool all to yourselves in most cases, so lazy days swimming and lounging are yours to enjoy.
There are no hotel mealtimes to be adhered to, no room service to order, no mini bars to negotiate, and you’re free to eat and drink in the villa. A proper kitchen makes feeding an assortment of people so much easier, at whatever time you like. A cup of tea at 5 am to watch the sunrise in the quiet of your terrace is so simple. Or you can try out tempting local restaurants on a whim. A glass of Chianti in Tuscany with a plate of potato tortelli is hard to beat.
If you take the family with you, it’s good to know all the creature comforts are on hand. And grandchildren can be just as noisy as they like (or you’ll allow) and Grandpa can take a snooze whilst everyone else enjoys themselves poolside.
Where to go in Italy?
What a great choice you have throughout this idyllic country, across to the islands of Sicily and Sardinia too, with their historical sites, enchanting coastlines and unique traditional delicacies.
Tuscany is replete with culture at every turn, it seems as if every building is an architectural gem, where churches are filled with artistic masterpieces. And the landscape, breath in views across gently rolling hills topped by small, unchanged villages, vineyards and cypress trees. It is a place of endless beauty.
Long known for its glamour and great for celebrity spotting, the Amalfi Coast boasts dramatic clifftop towns, think sophisticated Positano and Sorrento, much loved by romantic writers like Byron and Tolstoy. It’s perfect for exploring and enjoying a taste of Italian life. Pompeii and its unique excavations are close by.
Umbria hits the spot for real relaxation and going slow. Less well-known perhaps and certainly more traditional, with walled villages centuries old, imagine cool cobbled squares and stone towers watching over the countryside. Prepare to sample rich crescionda (chocolate cake) with a glass of limoncello.
Head down to the south for Puglia and Basilicata, sun-drenched and languid. Take a look at the trulli (traditional white houses) in Alberobello or visit Lucce, with its magnificent art and buildings. The coast here is the greatest attraction, with tiny coves and hidden beaches reached only by boat. Pack a feast and spend the day.
What’s the ABOVE service?
In selected rather special villas, a fully staffed service is available. Alongside the usual housekeeping, a concierge will look after your every need, welcoming you to the house and being contactable to organise trips, restaurant bookings and drivers. A cook service can be arranged ensuring you enjoy fabulous meals, menus to be agreed, in the privacy of your luxury villa. And for those near the coast, boat masters can take you to isolated coves for a beach day or along the coast for sightseeing. 
If massages or spa treatments are on your wish list, these can be arranged too. For those who like to travel in style, a private jet is an option, so you fly exactly when it suits you. Needless to say, you’ll be chauffeured from the airport to your villa.
Villas that offer the ABOVE service are exceptional – in Tuscany, you could stay in a remarkable 12-bedroom villa built for Pope Alexander VII in 1651. It’s set in stunning grounds, with a pool and tennis court, which are just perfect for a wedding or celebration party. A chef and house manager will ensure your stay is appropriately heavenly.
Silver Travel Advisor recommends CV Villas for exceptional properties in Italy, Greece and Corfu especially, Spain and The Balearics, Portugal, Morocco and The Caribbean.
