When it comes down to it, a hotel claiming to be a “home away from home” is really just another hotel gimmick. For an actual home away from home, Unique Home Stays holds the key to more than 100 upscale properties scattered over the United Kingdom, United States, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Morocco, South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Each home is a jaw-dropping property set amid the most breathtaking settings offering something for every taste.
The collection that Unique Home Stays proffers tickles your fancy and only leaves you with the decision of where and when. No style of home, event, or activity gets left behind. Unique Home Stays inspires dreamers and exceeds expectations because good and average simply don’t suffice when it comes to luxury travel.
If you’re looking for a sexy beach getaway in the United States, we suggest Casa Miami, a private beach house at one of the most exclusive addresses in Miami Beach. Re-designed by William Tutt, the architect behind the former Versace mansion, the grand villa sleeps up to 11 and includes modern luxuries such as heated pool, 10-person Jacuzzi, wine cellar, billiard room, steam room, theatre room, and maid service. The Italianate abode outdoes the finest hotels in South Beach and with the city’s hot restaurants and nightlife within walking distance, Casa Miami extends the glamorous tropical lifestyle, perfect for a single’s weekend, a bachelor/bachelorette party, or New Year’s Eve stay.
For a more sophisticated escape, Lady Elizabeth’s House in Shropshire is just across the pond. The stately home, built in 1671, is full of character and history. The regal mansion features 28 bedrooms, magnificent gardens, and outstanding collections of fine art, tapestries, and porcelain. Pick a book from the Victorian Library and relax by the lake, head to the billiards room or croquet lawn, and check out the 1,000 acres of parkland where guests can enjoy some long overdo activities such as falconry, helicopter rides, ballooning, off-roading, and quad treks. Lady Elizabeth’s House comes fully staffed, making it the ideal venue for a grand country house party, a family reunion, or a corporate getaway.
If you’re scouting romantic venues for a wedding, you’ll be floored by some of the options that Unique Home Stays has. A few charming options are an 18th century chateau available for hire in the South of France, a beachfront coastal hotel on the sunny Greek Isle of Crete, or a luxury B&B hideaway at the foothills of Cortona in Tuscany. The Garden Chateau in Provence is situated on 17 acres with formal gardens, orchards, streams, and an array of activities. The castle sleeps up to 32 and is surrounded by a moat so any uninvited guests don’t infiltrate the scene. Private wedding chapel, state-of-the-art conference facilities, and a fully equipped business center are part of the exquisite estate, as are facilities for tennis, squash, basketball, volleyball, badminton, water polo, ping pong, and croquet. Outside of the chateau, guests can find plenty of entertainment, such as golf, trout fishing or canoeing on the Fontaine de Vaucluse, exploring local vineyards, cross-country riding, hiking, cycling, and skiing on Mont Ventoux.
St. Nicholas is an enchanting idea for a big wedding. The combination of private bungalows and hotel suites, which are nestled amongst olive and lime trees and all face the azure blue sea, sleeps up to 200 guests. Rustic Grecian charm and elegant contemporary design flush the hotel’s interior. You can take a dip in crystal clear waters just steps from your room, jet ski across the bay, hang on tight with a ringo ride, snorkel around the rocks, explore ancient ruins, or indulge yourself at the Poseidon Spa.
For a smaller wedding, The Tuscan Villa in the heart of the Esse Valley is an oasis of peace and serenity surrounded by Tuscan hills that sleeps 16 to 24. The romantic luxury B&B is an ancient country house dating back to the 18th century. You and your guests can sample local dishes and learn the secrets of the Tuscan kitchen with cookery courses; take wine tasting tours, golf trips, and art visits in the Etruscan hill towns; and dine al fresco on the spacious terrace with gazebos. The reception site epitomizes romance, heritage, art, and music, and once the wedding is over, the villa is centrally located so guests can retreat to Florence, Rome, Siena, Assissi, or Perugia with ease.
Unique Home Stays has plenty of luxury B&B’s, like the Sea View Villa in Deia. Stunning views of valleys, mountains, and sea flank the luxurious Mallorcan villa in one of the most beautiful places in the Mediterranean. Sleeping eight people, Sea View is impeccably styled with an eclectic mix of modern features. Take a walk through the gardens filled with olive, lemon and orange trees, play a round of golf, then sip a glass of wine or freshly squeezed orange juice with family and friends on one of the terraces, or watch the sunset from the infinity pool.
Head south to the Western Cape for a stay at an elegant private country house, or rent a remote beach house in Queensland. The Vine House, nestled at the foot of Bainskloof Pass in Wellington, is an elegantly humble Cape Dutch estate set amidst 380 hectares of ripening vines and lush forest. The private country house is fit for up to 14 guests, and be it a family get together or exploratory tour of the nearby vineyards, you’ll receive unsurpassed service and first class cuisine. Lap the outdoor saltwater pool, mountain bike on site, or horseback ride on the grounds. Enjoy a private tour throughout the estate and winery, or take in the fragrance of white roses from the serenity of the garden. If you’re in for a rush of adrenaline, try your hand at clay pigeon shooting, quad biking, hot air ballooning, paragliding, and canyoning. Guests staying at The Vine House get preferential rates at Pearl Valley Golf Club nearby, ranked the fifth best course in South Africa by Gold Digest.
Total seclusion can be found in Australia, where Boomerang Beach House sits on the exclusive Rocky Point Estate in Agnes Water, Queensland. The five-star eco-design beach house in 14 acres of bush land by the sea was voted one of the top five remote beach houses in the world. Designed by award-winning architect James Grose, the Boomerang Beach House is a leading example of environmentally sensitive architecture with an ultra-modern, super-indulgent interior. The ultimate retreat at the southernmost end of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia’s sunshine coast is optimal for romantic getaways, family holidays, and gatherings of friends. The central decking area overhangs the ocean and is equipped for barbecues, lounging, and al fresco dining. Explore the bush tracks or follow the beach trail to the next bay. In addition to a private beach, you can take surfing lessons at Agnes Water, take a boat trip to Lady Musgrave Island, and spot local wildlife including goannas and wallabies.
We’ve covered just a few bespoke properties from Unique Home Stays. If you’re looking for something else, let’s say…blindfold-driving (it’s team building!), log onto www.uniquehomestays.com. Once you see these places we doubt you’ll need any more convincing. There really is no place like home.
Haute Design
August 13, 2010Gavin Rossdale, Gordon Ramsay, and A T-Rex Walk Into A
