From idyllic seafront homes to marina-focused luxury abodes, these showstopping top holiday homes are sure to sate the most discerning homeowner.
Luxueux, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Finding the right location for a vacation home can present a paradox: ideally the property should be easy to reach, but it should also be remote enough to feel like an escape – as the pace of life in cities becomes increasingly hectic, it’s more and more vital to have a refuge, a special place to relax and connect with loved ones. As part of our Special Report, we’ve gathered some of the world’s top vacation homes currently on the market. Whether you prefer being on a beach, whacking balls on a golf course or skiing on mountainous terrain, these properties and their luxury appointments are sure to help you unplug your devices and indulge in the life extraordinary.
Kukui’ula Hawaii
Kauai’s vine-choked forests, plunging waterfalls and broad sand beaches have served as the backdrops for films like Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean and the island has also long been a favoured playground of celebrities and executives on their second or third homes. Set in Kukui’ula, a former sugar plantation that has been transformed into a lavish private golf club, this four-bedroom 4,238 sq ft villa was designed by Seattle’s Olson Kundig Architects and features elevated garden pathways, outdoor showers and a sliding glass door in every room that opens to verdant views of the mango and papaya orchard and the sea in the distance.
Price: USD 6.95 million
Casali di Casoli, Italy
The perfect estate for oenophiles who are also seeking a taste of farm to fork living. This restored 17th-century Tuscan farmhouse, located near Siena, was recently refurbished by New York-based Champalimaud Studio and features four bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, dual living rooms with fireplaces, a wine cellar and a separate annexe with gym, yoga studio and a heated infinity pool that overlooks the Tuscan hillside. Owners will also enjoy the property’s organic olive grove with over 200 mature olive and fruit trees and an irrigated vegetable garden. Management comes courtesy of Timbers Resorts who purchased and restored the collection of farmhouses in 2015.
Price: USD 10.6 million
Grandeur Villa, Greece
Grandeur Villa, Greece
The advantage of an island residence is that islands, by virtue of their isolation and slower pace of life, also force us to slow down. Towns and beaches are located nearby in this newly constructed property on the Greek island of Mykonos, but there’s not much reason to leave the eight-bedroom, 1,000 sq ft villa. The home features generous indoor and outdoor living areas, sweeping views of the Aegean Sea, as well as a cinema, a steam and massage room, a gym and an outdoor Jacuzzi. And with seven suites and a master bedroom, five on the lower floor and three on the first floor, and additional staff quarters, it means there’s something for everyone in the family.
Price: USD 11,992,000
www.sothebys.gr
Read about other luxury homes in Greece here.
Victoria, Canada
Victoria, Canada
Perfect for architecture buffs seeking a nature retreat. This six-bedroom 10,700 sq ft residence, designed by Vancouver architect Marko Simcic, is perched on a sprawling 67-acre oceanfront parcel at the southern end of Vancouver Island. Simcic designed the property to sustainably entwine with its site in the heart of one of Canada’s most endangered natural ecosystems – the Garry Oak Savannah. The property is cantilevered above a concrete armature, clearing the critical tree root zones, and the floor plan branches across a canyon carrying hydrothermal seawater, effectively blurring the boundaries of nature and structure.
Price: USD 9,757,000
Keyaki Villa, Japan
Keyaki Villa, Japan
Ski resorts are no longer designed only for winter. This serene five-bedroom, 4,520 sq ft home, nestled in a grove of trees in the Ginto woodlands of Hirafu forms part of a new all-season luxury resort anchored by The Pavilions Niseko Hotel. The home fuses traditional Japanese features, such as fusuma and shoji, with a contemporary design aesthetic and includes a family onsen bath media room and staff quarters. With Ginto Village nearby, owners will have access to restaurants, retail options and regular shuttle service to the ski lifts.
Price: USD 6.5 million
https://global.listsothebysrealty.co.jp
Monaco Yacht Club Residences, Miami
Monaco Yacht Club Residences, Miami
For boating enthusiasts who like to keep it simple, this nautically themed project in Miami Beach features interiors by Piero Lissoni who has fitted the one- to four-bedroom residences with Boffi kitchens, Fantini faucets and walk-in closets. Units feature floor-to-ceiling glass and spacious wraparound terraces and there’s 12-slip marina with yachting concierge for maintenance needs, charters or sailing to the Bahamas or the Florida Keys.
Price: From USD 1.1 million
https://monacoyachtclubresidences.com/
Luxueux, Australia
Luxueux, Australia
Ideal for large families or those who love entertaining, this property, located on 27 acres in the Byron Bay hinterland, is designed with two separate bedroom wings. Bridging the wings is the “great room”, the hub of the home that features double-height ceilings, a banquet table and lounge set around a wood fire and central kitchen. The wall of glass panels is designed to fold away, connecting the interior with the covered exterior patio and infinity pool. The property’s five en-suite bedrooms are located in the bedroom wings. In addition, there is a 12-seater media room, study and two guest bathrooms. The property currency runs 40 head of cattle and there’s a 180-tree avocado orchard.
Price: USD 4,072, 200
www.sydneysothebysrealty.com
Villa Emare, Spain
Villa Emare, Spain
Sometimes beachfront simplicity is key. This brand new boutique development on Costa de Sol features a collection of 28 apartments with sweeping views of the Mediterranean. Designed to feel like villas, the three- and four-bedroom apartments have large living areas that range from 4,360 sq ft to over 8,500 sq ft and they offer seamless vistas from terraces to the heated infinity pool to ocean horizons beyond. The residences are accessed via private elevators from the basement garage – each unit has a minimum of three parking spaces – and each is equipped with Miele appliances and a state of the art home automation system.
Price: From USD 2,620,600