The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
BIG GROUP GATHERINGS
Villa Giancarlo
Tuscany, Italy Sleeps 10
It’s hard not to love this ochre-coloured historic house just south of Siena, where painted ceilings and plenty more period features exude homely grandeur. Set in the sprawling Montestigliano Estate, with its olive groves and cypress-lined thoroughfares as well as two pools, it’s a great place to let the kids run free.
From £4,720 (020 8444 9500; invitationtotuscany.com).
Villa Saturea
Istria, Croatia Sleeps 8
Could this place have Croatia’s dreamiest view? Set on a hillside in the Gornji Rabac region, it overlooks the zigzag of coastline around Kvarner Bay from its floor-to-ceiling windows and saltwater infinity pool. Interiors are simple but slick and there’s a gym too.
From £4,740 (00 385 91 333 6616; istria.villas).
Villa Alara
Kalkan, Turkey Sleeps 10
New for 2024, this five-bedroom villa is a 15-minute walk from Kalkan’s restaurant-packed Old Town – that’s if you can tear yourself away from the infinity pool, outdoor games area and cinema room. The seaview terrace was made for celebratory sunset dinners.
From £1,116pp including flights (020 8003 6557; simpsontravel.com).
Mas Pla de Cala Buig
Catalonia, Spain Sleeps 14
A stalwart of Spanish interiors magazines, this luxurious estate sits in gardens punctuated by pencil-shaped cypress trees. Three houses, a studio and a saltwater pool dot the grounds, making it perfect for groups of friends with kids.
From £10,810 (00 34 655 959 641; maspladecalabuig.com).
Hvar House
Hvar, Croatia Sleeps 10
Bedrooms on separate floors and a one-bedroom annexe make this stone villa a good choice for friends or extended families – and the gated pool is a bonus. Hvar Town is a short walk away so there’s no need for a hire-car crush during excursions either.
From £1,118pp (020 3993 0736; cvvillas.com).
Vergiliano di Sopra
Tuscany/Umbria borders, Italy Sleeps 8
There is much to love about this posh pad – including a Steinway grand piano for sophisticated singalongs. Teens, meanwhile, will appreciate the pool house games room, separate from the grand spaces of the main villa.
From £4,000 (020 7261 5400; cvvillas.com).
La Casa en el Pinar
Menorca, Spain Sleeps 10
The pool’s the standout star in the gorgeous grounds of this villa near the whitewashed village of Torret. One of the island’s best restaurants is a stroll away while there’s a safe footpath into town for teens who want to explore. From £3,598 (01954 261431; vintagetravel.co.uk).
Villa Ponderosa
Algarve, Portugal Sleeps 12
A new addition to the Wow House portPrices are per property per week, based on the lowest cost for seven-day stays in the peak season months of June, July and August unless stated otherwise. All had some summer availability at the time of publication. folio, this polished option is near some of the Algarve’s best beaches. It’s set up for socialising, with an outdoor kitchen and large shaded terrace. Kids will love the rockery-style pool and mini waterslide.
From £8,486 (01242 220006; thewowhousecompany.com).
Domaine de Menerbes
Languedoc, France Sleeps 18
Huge get-togethers demand huge houses. Step forward this recently refurbished duo of buildings on a wine estate in the Languedoc. The grand manor and attached barn are big enough to house everyone, but the gardens have plenty of private corners in which to seek peace.
From £11,760 (01954 261431; vintagetravel.com).
Casa do Carmo
Algarve, Portugal Sleeps 10
A roomy house with palm trees by the pool and a lovely outdoor terrace for al fresco dinners, this villa is 10 minutes outside the town of Olhão, with its faded merchant’s mansions and excellent restaurants.
From £2,813 (p11420013; vrbo.com).