THRILLA IN MY VILLA
The most luxurious new villas to visit this year
A BRAND-NEW private-island “water villa” suspended over the Persian Gulf. A $65,000-per-night estate in Venice. A 21,500-square-foot oceanfront pad launching this spring in Thailand. A Caribbean jewel with two outdoor pools. These are the luxury-packed villas you’ll want to check into this year.
Ani Villas, Thailand
You’ll have to wait till May to bunk up at this brand-new 10-bedroom villa set on Koh Yao Noi island — a 50-minute boat ride from either the Phuket or Krabi international airports. Sprawling across 21,500 square feet, the residence, “inspired by the temples of northern Thailand,” also boasts a 100-plus-foot-long oceanfront pool. Opening rates (May 1 through July 31) are $5,000/night for the entire villa; it jumps to $12,000/night in December. (anivillas.com/thailand)
BANANA ISLAND RESORT DOHA By ANANTARA, QATAR
Not only can you boast about visiting an all-new resort set on a private, manmade island just a 20-minute ferry ride from Doha — you can also brag about staying in “the first and only overwater villas in Qatar.” The top-end ones offer three bedrooms in 1,200 square feet, along with a private pool, a huge deck and lots of lounging areas — all suspended over the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf. Threebedroom villas are $3,433 to $4,120 per night. (doha.anantara.com)
VILLA F, ITALY
This newly restored, 16thcentury villa on Giudecca Island (a short water taxi ride from Venice’s St. Mark’s Square) was once home to many a Venetian noble family. Today the 11-bedroom residence, which can accommodate 12 guests, retains a bit of that history, along with plenty of 21st-century conveniences. Terrazzo floors, priceless antiques, original frescoes — that’s the history part — effortlessly blend with high-tech flat-screen TVs, custom wine cabinets and oversize stone soaking tubs. The villa also has its own 3-acre private garden, and, naturally, private butler service. It will all cost you a kingly sum: $65,000 to $70,000 per night. Yes, that’s per night. (villafvenezia.com)
Paradise Beach, nevis
This all-villa resort just opened this month, and this fresh four-bedroom, Balinese-meets-Caribbeanstyle residence has all the luxury trappings: handwoven thatched roofs with 20-foot vaulted ceilings, lush tropical gardens, outdoor showers in the master suites, an outdoor dining pavilion, swimming and plunge pools and privacy walls to keep prying eyes away. Plus, the 3,400-square-foot beachfront villa has amazing ocean views. The rate for February and March is $3,825/night; in April it leaps to $4,500/night.
(paradisebeachnevis.com)