Celebrating the King’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation
Discover how Travel Counsellors’ King’s Award-winning TC Teams technology helps create tailor-made holidays from honeymoons to family adventures worldwide.
5 exceptional Italian villas for your next escape
From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the dramatic Amalfi Coast, Italy offers plenty of memorable settings for a villa holiday. These five homes combine characterful architecture, private pools, spectacular views, and easy access to some of the country’s most-loved towns and landscapes. Whether you’re travelling with family or friends, each villa brings its own take on relaxed Italian living, with plenty of space for long lunches, lazy afternoons, and exploring beyond your front door.
Tenuta Marilù in Puglia
Set among olive groves, almond trees, and 15,000 square metres of private grounds, Tenuta Marilù offers a memorable take on a Puglian stay. At its heart is a historic trullo, complete with a distinctive cone-shaped roof, joined by a contemporary annexe that makes the property well suited to families or groups of friends. The saltwater pool has its own Jacuzzi section, while the roof terrace and covered outdoor seating provide relaxed spots for everything from morning coffee to evening drinks. When you’re ready to head out, Cisternino is just seven kilometres away, with Martina Franca, Ostuni, Alberobello, and the beach at Torre Canne all within easy reach.
Villa Tirelli in Tuscany
Villa Tirelli feels made for unhurried days in the Tuscan countryside. This converted farmhouse in the Val d’Orcia sleeps up to ten guests, combining original stone walls, beamed ceilings, antique furnishings, and a working fireplace with modern touches, including air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The outdoor spaces are just as inviting, with a heated pool, olive groves, a shaded pergola, and room for long lunches overlooking the surrounding hills. Its position near San Casciano dei Bagni also makes it easy to venture further afield, whether you fancy a wine-tasting visit to Montepulciano, a stroll through Pienza, or a day exploring Siena.
Dimora Ronzini in Eastern Sicily
On the slopes of Mount Etna, Dimora Ronzini brings together striking scenery and a wonderfully individual interior. The four-bedroom villa sleeps six guests, with each room adding something different through colourful furnishings, mosaic details, bold wallpaper, and carefully chosen artwork. Outside, the tiered garden leads down to a saltwater pool with views across the countryside towards the sea, making it an appealing place to spend an afternoon between excursions. The location is equally well suited to exploring, with Catania, Taormina, nearby villages, local markets, and the slopes of Mount Etna all within reach.
Villa Della Torre on Lake Como
Villa Della Torre makes the most of its setting beside Lake Como, with a lakeside terrace offering wide-reaching views towards Bellagio, Varenna, and the surrounding mountains. Sleeping up to 12 guests, the five-bedroom home works particularly well for families, with an attic bedroom containing five single beds, a private pool, board games, and plenty of space to gather over meals. The interiors retain a traditional Italian feel, while the grapevine-covered balcony adds another lovely spot for enjoying a glass of wine. In Rezzonico, the lake shore, local restaurants, a pizzeria, and a supermarket are all within walking distance, so you can enjoy the peaceful setting without feeling removed from everyday amenities.
Villa Ruesignore on the Amalfi Coast
Villa Ruesignore is all about its coastal setting, with terraces looking across the sea, a Jacuzzi pool, and a charming mix of indoor and outdoor spaces for up to eight guests. The main villa includes three bedrooms, a traditional kitchen, a reading room, and a dedicated study, while the separate guest house offers extra privacy for one couple or family member. A stairway leads directly down to the beach, although there are 300 steps to manage, and the famous towns of Amalfi, Positano, and Praiano are easy to reach by car or boat. With daily breakfast, maid service, and porter service included, this is a particularly comfortable base for enjoying the Amalfi Coast.
To book your Italian villa escape, speak to your Travel Counsellor today.
7 must-visit destinations for 2027
A new year of travel is a chance to take a different route: swap the familiar beach break for a stretch of Albania’s Riviera, follow the Silk Road by train, or spend a few days among volcanic lakes in the Azores. These seven destinations are all reachable for a well-planned holiday, yet each offers something that can make a trip feel fresh, from the food and landscapes to the little-known corners between the headline sights. Here are some ideas to get your 2027 plans started.
Travel Counsellors explore Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies
Six days, three cities, one very special train journey, and a lot of incredible scenery in between. A group of Travel Counsellors recently travelled through Western Canada, starting in Vancouver before heading through the Rockies to Jasper, Banff, and finally Calgary. It was a busy few days, but that meant getting a real feel for just how much variety you can pack into a Canada holiday – from mountains and waterfalls to city neighbourhoods, food tours, iconic lakes, and a few unexpected moments along the way.
