If you were in the market for a villa five centuries ago, you may have called on a certain Andrea Palladio. Today Italy is still fertile ground for private getaways (Renaissance-architect-designed or not) and the focus for many of this year’s top rental companies, alongside France (Languedoc is a favourite with Oliver’s Travels clients) and Greece, where winner The Thinking Traveller – celebrating its 20th anniversary – is adding several Cyclades addresses to its portfolio.
These are the best villa rental companies in the world, according to the 2022 Readers' Choice Awards. The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.
The best villa rental companies 2022
15. James Villa Holidays. Score 86.88
14. Airbnb. Score 88.85
13. Scott Williams. Score 92.70
12. Vintage Travel. Score 93.74
11. SJ Villas. Score 94.70
10. Abercrombie & Kent Villas. Score 94.99
9. Tuscany Now & More. Score 95.95
8. Simpson Travel. Score 96.21
7. Five Star Greece. Score 96.65
6. To Tuscany. Score 96.99
5. Le Collectionist. Score 97.55
4. CV Villas. Score 98.47
3. Onefinestay. Score 98.79
2. Oliver’s Travels. Score 99.36
1. The Thinking Traveller. Score 99.37
The Thinking Traveller
Behind the scenes of one of yours and ours favourite villa companies, Thinking Traveller
It’s been 20 years since Rossella and Huw Beaugie founded their specialist villa company, inspired by a holiday in Italy’s Aeolian islands during which they climbed ever-smoking Stromboli, fringed in black ash, and descended to swim in the cobalt sea. The future, it seemed, lay in seeking out high-end villas around Rossella’s birthplace of Sicily so others could enjoy a similar lifestyle.
“I love a view,” says Rossella. “And I love a sense of privacy and being on the water. A place has to have charm; it has to be there for a reason rather than just being a property for rental.” Starting out as Think Sicily, the couple soon moved onto Puglia, an overlooked region of Italy that was only just beginning to attract north Italians. Both were fairly virgin territories when it came to matching the owners of quality villas to holidaying families. And since 2002, the Thinking Traveller has appeared in almost every UK Readers’ Travel and Choice Awards: readers clearly appreciate the attention to detail and care that the couple and their team take in finding the properties and in arranging every single aspect of a trip.
Italy is still close to the couple's heart, with stunning properties across the country including Tuscany's Forte San Giorgio, the brief has since widened, taking in the Greek islands – with over 50 addresses in the Ionians – as well as southern Corsica and, recently, Mallorca. “But we’ve stayed small and niche,” says Rosella. “It’s my fault as I’m so picky, but it means we can give our clients the sort of service that others can’t.” Perhaps it’s something to do with their former careers as a biochemist (Rossella) and a mechanical engineer (Huw), rather than anything hotel or property related. “I think we bring a scientific rigour to finding villas,” says Rossella. “We take things seriously – it’s passion with a meticulous approach.”
Since Covid, the team have seen clients returning, many for multigenerational family reunions. “Obviously privacy and safety were the main concerns for guests over the past two years but now we’re seeing people want to experience more – tasting wine, cooking with local chefs. It’s really about making the most of the destination.”
Rossella’s insider Italy:
“On Favignana in the Egadi Islands, the recently restored spaces of the historic Tonnara Florio tuna plant have been converted into a gorgeous wine bar/restaurant/concept store. On the way to Favignana, I love the Saline Infersa, the historic salt pans where you also find a very interesting salt museum.”
Rossella and Huw Beaugie spoke to Rick Jordan.