Reset Password

  • Call us Toll Free from US and Canada 18882796444

December 2025 Bulletin: Top Luxury Villa Rentals with Haute Retreats

This month we expanded our portfolio, earned fresh press, and curated the experiences travelers asked for most—across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and North America. Below, a fast roundup you can trust.

Highlights at a Glance

Every month, our team quietly tracks where the world’s most discerning travelers are actually booking—not just searching. December is when two timelines meet: last-minute festive escapes and early planners securing Summer 2026 villas in Europe and beyond.

This page is your monthly, no-nonsense briefing on top luxury villa rentals: new homes we’ve onboarded, destinations trending with our U.S. and European clients, and the experiences they’re asking us to curate right now.

Whether you’re planning Christmas and New Year, an elegant winter-sun break, or a multi-gen villa for Summer 2026, you can treat this as your insider dashboard to Haute Retreats.

  • Portfolio growth: New fully staffed villas added in Spain, Greece, France, Turks & Caicos, St Barts, and Punta Mita

  • Guest satisfaction (last 90 days): average rating 5/5 from verified guests

  • Most requested regions: St Barts, Turks & Caicos, Punta Mita, Tuscany, Aspen, Cape Town

  • Booking focus this month:

    • Final festive gaps: Dec 20 – Jan 5

    • Presidents’ Week (Feb 14–22, 2026)

    • Easter (April 2026)

    • Early Summer 2026 in Europe (Tuscany, Mykonos, Marbella, Ibiza)

In the Press

Why Travelers Choose Haute Retreats for Top Luxury Villa Rentals

Our guests typically compare options across hotels, resorts, and villas. They choose Haute Retreats when they want villa privacy with the consistency, standards, and service culture of a five-star hotel.

  • Curated portfolio only: Every villa is vetted for design, location, staffing, and owner responsiveness

  • Dedicated concierge: From the first shortlist to in-villa experiences, one point of contact from our team follows your stay

  • Staffed villas, clearly defined: Our quotes specify what’s included—chef, butler, housekeeper, driver—and what can be added

  • Transparent contracts & payments: Digital agreements, clear cancellation terms, and secure payment options (card or bank)

Think of it as staying in a private home that runs with the precision of a luxury hotel.

Sabrina nominated among the hot best luxury agents 2026 with Clientele Luxury 
https://issuu.com/clienteleluxury/docs/winter_2025_clientele_luxury_magazine/49

All Press & Awards

New & Noteworthy Villas

These are the homes our advisors are sending out on the most shortlists this month:

Mediterranean – Winter Sun & Spring Launchpads

  • Mallorca & Ibiza: Glass-lined fincas and restored compounds with heated pools, gyms, and staff quarters, ideal for Easter and May half-term

  • Costa del Sol & Marbella: Beachline estates and hillside villas with paddle courts, cinema rooms, and kids’ suites for long family stays

Perfect for: guests who want milder winter sun and an early base for exploring Europe in Spring 2026.

Visit our Villas in Spain 

Destination Spotlights (Trip-Planning Wins)

Caribbean – Festive-Ready, Chef-Led Villas

  • St Barts: Hillside pavilions with panoramic sunset decks in Gouverneur, Lurin, and Flamands; many with butler + chef included

  • Turks & Caicos: Oceanfront estates with private docks, heated pools, and direct access to Grace Bay or Long Bay

  • Punta Mita & Riviera Nayarit: Gated golf-and-beach communities with club access, golf carts, and seamless nanny/chef add-ons

Perfect for: families and friends looking for fully staffed villas where breakfast, long lunches, and sunset cocktails happen at home, not in a lobby.

North America & Beyond – Quiet Luxury & Alpine Escapes

  • California (Malibu, Los Angeles, Wine Country): Architect-driven homes with cinema rooms, wellness spaces, and chef-friendly kitchens

  • Aspen & the Alps (Verbier, Courchevel, St Moritz): Chalets with ski-in/ski-out access, spa floors, and in-chalet dining teams

  • Dubai & The Emirates: Skyline penthouses and palm-front villas paired with curated desert and city experiences

Perfect for: guests who want privacy, security, and discreet service, whether for a family ski trip or a board-level retreat.

Guest Stories (Real Experiences)

Guest Stories: How Our Concierge Shapes the Stay

“Three generations, one villa, zero stress” has become the pattern, not the exception.

Across recent December stays, guests consistently highlight:

  • Pre-arrival planning: grocery pre-stock, crib setups, kids’ pools, and safety arrangements

  • Chef-driven days: flexible menus that respect allergies, children’s preferences, and late-night arrivals

  • Experience curation: private boat days, wine tastings, wellness sessions, and child-friendly guides

We start with your dates, group profile, and budget band, then build a shortlist and experience plan that feels effortless when you arrive.

How Our Concierge Works ->

Availability Radar – Festive, Winter & Early 2026

December moves fast. Here’s where we still see windows worth knowing about:

  • Christmas & New Year 2025/2026

    • Final 7–10-night pockets in St Barts, Turks & Caicos, Punta Mita, Barbados

    • Most villas now require butlers and/or chef teams for festive weeks

  • Ski Prime (Jan–Feb 2026)

    • Aspen & Verbier: best value on Sun–Thurs stays and slightly off-peak weeks

    • Top chalets with spa floors and bunk rooms are compressing first

  • Presidents’ Week 2026 (Feb 14–22)

    • Strong demand in Punta Mita, Los Cabos, Barbados, Turks & Caicos

    • 7-night minimums common for beachfront and 6+ bedroom villas

  • Easter 2026 (late March–April)

    • Tuscany & Andalusia trending for family gatherings with chef-led Easter lunches and vineyard days

If your dates are fixed, we recommend placing a soft hold while we finalize your shortlist and staffing.

Most-Requested Experiences in December 2025

Turks & Caicos – Private Yacht & Sandbar Day

Calm turquoise waters, sugar-white sandbars, and reef-clear snorkel spots. A typical loop might include Grace Bay, Iguana Cay, and the sandbars off Water Cay or Half Moon Cay.

Includes: captain and crew, snorkel gear, towels, soft drinks/ice; catering and bar upgrades on request.
Typical duration: 4–8 hours · Ideal start: 9:00–10:00 am

Popular add-ons: drone photographer, seabobs, private beach picnic, sunset cruise finish.


St Barts – Beach Clubs, Chef Dinners & Yacht Days

St Barts in December is all about the balance between visibility and privacy.

  • Daytime: VIP lunch reservations at the island’s key beach clubs, with your table, timing, and minimums pre-negotiated

  • On the water: private day charter to Colombier and Île Fourchue for swims, snorkel stops, and golden-hour cruising

  • Evenings: in-villa chef dinners using the island’s best produce, so you enjoy the scene without committing to every restaurant night

Lead time: Festive weeks require advance booking for yachts, tables, and chef teams.


Aspen – Ski, Spa & In-Chalet Dining

For our chalet guests, the most popular pattern is simple and indulgent:

  • Morning: first tracks with a private instructor or guide, lift tickets pre-arranged

  • Afternoon: in-chalet light lunch, followed by spa time (steam, hot tub, massage team brought to you)

  • Evening: chef-prepared dinner tailored to your group’s pacing—children’s meals earlier, wine-paired courses for the adults

Ideal for families who want serious skiing but don’t want to “work” logistics on vacation.


Dubai – Desert & Skyline in a Single Day

Our Dubai villa guests often split the day:

  • Early afternoon: city exploration or leisurely lunch with skyline views

  • Late afternoon–evening: private desert safari with wildlife drive, falconry, and a quiet, beautifully staged dinner in the dunes

  • Optional add-on: next-day rooftop or penthouse tasting menu with sunset views over the city

We arrange private drivers, timed tickets, and vetted guides so the experience feels seamless.

St Barts Villas ->

Where to Rent in St Barts ->

where to stay in St Barts
Aiano II Amalfi Coast

Malibu (December)

  • Breakfast with Santa – City of Malibu
    Pancake breakfast, hot chocolate, crafts & photos with “Surfin’ Santa” at City Hall. 

  • Santa Lucia Dinner – Malibu Farm, Malibu Pier
    Swedish-style Santa Lucia celebration with set dinner seatings right over the ocean

  • “Let It Snow” Evenings – Malibu Pier
    Eco-friendly “snow,” glögg and hot chocolate on the pier all December at Malibu Farm. 

  • Christmas Eve Breakfast with Santa – Malibu Farm
    Festive family breakfast on the pier with a special visit from Santa. 

  • Holidays at Malibu Country Mart
    Photos with Santa & Mrs Claus, live reindeer, carolers and complimentary hot cocoa in an open-air luxury shopping setting.

Plan Malibu Experiences ->

Malibu Villas ->

Phuket (December)

  • Phuket King’s Cup Regatta – Kata Beach (Nov 29–Dec 6, 2025)
    Asia’s premier sailing regatta with world-class racing and elegant shore-side events.

  • Phuket Carnival at Patong
    Early-December street festival on Patong Beach with parades, live music, shows and beachside food stalls. 

  • Sunday Walking Street Market “Lard Yai” – Phuket Old Town
    Every Sunday evening on Thalang Road: local food, crafts, and live performances in a historic Sino-Portuguese setting. 

  • New Year’s Eve on Patong Beach
    Island-wide countdown with fireworks, rooftop parties and street celebrations focused around Patong. 

  • NYE Beach Club Parties (Kamala, Karon, Bangtao)
    High-end countdowns like “Eternity” at Café del Mar Phuket, “The Last Sunset 2025” at Tann Terrace, and upscale NYE at Catch Beach Club with DJs, gala dinners and beachfront fireworks.

Plan Phuket Experiences ->

Phuket Villas ->

Dubai (December)

  • Dubai Shopping Festival 2025–26
    City-wide shopping, concerts, drone shows and fireworks across major districts. Dec 5, 2025 – Jan 11, 2026.

  • Winter City at Expo City Dubai
    Family-friendly festive zone with attractions, markets and seasonal shows at Expo City.

  • Madinat Jumeirah Christmas Market & Winter District
    Iconic Arabian-style Christmas market plus the Winter District at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. 

  • Burj Khalifa New Year’s Eve Fireworks by Emaar
    The signature NYE countdown with lasers and fireworks around Downtown Dubai/Burj Park.

  • Headline December Concerts & Shows
    International artists, carols and galas across Dubai Opera, Coca-Cola Arena and other top venues.

Plan Dubai Experiences->

Dubai Villas->

Summer 2026 Demand Watch — Tuscany, Mykonos, Spain (Marbella & Ibiza)

Early signals are strong: Tuscany is pacing ahead for June–September family gatherings with requests for fully staffed farmhouses (heated pools, chef gardens, play lawns) and 7–14-night stays around late June and mid-August. Mykonos is seeing high interest for view-forward compounds near Agia Sofia, Aleomandra, and Psarou, with clients prioritizing sound-managed parties, gym/cinema rooms, and minimums of 5–7 nights (often 7+ in late July). Marbella requests skew to Golden Mile/Sierra Blanca estates with paddle courts, kids’ suites, and beach-club proximity; Ibiza demand concentrates on San José/San Miguel design villas with privacy, chef kitchens, and boat days to Formentera—most asking for two staff and chauffeur add-ons. Prime weeks across all four spots (late June–mid-August) are already compressing; best value sits in early June and last week of August. If you have fixed dates, place a soft hold now—we’re securing 3–5 shortlists per inquiry and locking staffing early to avoid Festive-level scarcity on chefs and drivers.

Contact form​

Get in touch with us to plan your next holiday. We answer promptly to all messages.

FAQs – Booking Top Luxury Villa Rentals with Haute Retreats

What makes Haute Retreats different from a listing site?
We are not an open marketplace. Our portfolio is curated, staff are vetted, and every booking includes a dedicated concierge who helps with villa selection, contracts, staff, and experiences.

Do you offer fully staffed villas with a private chef?
Yes. Many of our top luxury villa rentals include chef and butler as standard, and others can be fully staffed on request. We clarify inclusions at quote time so there are no surprises.

When should I book Christmas, New Year, or school holidays?
For prime beachfront villas or homes with 6+ bedrooms, we recommend 9–12 months in advance. That said, we often secure exceptional options for flexible guests even closer in.

How do contracts and payments work?
You’ll receive a digital rental agreement with property-specific terms. Payments are processed via secure card or bank transfer, with clear deadlines for deposit and balance and transparent cancellation conditions.

Can you help me choose between destinations?
Yes. Many of our conversations start with guests choosing between, for example, Punta Mita vs Los Cabos or St Barts vs Turks & Caicos. Share your dates, group profile, and preferences, and we’ll outline the pros and cons of each.