The villa and home rental segment has been one of the most dynamic areas of the luxury vacation travel market over the past 15 years. As more of us travel in groups, either with friends or family, or some combination, and just seek more space, staying in a home has become an attractive alternative to a hotel suite. The idea of green shag carpets at the high end is history, and the rental homes are owned mainly by fellow UHNWs who use them infrequently, but for whatever reason, don’t want to sell them.
Hotels have responded with larger suites and where there is space, building standalone villas. At the same time, much of the new inventory of top-end villas today is in gated resort communities, meaning daily maid service, a high-level of security, privacy, access to facilities such as fitness centers, restaurants, clubhouses, private beaches and so forth. Yet for all the progress, most hotel villas and suites are typically at most two or three bedrooms.   A good example is Rosewood Las Ventanas’ new 22,500 sq. ft. La Mansion del Senor Warner (it is owned by billionaire Ty Warner), which rents for $35,000 per night, yet has two bedrooms.  Next door, One&Only Palmilla offers Villa One and Villa Cortez , each four bedrooms, which we covered in a recent Special Report.
In this case, I wanted to take a look at three specific stand alone villas I personally know that are examples of why one would choose a villa rental.
Villa 321, Villas del Mar, 4 bedrooms
Special Note:  Holiday/Winter Availability: Available now through Dec. 26, including Thanksgiving and after January 3.
Set in Villas del Mar, Villa 321 is a top class home more than what one might perceive as a villa. Pets are welcome, in case that’s important to you, as are kids. Make sure to check whenever renting. Each owner has his or her own set of conditions.
Each of the four bedrooms includes an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, ceiling fans, TV’s, and either a terrace or balcony access, so it accommodates up to eight.The builder, Villas del Mar’s Ron Hatfield, has created a stellar reputation using high-quality building materials, custom interior design and attention to detail. Villas 321 features authentic Mexican touches to provide guests with a sense of place. The interiors are both modern, with high ceilings, and feature distinctively chosen furnishings which makes the design unique and a bit different from what you might expect in a rental home. The open plan layout offers an inviting living space and the kitchen comes fully equipped with a center island and breakfast bar.
The infinity swimming pool borders the beach or you can soak in the Jacuzzi. A private butler and private chef are at hand for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests have access to the restaurants at the neighboring One&Only, or dine in. The last time I stayed, every time we planned to go out, after a day of golf or fishing, or just relaxing, we ended up staying put and enjoying dinner at the villa.
The adjacent three-bedroom villa is owned by the same person, so it is possible to rent both of them if you want or need seven bedrooms.Â
Room Details
Bedroom 1 (pictured below):
Master King size bed, en-suite bathroom with shower and bathtub, air conditioning, ceiling fan, TV, safe, telephone
Bedroom 2:
Queen size bed, En-suite bathroom with shower, air conditioning, ceiling fan, TV, safe, telephoneÂ
Bedroom 3:
King size bed, En-suite bathroom with shower, air conditioning, ceiling fan, TV, safe, telephoneÂ
Bedroom 4:
2 Queen size beds, e n-suite bathroom with shower, air conditioning, ceiling fan, TV, safe, telephoneÂ
Amenities
Indoor amenities include air conditioning, a home theatre, large dining room, DVD player, CD player, WiFi, kitchen with major appliances, washer/dryer, hairdryer, private butler, and private chef for breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Outside there is a heated infinity pool, spa, alfresco dining, BBQ, outdoor/indoor sound system, golf cart, snorkeling equipment, and access to restaurants, bars, spa and golf at One & Only Palmilla.    Rates: $6,000 – $8,000 per night
Casa Bahia Rocas, Villas del Mar, 9 bedrooms
Special Note about Holiday/Winter Availability: Â Available now until Nov. 15 except Nov. 1-5. Not available Nov. 16 to Nov. 28. Available Nov. 29 to Dec. 17. Not available Dec. 17 to Jan. 3. Available from Jan. 4 onwards.
Casa Bahia Rocas is located directly adjacent to One & Only Palmilla, featuring 9 bedrooms, each with full bathrooms in a 12,000 sq. ft. layout. It sits on its own two acres of beachfront property. In other words, there is plenty of space and privacy. Décor is hacienda-style with touches of Mexican art and color combined with colonial Spanish architecture.
Sean Emmerton, a villa expert who has a long history working in the Los Cabos tourism scene and is now CEO of Elegant Mexico, says, “Casa Bahia Rocas is perfect for multi-generational families and large groups of friends.” He says, “with nine bedrooms it is one of the largest villas, plus it has direct beach access. It also has a great lawn, great for kids or just finding an area for yourself. ” Â
There is a large indoor living room with floor-to-ceiling fireplace. Outside is the free-form infinity pool with swim-up bar that overlooks the Sea of Cortez. The Jacuzzi is positioned for sunset viewing.
The villa is on the beach, and combines high tech amenities with a full-time butler and chef, plus has its own private tennis court. You also have your own full bar (pictured above), meaning you never need to leave if you want to hit a watering hole. One note is that Cabo is known for its strong undercurrents, so you need to watch the water conditions before swimming.
Room Details
Bedroom 1:
The Master is on the second floor, featuring its own large private terrace with ocean views, a king bed, TV, DVD player, and oversize bathroom with walk-in shower and large bathtub.
Bedroom 2:
4 Queen Beds in two bunk beds, TV, DVD player, bath with shower (pictured below)
Bedroom 3:
1 King Bed, TV, DVD player, bath with showerÂ
Bedroom 4:
1 King Bed, TV, DVD player, bath with showerÂ
Bedroom 5:
1 King Bed, TV, DVD player, bath with showerÂ
Bedroom 6:
1 King Bed, TV, DVD player, bath with showerÂ
Bedroom 7:
1 Queen Bed, TV, DVD player, bath with showerÂ
Bedroom 8: Â
1 King Bed, TV, DVD player, bath with shower Â
Bedroom 9: Â
2 Double Beds, TV, DVD Player, bath with shower
Bedrooms 8 and 9 share their own private living and dining room, situated next to the tennis court. It is good for adult children you don’t want in the main house perhaps, as well as members of your traveling team, including pilots.Â
Rates: $10,000 – $18,000 per night
Contact:  David Girard at Sun Cabo: dave@suncabo.com or +1 310 598 3877suncabo.com
Amenities
Beach access to Palmilla Beach, alarm system, air conditioned bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, dining table for up to 12 guests, Fireplace, TV, DVD player, sound system, iPod dock, WiFi access, washer/dryer, private tennis court, access to the restaurants, bars, spa and golf course at the One & Only Palmilla with advance reservations. Staff includes butler, manager, chef service, housekeeper, and security guard. Also, of note: Children welcome. It is a non-smoking villa. Pets are not permitted, and social events are permitted upon request only. Bachelor parties are prohibited.
Rates: $10,000 to $18,000 per night
Casa Fryzer, Villas del Mar, 6 bedrooms
Special Note on Holiday/Winter Availability:  Not available Nov. 10-12 or Nov. 20-22; Available now to Dec. 27 except previously mentioned dates, and after Jan. 4.
Atop the Villas Del Mar community, Casa Fryzer 52 makes the case for views over direct beach access. The residence is actually gated off within the gated community, providing an extra layer of security. It has hosted many high profile guests, from celebrity entertainers to royalty to Fortune 500 CEOs, looking for the privacy and anonymity that is often hard to find at traditional resorts. There is only one other home is this area, so while Los Cabos tends to be high density, Casa Fryzer offers a unique level of privacy if that’s your thing.Â
Emmerton says, “Once you get here, you really don’t need to leave. It has everything you want right there.” He adds that it offers some of the best whale watching in the region, typically January through April.
Decor and finishes are no expenses spared luxury with residential design, but still with Mexican accents and plentiful original art.  Â
The huge contoured infinity swimming pool features a swim-up bar and inset lounging areas, including fireplaces. Swim and soak with spectacular views. The alfresco experience is rounded out with an outdoor shower, an expansive terrace, a party-size alfresco dining area, a fire pit, a BBQ and a pizza oven. Indoors, there is a home theatre with leather seats, a full office and WiFi. The villa’s own gym features free weights, stair climbers, treadmills, a weight machines. Housekeeping, security, a manager and a butler are included with your reservation. The venue is also suitable for board meetings and high-level executive retreats.Â
The interior features sculptures placed throughout. The state-of-the-art kitchen features a center island bar with gas hobs. Overall, there is 8,500 sq. ft. of air conditioned interior space, and another 17,000 sq. ft. of outdoor area. Six bedrooms accommodate up to 12 guests at Casa Fryzer 52. Children are welcome. Each of the bedrooms includes an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning and a television. From direct access to expansive alfresco spaces and jacuzzi tubs, each suite provides its own set of amenities.
Room DetailsÂ
Master Bedroom 1:
A spectacular suite (pictured below) by any hotel standard. It features its own private hot tub, private terrace with fireplace, with spectacular views to where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. There is a king size bed, en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower and bathtub, air conditioning, TV, telephone as well as an area to have private massage treatments.
Bedroom 2:Â
King size bed, en-suite bathroom with shower and bathtub, air conditioning, TV, telephone, also with private deck
Bedroom 3:Â
Queen size bed, en-suite bathroom with shower, air conditioning, TV, telephoneÂ
Bedroom 4:Â
2 full size beds, en-suite bathroom with shower, air conditioning, TV, telephone
Bedroom 5:Â
2 queen size beds, en-suite bathroom with shower, air conditioning, TV, telephoneÂ
Bedroom 6:Â 2 queen size bedS, en-suite bathroom with shower, air conditioning, TV, telephoneÂ
Amenities
Indoor Amenities include  alarm system, air conditioning throughout, fully equipped kitchen, dining table seating 8 guests, fitness facility, fireplace, home theatre, DVD player, CD player, sound system, iPod dock, home office, WiFi,  washer/dryer, hair dryer, bathrobes, towels, sun block, room for live-in butler, full-time butler, and full-time private chef.
Outside there is a 90,000 gallon heated infinity pool, hot tub, alfresco shower, space for alfresco  dining, BBQ, o cean view lounge area ,  outdoor fire pit, pizza oven ,  outdoor kitchen ,  private golf cart ,  gated property ,  located in a gated community ,  access to the restaurants, bars, spa and golf course at One & Only Palmilla.
Rates: $10,000 – $17,000 per night
Contact Sean Emmerton at Elegant Mexico: Tel: + 1 949 636 1457 or email emmerton@ix.netcom.comÂ
About Los Cabos
Los Cabos is three destinations in one. A recent article in Conde Nast Traveler described it this way: (The destination encompasses) Cabo San Lucas in the west and San José del Cabo in the east, plus a hotel-laden area known as “the Corridor” of around 20 miles between the two cities. You’ll need a car to properly explore the different areas-as well as the stunning cardón cactus-dotted landscapes outside the cities-and neither rental nor navigation is difficult to manage (easy-to-follow Highway 1 runs neatly between the two). The reputations of the two cities spring from their contrasting appearance and vibe. Laid-back San José del Cabo looks like a classic Mexican village, with cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and a smattering of boutiques and restaurants. More-developed Cabo San Lucas contains the majority of the area’s rambunctious bars and clubs, plenty of water sports, and a mall that wraps around its busy marina.
Popular activities include fishing (Los Cabos is host to global fishing tournaments such as the Bisbee in October), where day boat charters are popular. There are also excursions to swim with dolphins and the giant Whale Sharks as well as snorkeling and diving. There are desert safaris and off-road ATV rentals, ziplines and hiking through Boca de Sierra National Park. You can go parasailing, take helicopter tours or rent a boat for a sunset cruise. There is horseback riding, dirt bike rentals and even bird watching excursions. In November (9-13) is the Los Cabos International Film Festival.
If you want luxury shopping, Luxury Avenue at Marina Cabo San Lucas as well as several jewelry stores offer top end fashion, watch and jewelry brands.
Los Cabos Golf
Seven of Golf Digest’s 15 best golf courses in Mexico are nearby, dominating the first 11 slots:
1. Diamante G.C. (Dunes) (pictured above), Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
2. Cabo del Sol (Ocean), Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
3. Querencia G.C., Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
4. Quivira G.C., Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur
7. El Dorado G. & Beach C., Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
9. Chileno Bay C., Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
11. Diamante G.C. (El Cardonal), Cabo S.L., Baja California Sur
Sun Cabo (contact below) can arrange any activities you want to partake in during you visit.
Getting ThereÂ
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)Â is an international port with 24 hour restricted operations and a 9,843 ft. runway. There are no slot controls, but parking during peak holiday periods maybe restricted. As a popular private jet destination, there are some 10 handlers with a new airport operated FBO. All three villas are about 20 minutes away via the highway, just under 15 miles.
VIP Contact
Contact Sean Emmerton at Elegant Mexico: Tel: + 1 949 636 1457 or email emmerton@ix.netcom.com
