It Takes a Villa… To Escape

BT:  People are now choosing villa stays over hotels. What are some of the advantages?

EMMERTON:  In general, villas provide far more privacy than hotels. There’s no running for lounge chairs at the pool as all the villas we represent have private pools. You also have a full-time staff on hand to cater to your every need, so you are never left waiting for someone to get back to you. There’s far more space to relax as you don’t just have a hotel room or suite, but anywhere from 3,500 to 25,000 square feet of combined indoor/outdoor living space. Also, the cost of eating and drinking is much less than at a top resort and you won’t be paying $30 for one margarita.

BT:  What is the price range for renting a villa in Los Cabos?

EMMERTON:  In the luxury segment, it generally ranges between $2,500 and $25,000 per night and varies by destination and season.

BT:  What types of services are included?

EMMERTON:  There are a lot – particularly compared to most luxury hotels where you get a room or suite, and maybe a fruit basket when you check in.

With our villas in Los Cabos, you get a dedicated butler and private chef for breakfast and lunch. You can have your chef cook dinner as well. We have partnerships with top chefs in the area that will come to our villas to cook memorable meals for our guests upon request. There is also a team to help with pre-arrival planning. You also get daily housekeeping services, your own golf cart and a concierge to coordinate offsite activities and in-residence spa services. In the case of Los Cabos, guests can access the restaurants, bars, spa and golf course at the neighboring One&Only Palmilla, as well as exclusive Villas Del Mar and Espíritu Del Mar amenities. These include Club Ninety Six Beach Club and Kids Club, and Club Espíritu Fitness Club & Spa. All are just minutes away via golf cart. Also, the villas are safe with 24-hour gated security and there is onsite emergency medical response.

BT:  What additional costs might one expect?

EMMERTON:  Food and beverage are extra. But you are charged on the cost of what we pay for food and beverage, plus a 5 percent currency buffer. So, if you order a dozen lobsters, you pay the cost of buying the lobsters. Rental cars or car service, spa services, golf, fishing, and yacht charters can all be arranged for an additional cost. It’s important to note that we don’t mark things up the way hotels do. You can get the same offsite experiences at 30 to 50 percent less than if you booked via a hotel. You could probably cover your food costs for breakfast, lunch and dinner for what luxury resorts charge for a room service breakfast. So, you get a lot of value without sacrificing quality.

BT:  What amenities are available for families traveling with children?

EMMERTON:  The highest percentage of rentals are to families as multi-generational vacations. We can provide safety gates, car seats, cribs, high chairs and so forth. In Los Cabos, you also have access to an excellent kids club at Club Ninety Six and Club Espíritu, although the latter is seasonal from November to May. However, we always have a lot of activities for children.

BT:  How does Elegant Mexico work with private aviation companies to create a holistic and seamless vacation experience?

EMMERTON:  While anyone can charter a private jet to a destination and then head to their villa by the sea, we have partnered with Jet Linx and Private Jetaway for better pricing and seamless transfers. Private aviation packaging is becoming the “new norm” in travel by ensuring travelers get wellness-vetted private jet transport, world-class and properly cleaned villa accommodations, mindful servicing, smooth ground transportation and all the amenities befitting a luxury travel experience. It’s a fusion of private jet transport and luxury villa living in a turn-key, bow-tied package.

Sean Emmerton,

President of Elegant Mexico

elegantmexico.com