Feature: Over the Top
July 1, 2005
A getaway is meant to be an escape from the ordinary. Yet it is a rare
vacation property that offers not only luxury service but also an environment so
visually stimulating that you feel as though you have been transported to
another world. Each of the following three destination villas, available for
rental and (in one case) for purchase, is an adventure unto itself–a triumph of
individuality and a far-flung departure from the everyday. Left photo: The Harem Room piano bar features a gilded, textured ceiling. Middle left photo: Each guest suite has a different theme. Middle right Photo: The Grotto Lounge. Right photo: Occupying an entire wing, the master suite overlooks Acapulco Bay. (Click images to enlarge)
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Spectacularly over the top, Villa Arabesque is
an example of what happens when a vibrant imagination meets an eye for
proportion. Large spaces are swathed in bright colors and whimsical touches, but
never compete with the natural beauty of the surrounding Acapulco Bay. The main
house comprises more than 40,000 square feet of multilevel living space and was
originally built as a winter escape in 1982 for the late Baron Ricky di
Portanova, a Texas oil heir, and his wife, the Baroness Sandra. The 10-bedroom
home–with funicular railways, three swimming pools, a paddle tennis court and
accompanying clubhouse–took more than six years to develop and construct. The
rooftop Camel Walk terrace, which can accommodate sit-down dinners for 800, was
the setting for a helicopter landing by James Bond in License to Kill. The villa
has also hosted royalty, heads of state and Hollywood celebrities.
The Poseidon Discotheque and Grill, which can accommodate 200
guests, was created to resemble a subterranean grotto. (Click images to
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Renovated in 2003, under the supervision of the baroness’s brother and his
interior designer wife, Jana Jaffe, the home is available for rent starting at
$6,000 per night. And, should renting ignite the urge to buy, the villa is for
sale for $22 million.
Villa Arabesque
Martha Turner
713.520.1981
www.marthaturner.com
Top Photo:
The master bedroom, located on the first floor, features a
king-size bed, a living area and an open fireplace. Bottom Photo: The expansive central patio is ideal for entertaining and
features a fountain and small garden. (Click images to enlarge) ; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
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Riyad El Ghalia, Fez
Built over 100 years ago–but renovated to accommodate modern comforts–Riyad El Ghalia is in the heart of Fez, Morocco’s spiritual, cultural and intellectual capital. The property is only a two-minute walk from the country’s largest medina, a 2,700-acre marketplace, but guests often find it difficult to leave the comforts of the villa, where traditional Arab-Andalusian architecture and classic decor meet modern technology. The entire house is built around a 4,300-square-foot patio and has an automated electrical roof that retracts to let in outdoor air. The high ceilings in the rooms are covered in sculpted wood; walls are decorated with Moroccan zellijes (mosaics) and intricate plaster designs.
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Warm reds and yellows used in the furnishings complement the bright white architecture. The master bedroom is furnished in the style of an ancient palace, with intricate tile work and silk fabrics, while four additional bedrooms have double beds and en suite baths–each decorated in a different style. The villa is available for rent through Luxury Retreats, whose Canadian office can assist with travel arrangements and with booking household staff for your stay. Prices for Riyad El Ghalia start at $1,920 per night.
Luxury Retreats
877.993.0100
www.luxuryretreats.com
Top Photo: The island’s swimming pool has an infinity edge that appears to
cascade into the ocean. Bottom Photo: The South Lounge, which overlooks one of many outdoor terraces, has its own bar. (Click images to enlarge); function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
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Isla De Sa Ferradura, Ibiza
If Las Vegas had a European cousin, it would
be Ibiza, Spain. Just a 10-minute boat ride from Ibiza’s north coast, in the bay
of San Miguel, Isla de sa Ferradura is close enough to the epicenter of Ibiza’s
nightlife to allow guests the option of jumping into the wild social scene, but
secluded enough to offer days of quiet respite in the hospitable Mediterranean
climate. The property covers the 14-acre island, which features natural rock
formations, streams and waterfalls, combined with newly updated lodging
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As its name suggests, Isla de sa Ferradura is shaped like a
horseshoe. (Click image to enlarge)
Six bedrooms can accommodate up to 14 guests; each is decorated in a
different theme. A staff of 25 is on call for everything from cooking to private
training in the alfresco gym. Meals are served on any of the island’s many
terraces, as well as in the dining room, which has a 1,300-square-foot
terraquarium that features tropical plants and koi. Spa treatments are available
at the on-site health and relaxation center (which has its own bar, swimming
pool, tanning bed and grotto), and the beauty parlor offers such services as
haircuts and facials. A traditional Spanish bodega features local wines; a
Moroccan tent near the water is the ideal place to enjoy sunsets. The villa is
available for rent from May to October, starting from approximately $1,100 per
person, per night.
Isla de sa Ferradura
+34.971.332.211
www.islaferradura.com
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