From Como to Catskills, Welcome Beyond adds new properties for 2022
Welcome Beyond, the design-minded holiday accommodation expert, has added several new properties to its collection of beautiful rentals, boutique hotels and B&Bs around the world. From an Italian “rustico” on the shores of Lake Como, to a stainless steel cabin in the Swedish countryside, read on for our pick of the best.
Monte Nobiallo, Lake Como, Italy
This is an incredibly peaceful property with views of Lake Como and the golden triangle of Menaggio–Bellagio–Varenna. The “rustico” sits on the lakeshore with direct, private access to the lake. Accommodation sits across two floors, with the kitchen and living area with open fireplace on the lower level, and bedroom and bathroom on the upper. There’s also a terrace on the upper level with outdoor dining table, barbecue and unforgettable view. Forest surrounds the rustico making the property feel splendidly isolated. We love the small but beautiful sunbathing spot, accessed by private stairs, where you can swim and soak up the sun by the lakeside all day long.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at Monte Nobiallo from £584 per night. Sleeps 2-4 people. Minimum stay 3 nights.
Château de Sibra & Dependances de Sibra, Occitanie, France
A restored French château in beautiful parkland, close to UNESCO-listed Carcassonne. The terrazzo flooring, antique tapestries, great fireplace and grand piano have been paired with contemporary furnishings. There are five guest rooms in total, with plenty of living areas to relax, and a large kitchen available to guests if they wish to prepare meals with finds from the local market, although dinner and platters of local produce are also available to book. Within the grounds also sits Dependances de Sibra, four self-catering apartments within the former stables.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at Chateau de Sibra from £159, based on two sharing, including breakfast, and nightly rates at Dependances de Sibra from £200, for a one bedroom apartment.
SynVillan, Blekinge, Sweden
SynVillan has been described as “a mirage on a two billion-year-old mountain”, overlooking the Baltic Sea shore at Mahraviken. Translating as “Illusion Villa”, it is constructed from stainless steel, glass and straw atop shiny, steel pillars, and sleeps up to four people. SynVillan is situated in the middle of Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve, Scandinavia’s largest game reserve, and guests can use the facilities of the hotel during their stay.
Created by architect Thomas Sandell, SynVillan features one bedroom plus two extra bunk beds and a kitchenette, which is powered by solar energy and gas. Guests should note there is no running water, and the toilet is a Cinderella incineration toilet. Showers are located at the relaxation area at the main hotel. In the living room, there is a glass slab in the floor that overlooks a feeding place where wild animals come to eat. A three course dinner is served in the farm restaurant nearby.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at SynVillan from £438 per night, including three course dinner and breakfast. Sleeps 2-4 people.
Villa Aleomandra, Mykonos, Greece
Villa Aleomandra is an oasis in Mykonos with its own private beach and all the facilities you would expect of a high-end Cycladic house. It feels remote, with a beautiful garden and sunset views, but is within walking distance of several towns, restaurants and beaches. Design-wise, a Miami aesthetic meets elements of traditional Cycladic design. The house has six double bedrooms, and plenty of beautiful spaces to lounge, dine and socialise spread across the 900 square metre property.
Outdoors you’ll find the infinity saltwater swimming pool with sunset views, and an outdoor cinema projector for movie nights under the stars. The landscape is very Greek, with rosemary and oregano planted alongside olive trees, from which the owners make their own olive oil. A resident private chef can prepare two or three meals a day, and take care of the shopping too.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at Villa Aleomandra from £5,902 per night, including private chef prepared breakfast and lunch or dinner, maid service, transfers and 24/7 assistance. Sleeps 12-16 people. Minimum stay 7 nights.
Casa Aljezur, Algarve, Portugal
Casa Aljezur is an intimate house rental with sea and lake views, located within Costa Vicentina – a wild, natural park which is the largest protected area of the Portuguese coast. The house has a fabulous location with no direct neighbours, and is minutes from the village of Aljezur, its markets and beaches. The central kitchen-living room is connected to all outdoor areas and several terraces, as well as the three bedrooms. Two have a view of the lake and direct access to the garden, while the third room has a view of the surrounding hills.
The house is ten minutes from the nearest beach, and guests receive a welcome guide full of insights about other hidden beaches, cultural activities and local activities and sports such as surfing in one of the world’s best surf locations, yoga, horseback riding, hiking and biking at their fingertips.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at Casa Aljezur from £125 per night. Sleeps 6 people. Minimum stay 3 nights.
Villa Antonia, Algarve, Portugal
Villa Antonia is a four bedroom 130 year old farmhouse within a private countryside estate, with views of rolling hills and picturesque valleys leading to the sea. A tucked away authentic Portuguese hideaway for family and friends who enjoy privacy and seclusion. The building’s traditional foundations, white-washed walls and bamboo ceiling are accentuated by cool, contemporary decor. Within the main house there are three bedrooms, with a separate private guesthouse housing a fourth bedroom, ensuite bathroom and rooftop terrace, 40m from the main house – perfect for grown-up children or a couple.
The swimming pool is a saltwater pool with a shallow end for small children. Outside there is an outdoor kitchen and BBQ, several terraces with sunbeds and loungers. There are also three mountain bikes available for guest use, with great paths on your doorstep.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at Villa Antonia from £447 per night. Sleeps 8-9 people. Minimum stay 5-7 nights depending on dates.
The Lodge, Aberfeldy, Scotland
The Lodge is a design lover’s oasis that is immersed in the Highland countryside, while being just 600 metres from the restaurants and pubs of Aberfeldy. The four bedroom lodge is a new addition to the Highland Lodge, a large house also available to rent through Welcome Beyond. They can be used exclusively by a single group or rented out separately, with private entrances to each.
Surrounded by a private garden, the entire building is clad in a rich cedar that gives it a lovely warm feeling and scent. There’s a large deck and covered terrace area with uninterrupted views across the valley towards the River Tay, where you can go swimming in the summer months. On the shores of nearby Loch Tay is an ancient crannog — a wooden “island” structure that’s accessed by a bridge — where the owners host whiskey and storytelling evenings around a big open fire.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at The Lodge from £714 per night, including welcome hamper and breakfast basket with local fresh produce from Ballintaggart Farm. Sleeps 8 people. Minimum stay 3 nights.
Modern Catskills Farmhouse, Upstate New York, USA
Located in the heart of the Catskills, Modern Catskills Farmhouse is a three bedroom 1800s property with thoughtfully appointed rooms, plenty of outdoor spaces and stunning views. It’s set on 22 acres of open fields, woodlands and blueberry-lined trails, with a spring-fed pond. There’s a stone terrace with lounge chairs and an outdoor dining area, as well as a screened-in gazebo. In keeping with its 19th-century design, there are porches at the front and back of the house, connected by a central hallway. Dotted throughout the property are lots of little spaces from which to enjoy the farmhouse from a different perspective, such as a swing and a hammock. Around 15 minutes away is Crystal Lake where you can swim, canoe and kayak. The area is great for whitewater rafting and hiking. New York City is around two hours away.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at Modern Catskills Farmhouse from £299 per night. Sleeps 4-7 people. Minimum stay 5 nights.
Rustic Catskills Retreat, Upstate New York, USA
Rustic Catskills Retreat is a beautifully appointed country home with mountain views set in a desirable part of the Catskills, not far from Kingston and Woodstock. The house is spacious, with two bedrooms, and a modern yet super cosy feel to the interiors. Kids will love the basement level, kitted out with a ping pong table and pool table. There’s also an outdoor fire pit and a charming screened-in porch for candle-lit evening meals. Take a walk around the Ashokan Reservoir, five minutes from the house, or for a longer hike in nature there’s Minnewaska State Park. The local towns are worth exploring for their shops, restaurants and cider houses.
Welcome Beyond offers nightly rates at Rustic Catskills Retreat from £299 per night. Sleeps 4-6 people. Minimum stay 5 nights.
Welcome Beyond is a global collection of holiday houses, b&bs and boutique hotels, all with unique architecture and design at their heart. The company features properties in over 43 countries around the world, at all price points and to suit every holiday vibe. Welcome Beyond was recently recognised as one of the best travel companies in the world by Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2021.