From Dutch beach houses to Portuguese private pool pads: Welcome Beyond summer 2024 availability
Whether you’re a Thalassophile or a mountain goat, Welcome Beyond, the design-minded accommodation expert, has some fabulous properties still with availability throughout the summer months, to suit all holiday types. From historic French alpine hideaways to luxe villas in the Tuscan countryside, and from Dutch beach houses to Portuguese private pool pads, read on for our ultimate summer rental picks.
Villa Castelo, Alentejo, Portugal - new opening for 2024
This three bedroom sun-soaked villa provides something unusual for the area, where traditional houses abound - a modern, minimalistic house with plenty of open-plan living space, flooded with light thanks to floor to ceiling windows. Outside, a terrace and saltwater pool enjoy uninterrupted countryside views.
Nearby are Monsaraz, and Evora, which is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city. To the south is Amareleja which is known for great restaurants. Other activities in the area include wine tasting, horseback riding, water skiing and boat rides, as well as hot air ballooning. Because of the lack of light pollution, Alentejo is also one of the best places to stargaze in Portugal.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Villa Castelo from £1,025. Sleeps 8-10 people. Minimum stay 5 nights.
Casa Montisi, Tuscany, Italy
Casa Montisi is located in Montisi, a sparsely inhabited village in the Italian province of Siena. Here in this beautifully preserved Tuscan house you’ll find rooms adorned with original frescoes, exposed beams, and other original features, blending with contemporary and antique furnishings.
On request, guests can have cooking lessons within the home or simply enjoy a dinner prepared by a local cook. Guided tastings of the area’s excellent wines are also possible, with Casa Montisi located within one of the most interesting and renowned oenological areas in Italy. Alternatively, guests can participate in painting lessons or watch the sunset in the hills of Valdorcia (a UNESCO site) by Vespa, bicycle or on horseback. If desired, guests can take yoga classes at the property or have an Ayurvedic massage.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Casa Montisi from £325. Sleeps 12 people. Minimum stay 4 nights.
The Rock Cabins, Balaton, Hungary - two brand new cabins
The Rock Cabins are a collection of eight spruce cabins set in a very interesting part of northern Hungary, the Upper Balaton region. It’s volcanic and renowned for its wine, as well as being very rich in history, culture and nature.
There are six regular Rock Cabins, and two brand new Grand Rock Cabins which are larger, with upgraded interiors. Each offers a terrace with jacuzzi and dining area, super comfortable bed, a small kitchen with all the essentials and en-suite bathroom. The experience is designed for couples or friends who want to spend time together in a simple, natural setting.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at The Rock Cabins from £230. Sleeps 2 people. No minimum stay.
Casa La Oliva, Fuerteventura, Spain - new opening for 2024
Casa La Oliva is located in the heart of Fuerteventura in the authentic Canarian village of La Oliva. This completely renovated, 19th-century property is an architectural gem, consisting of two exclusive suites that stand on the foundation of a former theatre and original “casa”. In the suites, minimalism predominates. The property was designed by the Berlin-based architect, Néstor Pérez Batista, who was originally from Lanzarote.
The two suites are available to book independently, each is 85 square metres and designed for two people. The units share a swimming pool and sun terrace. The closest beach is a 15 minute drive. Some of the best are the wild beaches of El Cotillo and Corralejo Dunes Natural Park. Breakfast is included and features local, seasonal and regional products.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Casa La Oliva from £260. Sleeps 2 people. Minimum stay 4 nights.
Casa Melides, Alentejo, Portugal
Enjoying a secluded and private location, Casa Melides is a characterful modern home surrounded by nature. It took the architect ten years to find the perfect spot, plunged into silence within a green landscape. Casa Melides was designed as a place for inspiration, painting and studying, but also as a space to gather people in creative conversations. The interior design has been carefully curated with paintings and artworks by both Portuguese and international artists. It’s a minimal and comfortable atmosphere, where the light, space proportions and authenticity of the materials are the real protagonists.
Summer highlights include the swimming pool, BBQ, alfresco dining, and the beautiful green setting. Locally guests can explore southwest Alentejo Natural Park, take boat trips from Comporta to Alcacer do Sal, and go horseback riding on the beach.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Casa Melides from £850. Sleeps 10 people. Minimum stay 2-7 nights depending on dates.
Casa Scultura, Puglia, Italy
Designed by Venetian architect Gabriele Pimpini (who also designed Pesce Trullo together with legendary designer Gaetano Pesce), Casa Scultura is a sculptural work of art surrounded by olive trees in the idyllic countryside of Carovigno. It fuses Apulian traditions with modern architecture and site-specific artworks, all just a few kilometres from the sea.
The concept of the house makes it the perfect summer abode. The sun, the breeze, the sound of silence embraces the property - it can get very hot in the summer months yet inside Casa Scultura it’s a cool, dark sanctuary in contrast to the bright exterior. Located just a few minutes’ drive from Ostuni, the house enjoys an enviable setting in the heart of the Valle d’Itria. It’s an ideal base for exploring Puglia, with the stunning coves of the Adriatic Sea just five minutes away.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Casa Scultura from £370. Sleeps 6 people. Minimum stay 4-7 nights depending on dates.
Casa Youm, Marseille, France
A three bedroom hotel that began life as a house of painters. Paul Cezanne lived here for six months. The current owners wanted to create a place where guests would want to spend the entire day, naming it “Youm”, meaning “day”. It’s located in a quiet, calm part of Marseille that was an artists’ enclave - today many locals come here to seek out refuge from the buzz of the city. Lounge by the pool, head to the Calanque de Niolon to swim, read, relax and chill.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Casa Youm from £205, based on two sharing. Minimum stay 2-3 nights depending on dates.
Zeeland House, Zeeland, Netherlands
A light, bright six-bedroom beach house in Breskens, southwest Netherlands. This contemporary holiday home is like a cool glass of water, with plenty of airy spaces to rest and relax with friends or family. The house sleeps up to 15, and can provide breakfast and the services of a private chef if desired. The sea is 500 metres away - you can see the dunes from the house. For swimming, the best beaches are five minutes’ drive away, or a 15 minute bicycle ride. Fresh seafood is available in Breskens, and there are some great restaurants in the area, including Michelin-star eateries.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Zeeland House from £257. Sleeps 13-15 people. Minimum stay 3 nights.
Chalet La Masure, French Alps, France
A restored chalet in the charming French alpine hamlet of La Masure, Chalet La Masure is not just for winter - it’s a beautiful place for a summer holiday in the mountains. A local architect specialising in preserving historically significant structures worked to retain much of the history of the original building from 1761, while allowing for subtle yet modern updates throughout. For the interior, the owners took inspiration from the sanctuaries of women including Charlotte Perriand, Valentine Schlegel and Georgia O’Keeffe, connecting organic shapes and materials, as well as the colours and concept of bringing the outside in.
Summer here is beautiful for the light, the flowers and the animals grazing behind the house. Guests can enjoy farmers' markets and endless explorations in the mountains, followed by long nights on the deck spent stargazing and watching meteor showers. Summer is the time for blueberry pies and Beaufort d’été cheese. The Tour de France often passes through the area too.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Chalet La Masure from £610. Sleeps 8 people. Minimum stay 4-5 nights depending on dates.
Wine and Art Villa, Alenquer, Greater Lisbon, Portugal
This house represents the perfect fusion between art and wine, set in a beautiful viticultural landscape. The villa offers 300 sqm of space, across two main buildings connected by an underground tunnel. One of the buildings has the living room, dining room and kitchen. The second building has three beautiful bedrooms, and an infinity swimming pool. Outside are impressive gardens amongst a 50,000 sqm wine estate which is yours to explore. Originally a winery, the villa has been converted by the owner into his dream home, combining his love of art and wine.
The property is located in the west of Portugal in an area that is only now being discovered by tourists. It’s full of historical places, wonderful beaches and lots of golf courses, as well as great food and even better wines.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Wine and Art Villa from £594. Sleeps 6 people. Minimum stay 2 nights.
Chateau Bord de Loire, Loire Valley, France
Le Château Bord de Loire is a timeless, renovated property on a 200-year-old estate at the heart of the Sancerre wine region. It features 24 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms, a 25-metre swimming pool, a wood-fired sauna and a Nordic bath, all set within an eight-acre garden. Guests can walk out the gate of the walled, private estate and explore the beautiful rolling hills and charming vineyards that surround it. While the château is 200 years old, the interior design has a timeless, mid-century modern feel, inspired by architect Mallet Stevens’ Villa Cavrois in the north of France and Villa Necchi in Milan.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Chateau Bord de Loire from £2,139. Sleeps up to 47 people. Minimum stay 2 nights.
Azores House, Azores, Portugal
Surrounded by greenery and overlooking the ocean, Azores House is located in Fajã do Calhau on São Miguel in the Azores. It used to be a fisherman’s house - today it's a super cosy house and the perfect place to slow down from daily life. It’s a place to find peace and quiet to rest and reconnect with both the natural world and oneself. The house is designed with a minimalist approach, so guests can focus on the setting and the amazing ocean views.
Welcome Beyond (www.welcomebeyond.com) offers nightly rates at Azores House from £116. Sleeps 2 people (plus an extra 2 on a sofa bed). Minimum stay 3 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 recognised as one of the best travel companies in the world by Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards.