Discerning travellers are increasingly moving away from traditional 5* hotel accommodation in favour of hiring extremely high-end houses for their trips. Travel giant AirBnB responded to this change in trends by launching a service called AirBnB Luxe, extending their traditional ‘low cost’ accommodation by offering exceptional, luxury, properties to hire. AirBnB co-founder, Brian Chesky explained this decision: “Today’s luxury traveller is craving more than just high-end accommodations; they seek transformation and experiences that leave them feeling more connected to each other and to their destination.” Here are just some of the reasons people are choosing ‘whole house hire’.

All for You

When you opt to hire a house everything there is just for you and your party, avoiding the need to share your space with other guests. Hotels have to cater to a wide variety of visitors’ needs and have little opportunity to personalise the experience for individuals. But owners of luxury properties can offer their guests a unique experience in so many ways, organising bespoke activities and excursions to complement your stay. For example, the Chef at La Verrière can prepare locally sourced meals to suit your party’s culinary and dietary requirements. In addition to these dedicated and personal touches, hiring a whole house also has the benefit of providing an intimate feeling, meaning you and your family and/or friends can relax in the stunning communal areas with no disturbances from other guests.

Authentic Local Experience

As Brian Chesky intimated, houses rather than hotels have a more profound connection to the areas they are situated in. Because they are places where local people have lived – since the 9th Century in the case of La Verrière – they provide a rich and authentic ambience that you are unlikely to experience when staying in a hotel. It’s much easier to live like a local when you are staying in a house. If the property has a house manager or butler, as La Verrière does, they can recommend the best places to shop, visit and eat to give you a true sense of the area.

Making Luxury Affordable

Strange as it seems, renting a whole house may actually make staying in luxury accommodation more affordable. Hotels hire out individual rooms, so your cost is determined by the number of people/rooms in your party. But when you choose a ‘whole house hire’ the more guests you have in your party, the more affordable it becomes as you can split the cost between you.

For large family gatherings, wedding parties, special occasions and corporate events, hiring a house like La Verrière in Provence is a very practical, authentic and personalised option for those who want to experience something truly special. La Verrière combines a stunning location in Southern Rhone, a beautifully restored ancient priory and superb one-to-one service to offer guests an exceptional place to stay.

For more information please call 07775 682090 (UK) or +33 4 90 10 06 32 (France), or email reservations@laverriere.com.