Private villas are rewriting the rules of luxury travel
Extra
January 21, 2026

Private villas are rewriting the rules of luxury travel

By By JENNIFER ALLEN For the AP 

Marble lobbies, exclusive addresses and posh furnishings no longer define luxury travel. Today, affluent travelers are increasingly choosing private villas, chalets and ultra-exclusive retreats over traditional five-star hotels. As privacy and personalization rise in priority, demand has shifted toward properties that limit access by design rather than scale for visibility.

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