Vacation rental company Vrbo has named its global and UK ‘Holiday Homes of the Year’. To make the grade, the six properties in each category had to have an A 4.9 or higher star rating on the site, as well as positive guest reviews and standout amenities and spaces – we’re talking hot tubs, firepits, swimming pools and seriously incredible views. Most of them are also large enough to host large extended families, as well as big groups of pals.
The global properties to receive this year’s award can be found in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Malta, Germany and France, while the spots named UK’s ‘Holiday Homes of the Year’ are in Bath, Edinburgh, Uig on the Isle of Skye, Dorstone in Herefordshire, Wimborne in Dorset and Faringdon in Oxfordshire.
‘What stands out to me is the range in this year’s Holiday Homes of the Year – there are game rooms for families and private pubs for grown-ups. This year’s list is the best of the best but represents the high calibre of private holiday homes across Vrbo,’ said Jon Gieselman, president of Expedia Brands, of which Vrbo is part. Vrbo stands for ‘Vacation Rentals By Owner’ and was founded in 1995 to offer private holiday rentals of entire homes.
The winning homes were selected from over two million properties, and include a cliffside villa in Mexico as well as a sprawling estate overlooking the red rocks of Sedona Arizona. In the UK, there are countryside barns, epic townhouses and traditional thatched cottages.
These are Vrbo’s global Holiday Homes of the Year
Palatial Paradise Estate in Sedona, Arizona
Lounge about in the infinity pool or by the waterfall feature and outdoor fireplace at this resort-style property in the American southwest.
Casa Acantilado in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
This spectacular cliffside spot comes with a pool, sauna and hot tub.
Falcon’s Nest in Muskoka, Canada
A lakeside ‘cottage’ in one of Ontario’s most desired destinations. There’s six bedrooms, a boathouse, stone firepit and red cedar hot tub.
Read about our experience at Falcon’s Nest here.
OaSee in Balje, Lower Saxony, Germany
3,500 square metre private lake, perfect for bathing, swimming, rowing and watching the world go by from a private or pedal boat, which is accessible from the boardwalk.
Villa Hollywood in Annecy, France
A modern villa overlooking Lake Annecy. It’s near a ski resort – or you could just stay at home and swim in the private pool.
Villa Barracuda in Marsaskala, Malta
Found in a small fishing town and sleeping 21 guests, there’s an infinity pool, poker room, outdoor pizza oven, games room and cinema room at the mega-mansion.
And these are Vrbo’s UK Holiday Homes of the Year
Tides on Uig, Isle of Skye
A modern coastal home on Uig’s high tide line perfect for seal and bird spotting on the deck.
Thatch Cottage in Wimborne, Dorset
A former broom factory, with some parts of the home over 300 years old. There’s a swimming pool and jacuzzi and it sleeps a whopping 22 people.
Meadow End Barn in Dorstone, Herefordshire
A nineteenth-century barn with serious views of both the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons.
Mignon House in Bath, Somerset
A four-storey Georgian house that dates to 1740 – and it’s right by where key scenes from Bridgerton were filmed. It sleeps 17.
Georgian Townhouse in Edinburgh
A swanky six-bedroom pile complete with a grand piano and views of the castle.
The Oat Barn in Faringdon, Oxfordshire
A true cottage-core spot by the Cotswolds, with a landscaped garden and exposed timber beams.
Looking for some more accommodation inspiration? These Airbnbs were the most-liked in 2023.
Did you see that this is officially the best rooftop bar in Europe?
Plus: This street is officially the coolest in the world.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news.