GIC The Villa Collection predicts the key travel trends in 2019

GIC The Villa Collection predicts the key travel trends in 2019 and helps plan the perfect Greek island getaway

– Celebrating 50 years of superb villa holidays –

In 2019, GIC The Villa Collection celebrates 50 years as a truly independent specialist with a passion for offering memorable escapes to those special corners of Greece and Cyprus – those that you won’t find trawling through search engines or travel review sites.

Curated by experts who offer personal and trustworthy service, backed by unrivalled knowledge and an extensive range of villa holidays, GIC continues to seek out the very best villas for stunning scenery, stylish interiors, friendly local tavernas, beautiful beaches and amenities for all ages.

GIC The Villa Collection is offering one FREE child flight (2-11yrs) per booking for departures between 15 July and 25 August for stays at selected villas booked by 31 January 2019, saving up to £399 per booking. All GIC holidays include return flights, 20kg baggage per person, UK airport representatives, an experienced local representative, car hire or transfers and a welcome pack.

Looking to the year ahead, GIC The Villa Collection has identified three key trends that will shape villa holidays in 2019…

Trend 1: Multigenerational travel

In 2019, Baby Boomers – now often grandparents – will continue to enjoy their travels, but they’ll be jetting off with the family – and even treating them – to group holidays in the sun. They’ll be spending more time with their grandchildren as the ‘Skip-Gen’ trend grows, but privacy and space will be crucial factors in choosing the right holiday. Here are some of the larger GIC properties and group villas that cater for growing families who want to enjoy memorable moments, but with some me-time added in too.

Villa Luna, Samos (3 bedrooms / sleeps 2-6)
With panoramic views of Turkey and comfortable, modern facilities, this large villa has three bedrooms each with private balcony, making it ideal for a family or group that likes its own space too, Villa Luna features a luxurious pool for adults and separate pool for children, along with large, shaded terrace and alfresco dining area. Visit local beaches or take trips around the island, including a jaunt to the picturesque port of Pythagorion (2km), the birthplace of Pythagoras. A car is included, but there is also an excellent taxi service on the island for evenings out at one of the town’s friendly tavernas. Larger groups can book Villa Luna with its neighbour, Villa Rosa (3 bedrooms), for groups of up to 12 people.

A seven-night self-catering stay costs from £823 pp (four sharing), including return flights and car hire. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

Villa Helios, Lefkas (3 bedrooms / sleeps 2-8)
New to the GIC programme, luxurious and contemporary Villa Helios is situated on Lefkas, an Ionian island with glorious beaches, sleepy bays and olive-clad hills, where the locals take pride in their local community and traditions. With a fireplace and a covered, outdoor dining area and barbecue, this spacious villa is a great choice for family gatherings and is located near to the village of Tsoukalades, a short drive from the island’s capital and the beaches of Agios Nikitas, Kathisma, Egremni and Porto Katsiki. Larger groups can book neighbouring NEW villas Villa Anemos (3 bedrooms) and Villa Gaia (3 bedrooms) for groups of up to 24.

A seven-night self-catering stay costs from £1,004 pp (based on four sharing), including return flights and car hire. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

Villa Andromeda, Paxos (4 bedrooms / sleeps 2-8)
This seriously spacious villa has room enough for groups of up to eight and everyone will have plenty of space to unwind, whether relaxing on one of the balconies or enjoying the immaculate living room, shaded patio or private pool terrace. The whole family can enjoy the nearby tavernas and the charming village of Fontana, just a walk away. Why not book the neighbouring Villa Perseus (2 bedrooms) for groups of up to 12?

A seven-night self-catering stay costs from £813 pp (based on four sharing), including return flights and car hire. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

Trend 2: ‘Well-thy’ holidays

In the age of clean living and mindfulness, wealth has been replaced by ‘well-th’ as the new luxury. The wellness travel trend will continue to flourish in 2019, as our need grows to get away from the everyday stresses of life and take time away from our screens. GIC The Villa Collection offers a real escape, with villas that promise privacy and seclusion and the chance to fully recharge. Explore the surrounding areas by car or Jeep and enjoy superb coastal roads plus quaint villages…a far cry from the humdrum.

Villa Pyrgos, Skopelos (2 bedrooms / sleeps 2-4)
What could be more remote than staying in a castle perched on a clifftop and offering endless sea views? Villa Pyrgos is just the ticket to tear you away from your tablet, situated on Skopelos in the Sporades, an island of simple pleasures, translucent waters and immaculate beaches. This special and secluded villa, designed like a castle and crafted from local stone, offers total privacy, your own pool and terrace and a quirky, creative interior thanks to its local artist owners. A Jeep is included in the rental to traverse the rocky narrow road up to the villa.

A seven-night self-catering stay costs from £1,144 pp (two sharing), including return flights and Jeep hire. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

Villa Milos, Lefkas (1 bedroom / sleeps 2)
Another quirky property, this converted windmill on a hilltop in northern Lefkas opens straight onto its own curved pool, offers panoramic views plus marvellous sunsets and oozes character and style. Its inland setting is perfect for those looking to be close to nature, and you can explore the island’s trails, gorges and forest with their superb views and crumbling windmills and monasteries, though you’re only a five-minute drive from shops and restaurants, and a little further to the beach. The private terrace and small lawn is perfect for some outdoor yoga or a little meditation.

A seven-night self-catering stay costs from £886 pp (two sharing), including return flights and car hire. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

Villa Therisso, Crete (2 bedrooms / sleeps 2-5)
For those in search of peace and quiet, but with the option to experience a little taste of local Cretan life, Villa Therisso is the ideal escape. The village of Therisso offers a good range of tavernas and cafés and feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of the Venetian city of Chania (16 km away), tucked away in the foothills of the White Mountains. From your bed, enjoy dramatic views of the peaks and valleys through the open French doors, or why not take a tranquil breakfast on the balcony? There’s also the inviting private swimming pool, barbecue area and series of terraces.

A seven-night self-catering stay costs from £923 pp (four sharing), including return flights and car hire. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

Trend 3: TV Tourism

TV and film will inspire even more travellers to visit the movie locations and sites featured in their favourite TV shows in 2019. And Greece is proving more popular than ever before, having been the setting for around 30 foreign film and TV productions (from the USA, Europe, South Korea and China) in the past three years. Its 250 days of annual sunshine, incredible vistas, clear blue seas and skies and iconic cultural landmarks make it one of the best film locations in Europe.

Paleokastritsa Beach House, Corfu (3 bedrooms / sleeps 2-8)
With the new series of The Durrells due to air on ITV in spring 2019, we’ll once again be crazy for Corfu, the location of the much-loved show. The island recently won the 2018 European Film Location Award, chosen as the best amongst 12 European locations. Right on the water’s edge, with steps down to a beach, this spacious villa is great for large groups; to the rear is a separate two-level annexe with double bedroom and kitchen/dining area. A short five-minute walk brings you to friendly local tavernas, shops, cafés and bars, and the Akrotiri Beach Hotel, next door, allows full use of its large swimming pool for a change of scene from the beach.

A seven-night self-catering stay costs from £711 pp (based on six sharing), including return flights and car hire. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

Bacchus House, Antipaxos (1 bedroom / sleeps two)
Enjoy beautiful Caribbean-style beaches and mix with the A-listers if you’re lucky. The tiny island of Antipaxos, with fans including Will Smith and Hugh Jackman, offers gloriously remote white-sand beaches and laidback vibes. With just 30 local inhabitants, few cars, three tavernas and no shops (food orders are delivered by boat), this is the place to come for total privacy and the perfect excuse to switch off your phone, shun all shopping and simply relax. A honeymooners’ favourite, Bacchus House provides complete privacy with its own pool and a terrace overlooking the sea.

A seven-night self-catering stay costs from £989 pp (two sharing), including flights (Gatwick) and transfers. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

The Atrium Villas, Skiathos (villa trio each with 8 bedrooms / sleeps 2-8)
After the success of two hit movies, Mamma Mia mania continues to drive movie lovers to the Sporades island of Skiathos, one of the beautiful backdrops of the original film. With three different villas on the stunning north west coast of Skiathos, The Atrium Villas are perfectly placed for large groups who want to take in the spectacular sea views towards the Pelion peninsula. Each villa has a private swimming pool, spacious kitchen and immaculate interiors, all just a short drive from some of the island’s finest cafés, tavernas and bars, and a 15-minute drive to the golden beaches of Skiathos.

A seven-night self-catering stay at each of the three-bedroomed villas costs from £884 pp (eight sharing), including return flights and car hire. Book by 31 January 2019 for free child flights (2-11yrs).

All GIC properties enjoy a complimentary welcome pack on arrival, plus maid service and linen change twice weekly.

Add a touch of luxury with a personal chef, gourmet picnic or beauty treatments, or make life easier by booking a restaurant or childcare in advance with GIC The Villa Collection’s concierge service.

For more information, or to talk to an expert, call GIC The Villa Collection on 020 8232 9780 or visit www.gicthevillacollection.com.

Notes to Editors: With 50 years’ experience, GIC The Villa Collection (formerly known as Greek Islands Club) offers comfortable villa escapes, most with private pool, on the Greek islands of Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Lefkas, Meganissi, Ithaca and Kefalonia, (the Ionian isles), Samos, Alonissos, Skopelos and Skiathos (the Sporades) and Crete, as well as the Peloponnese on mainland Greece plus the villas of Pomos in Cyprus.

GIC The Villa Collection is a member of the Sunvil family (www.sunvil.co.uk) and is a keen proponent of sustainable travel.

Press: For further information, to request high-res photography or to interview Chris Wright, the Managing Director of GIC The Villa Collection, please contact Jackie Franklin or Charlotte Griffiths at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440, or email j.franklin@travelpr.co.uk or c.griffiths@travelpr.co.uk.