Enjoy Distinctive Accommodations

Relax and refresh at our selection of comfortable, charming lodgings

 

VBT uses small, unique lodgings that impart a sense of the local character and offer the pampering you deserve after an active day. Some are historic manors, others are converted farms or modern spa resorts. You won’t find two alike—but you will find a warm welcome in every one.

 

Inkaterra, Machu Picchu, Peru

Though the train station is not far away, the Inktaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel feels like it is set in a world of its own. This intimate 85-cottage luxury hotel is designed in the style of an Andean village, and is set amid 12 acres of secluded beauty. The whitewashed casitas where you’ll stay invite you to relax, and you’ll follow stone pathways to reach them. In your room you’ll find thick alpaca blankets and handmade wool coverlets, along with a spa-style bathroom. The first-class restaurant offers both delicious meals and wonderful views of the Vilcanota River. (Pictured Above)

Peru: Machu Picchu & The Sacred Valley

Tenuta La Parrina, Tuscany, Italy

This Tuscan treasure is a classic agriturismo. As the owner Marchesa Franca Spinola makes her guests feel at home, her century-old 1,200-acre farm produces wine, olive oil, vegetables, fruits, flowers and tasty cheeses. The main villa is part of a 4-star country resort, featured in Condé Nast Traveler magazine. The hotel is in a large park in the bucolic Maremma area, a few miles from a white-sand beach. You’ll find fresh ingredients on your plates during your delicious meals. It truly is tranquility personified, as you’ll discover fully when you stroll the mapped walking trails and enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool. 

Italy: Tuscany by the Sea
 

Sailing Home, Barge on the Moselle River

With 12 twin-bedded cabins, each with a private bath, the barge Sailing Home is a cozy and comfortable vessel that’s perfectly designed for cruising through the beautiful Moselle River Valley. Unpack once and enjoy 7 nights in the company of your fellow travelers, while a full-time staff of four bilingual crew members attend to your comfort. The barge is air-conditioned and heated, and all meals are prepared onboard by the barge’s chef, whose menus offers regional specialties using fresh, local ingredients. There’s a comfortable salon and bar, as well as a sundeck at the bow.

 Heart of Europe: Bike & Barge

Hacienda Minerva, Zuheros, Spain

Surrounded by centuries-old olive groves, this carefully restored, traditional 19th century farmhouse is set like an antique jewel among verdant, rolling hills in the heart of Andalusia. Though the natural setting and distinctive architecture—with white walls and graceful arches—evoke the past, the hotel’s amenities offer modern comforts that you’ll enjoy after a day of cycling. There’s a 10,000-book library, wine cellar, swimming pool, and an open terrace offering rewarding views of the hillside and the nearby white village of Zuheros. The high-ceilinged restaurant specializes in local cuisine, and the tavern—located in the former hacienda’s barn—is a lovely place to enjoy tapas.

Spain: Under the Andalusian Sky

 

 
Ansonborough Inn, Charleston, South Carolina

Located within Charleston’s historic district, the inn and its environs are named for the English Admiral George Anson, the third man to circumnavigate the globe. Lord Anson won the property in 1724 in a poker game. This elegant hotel was thoroughly remodeled in 2000, using local red bricks and exposed heart pine beams, as well as colorful antiques and reproductions that evoke its nautical heritage. With only 37 rooms—and with owners, George and Sandra Fennell, living on site—you’ll be made to feel very much like a special guest.

Charleston to Savannah: A Southern Reel

 

Xandari Resort & Spa, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Overlooking the green and verdant Central Valley of Costa Rica, the Xandari Resort & Spa is a tropical paradise of 22 individually designed villas set on a 40-acre plantation at an elevation of 3,900 feet. A multiple award winner—including the World Travel Award as Costa Rica’s leading spa resort—Xandari beautifully combines a ravishing landscape with a relaxed ambiance, and gracious, efficient service. The indoor/outdoor restaurant features fruits and vegetables from the resort’s organic greenhouses. You’ll delight in luxury with a distinctive Costa Rican flavor.

Adventure Costa Rica!

 

Hotel De L’Image, St. Remy de Provence, France

Located in the center of St. Remy de Provence, the Hotel De L’Image combines regional charm with a modern theme: photography. The hotel has a photographic gallery, a private collection, projection hall, and fully equipped lab. There’s a lush, large garden perfect for strolling, along with two swimming pools. The 32 rooms are done in a contemporary style. The hotel also offers a full restaurant and a bar with an outdoor terrace. Beyond the gardens are the stunningly situated Alpilles Mountains.

Provence: The Alpilles

 

Agrihotel Elisabetta, Collemezzano, Italy

Nestled in the Tuscan hillside of Collemezzano, the Agrihotel Elisabetta is renowned for its signature Tuscan style, delicious farm-grown fruit, olive oil, and wine, and the ebullience of its gracious host, Luigi Brunetti. While traditional in atmosphere, the hotel also offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a terrace just right for relaxing and savoring the view. The 60-acre estate includes vineyards, an olive plantation, and fruit and vegetable gardens, which all supply the hotel restaurant. Your stay includes a guided tour of the wine cantina with Luigi and a sampling of the estate’s varietals.

The Tuscan Coast

 

Raffelsberger Hof, Weissenkirchen, Austria

Set in a historic shipmaster’s house built in 1574 and enlarged in 1771, the Raffelsberger Hof’s distinctive elegance is apparent in touches small and great, from
the antique door locks and light fixtures to the painstaking renovation of the gables, arches, walkways, and vaulted ceilings with exposed beams. Large windows flood your
room with light, just as they did in the late Renaissance. Flowers decorate the hotel
throughout, courtesy of the beautifully tended garden. With only 15 rooms, the hotel is imbued with a romantic charm perfect for the lovely Wachau Valley.

The Czech Republic, Germany & Austria