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A villa is a type of vacation accommodation that puts comfort and privacy above all else by providing an entire house to call your own for the duration of your stay. It typically comes loaded with amenities – think leafy gardens, palm-shaded pools, big master bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, beautiful setting, and more.

Few stays can offer the same level of relaxation as a villa. A luxury villa in the country can mean days of lazing by a private pool, dipping in and out of a good book while snoozing and sunbathing. Then come 5 star villas in big resorts, which offer a pad that's away from the hustle and bustle of the bars and beaches. They are great if you like to have your own space and manage your own schedule.

From the wave-washed shores of Los Angeles, California to the shimmering beaches of the Carolinian barrier islands or Myrtle Beach, there are villas all over the US. But there's myriad more across the pond in Europe, where villas are among the most popular picks for families hitting the hills of Tuscany, beach-fringed Andalusia (see Malaga), or the sparkling islands of Greece to name just 3. And that's not even mentioning Asia, where villas are now a mainstay in places like Bali and Thailand.

A villa offers a whole home to call your very own. That makes them a top choice for families and romantic couples alike. Some come with multiple bedrooms, and a kitchen - think space that spills out onto al fresco Spanish patios. Others are designed to pull the heart-strings, with panoramic sunset views and small his-and-hers infinity pools – Santorini, we're looking at you. Most have gardens, room for the car, and plenty of indoor space for lounging.

Booking a villa is the same as booking a hotel on Expedia.com. Just type in where in the world you're looking for that villa for rent. Using Expedia opens up the opportunity to bag bargains with vacation bundles, which can mean saving money on flights and car rentals when they're booked together with a villa, hotel, or other accommodation. When to book a villa is another question: definitely consult a good weather website if you're hoping for sun.

The cost of a villa will depend on whether you opt for a small 1 bedroom villa or a 2-4 bedroom villa for the family, and prices can peak and dip again depending on what sort of amenities you're after adn what time of year you book. A private pool in the garden will cost more, clearly, and location is a huge factor – sea views, walk-on access to golf courses, and settings close to major resorts are all typical of this kind of accommodation. You go to a villa to splurge for a special occasion.

They're both popular in sunny, family-friendly locations, so what's the difference between a villa and a holiday resort? Hotel room options might have butler service, but villas have their very own gardens and porches and kitchens, more privacy, and more autonomy. Where hotel resorts tout countless shared pools that spill down to bustling beachfronts, villas might offer a single private pool in a remote location in the mountains. They are fantastic if you like to have those vacation comforts all to yourself, right by whatever villa hotel room you've reserved.

If you've decided to seek out a family home or a romantic escape with a pool for that next getaway, be sure to search for a villa hotel nearby on Expedia today, just type in where you are right now above. You can even expand your accommodation quest to look all over the globe, putting white Iberian villas and enchanting Peloponnese homes, stylish Balinese villas, and salt-washed Portuguese locales into the mix.