Posts by Cameron Elder
Villa Oliviero: Meet the Family
Six bedrooms above the Li Galli islands. A bridal suite that was the original room of the villa. A rock-carved cave shower no one else on the coast can replicate. And siblings Alice and Nello Oliviero greeting every arrival in person.
2026-05-07 · 7 min read
Positano Destination Wedding Villas: An Insider's Guide
Most "wedding venues" in Positano are hotel terraces. These are the two private villas built for the actual day, the night before, the ceremony, the dinner, the morning after.
2026-05-07 · 9 min read
Villa Mon Repos: The Wedding Day-Of in the Heart of Positano
Internal elevator from the coastal road. Private car park. Chef-grade catering kitchen built for thirty. English-speaking celebrant. Wine-therapy massage from a professional physiotherapist. The owner is a wine producer with a farm under Vesuvius.
2026-05-07 · 8 min read
Amalfi for the Second-Time Visitor: Why Repeat Travelers Book Praiano, Not Positano
The 89-year-old New York client books four to six weeks every year. A new guest is taking two weeks. Bravo Villas is also booking four. The book length is the most honest review a property gets.
2026-05-07 · 8 min read
Tulum Beyond the Crowds
Escape the Instagram masses and discover the Tulum that discerning travelers have always known, secluded villas, private cenotes, and the authentic Riviera Maya.
2026-01-02 · 8 min read
Mexico City's Best Kept Secrets
Beyond the boutique hotels lies another Mexico City, one of private residences in Roma Norte, architectural gems in Coyoacán, and penthouses with volcano views.
2026-01-01 · 7 min read
Puerto Escondido
Before the developers arrive in force, there remains a stretch of Oaxacan coast where boutique properties meet genuine Mexican surf culture.
2025-12-28 · 9 min read
Mediterranean vs Caribbean
Two seas, two cultures, two ways of experiencing yacht life. A comparative guide for the discerning charterer.
2025-12-20 · 9 min read
Yacht Charter 101
Everything you need to understand before your first charter, from crew dynamics to provisioning, from anchorage etiquette to the art of the well-planned itinerary.
2025-12-15 · 12 min read
Yacht Charter Costa Rica
From the pristine waters of the Gulf of Papagayo to the untouched Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica offers yacht experiences that combine adventure, wildlife, and genuine pura vida.
2026-02-07 · 10 min read
The Art of Arrival
The journey is not merely functional. For the discerning traveler, how you arrive sets the tone for everything that follows.
2025-12-10 · 8 min read
Drive the Dream
For those who understand that the journey is the destination. Experience the thrill of Italian engineering on the legendary roads of Monaco and the Côte d'Azur.
2025-12-05 · 6 min read
The ERentals Standard
Understanding our curation process, why we reject most submissions and what distinguishes an ERentals property from the alternatives.
2025-11-15 · 6 min read
Best Luxury Villas in Tulum
Our curated selection of the finest private villas in Tulum for 2026, from jungle estates with cenote access to beachfront architectural masterpieces.
2026-01-15 · 12 min read
Puerto Escondido Travel Guide
The complete guide to Puerto Escondido, where to stay, what to do, when to visit, and how to experience Oaxaca's Pacific coast like a local.
2026-01-20 · 15 min read
Luxury Yacht Charter Guide
Everything you need to know about chartering a yacht in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, from vessel selection to itinerary planning.
2026-01-25 · 10 min read
Private Chef Villas
The rise of villas with private chef service, what's included, how it works, and why it's transforming the luxury rental experience.
2026-02-01 · 8 min read
Beachfront vs Jungle Villas
The great Tulum debate: should you stay on the beach or in the jungle? We break down the pros, cons, and best options for each.
2026-02-05 · 9 min read
Group Retreats in Greece
The Greek islands offer something rare: spaces designed for gathering, reflection, and renewal. From yoga retreats to creative workshops, these villas transform group travel.
2026-02-07 · 10 min read
Family Beach Vacation in Mexico
Planning the perfect family beach vacation in Mexico? From kid-friendly villas with private pools to the safest beaches and best destinations for every age.
2026-02-07 · 12 min read
Ultimate Bachelorette Party Villas in Tulum
Planning a bachelorette in Tulum? From rooftop pools to beach club access, we've curated the villas that actually work for groups, with tips on what to book and what to skip.
2026-02-07 · 10 min read
Romantic Honeymoon Villas in the Caribbean & Mexico
The most romantic private villas for honeymoons, from intimate Caribbean hideaways to staffed estates where every detail is handled. Where newlyweds go to begin.
2026-02-07 · 11 min read
Destination Weddings at Private Villas
Why couples are choosing private villas over traditional venues for destination weddings, and how to plan an unforgettable celebration in Mexico, Greece, or the Caribbean.
2026-02-07 · 14 min read
Best Time to Visit Tulum
Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and events in Tulum. When to book for the best villa rates and the quietest beaches.
2026-02-20 · 10 min read
Best Restaurants in Marrakech
Where to actually eat in Marrakech, from the medina institutions to the Gueliz newcomers, with honest notes on which famous places are worth it and which are a show.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best Restaurants in Tulum
An honest guide to eating in Tulum, from the beach-road names to the town kitchens locals actually use, with straight talk about the prices.
2026-09-25 · 10 min read
Best Luxury Villas with a Private Chef
An operator breakdown of chef tiers, what included really covers, how groceries get billed, and when hiring a chef is the wrong call.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best Luxury Villas with an Infinity Pool
Heating, depth, shade, wind and midday sun decide whether you use a pool all week. The infinity edge decides almost nothing.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best Villas for Large Groups of 16+
Bathroom ratios, bedroom parity, second sitting rooms and transport break large group trips far more often than the house itself does.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best Mezcal Experiences in Tulum
What separates mezcal from tequila, how to spot a bar that actually takes it seriously, and why the beach road version is usually the worst one.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best French Riviera Dining Experience
We have no villas on the Riviera and will not pretend otherwise. Here is an honest guide to eating well in Nice, Cannes and Antibes anyway.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
The Best Restaurants in Mykonos
An operator's honest read on eating in Mykonos, from charcoal beach tavernas to the beach clubs, including what closes and what catches people out.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
The Best Restaurants in Miami
Where to eat in Miami if you care about food rather than photographs, including the neighbourhoods most visitors never leave South Beach to reach.
2026-09-25 · 12 min read
The Best Restaurants in Positano and Amalfi
Where to eat along the Amalfi Coast, why arriving by boat changes the week, and what actually closes once the season ends.
2026-09-25 · 12 min read
The Best Restaurants in Cabo
An honest guide to eating in Los Cabos, from roadside fish taco stands to cliffside dining rooms, with the season and transport rules that catch people out.
2026-09-25 · 12 min read
The Best Food in Marrakech, Street Food to Fine Dining
A working guide to the full range of eating in Marrakech, from dawn soup counters and the lamb pits to the dining rooms at the other end of the scale.
2026-09-25 · 12 min read
Best Things to Do in Mykonos
What a real Mykonos week looks like, which famous stops are worth skipping, and how the meltemi quietly rewrites your plans.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best Things to Do in Tulum
An honest operator guide to Tulum: what is worth waking up for, what the beach road does to your plans, and where the eco label stops meaning much.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best Things to Do in Miami
A working guide to Miami: why South Beach underdelivers, which neighbourhoods carry the city, and why the boat day is the one people remember.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best Things to Do in Positano
An honest guide to Positano: the walk that is worth it, the day trip that is not, and why the coast road decides your week.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Best Things to Do in Cabo
An honest guide to Los Cabos: which beaches you can actually swim at, why the arch is a ten minute stop, and where the good days really are.
2026-09-25 · 11 min read
Is Tulum Safe?
An honest, no-hype assessment of safety in Tulum for luxury travelers. What to know, what to avoid, and how to travel smart.
2026-02-14 · 8 min read
Is Marrakech Safe?
The honest Marrakech safety answer for 2026. Neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown, the medina scams to know, the villa advantage, and what actually changes in Ramadan.
2026-09-21 · 12 min read
Is Mykonos Safe?
The honest Mykonos safety answer for 2026. The meltemi risk that outranks any crime concern, the neighborhoods to sleep in, the taverna scams to know, and how a villa removes it all.
2026-09-21 · 12 min read
Is Cabo San Lucas Safe?
The honest Los Cabos safety answer for 2026. The Baja California Sur homicide reality, timeshare scam patterns, hurricane season, and why Pedregal changes the picture entirely.
2026-09-21 · 12 min read
Is Puerto Escondido Safe?
The honest Puerto Escondido safety answer for 2026. Zicatela rip currents are the biggest actual risk, cartel picture is not the tourist story, and the villa neighborhoods sleep behind their own gates.
2026-09-22 · 12 min read
Is Positano Safe?
The honest Positano safety answer for 2026. Crime is close to zero, the risk story is the SS163 coastal road, ferry weather, and the August crowd. Villa base handles all of it.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Is the Amalfi Coast Safe?
The honest Amalfi Coast safety answer for 2026. Crime is close to zero, the SS163 dominates the risk story, and a base in Ravello, Praiano, or above Positano solves for almost everything.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Best Time to Visit Cabo San Lucas
The honest Cabo month-by-month calendar for 2026. Whale season, spring break, hurricane peak, marlin tournaments, and the two shoulder windows where a private villa is at its best.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Best Time to Visit Positano
The honest Positano month-by-month calendar for 2026. Ferragosto peak, ferry weather, shoulder-window value, and the two windows most seasoned Amalfi visitors return in.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Best Time to Visit the Amalfi Coast
The honest Amalfi Coast month-by-month calendar for 2026. Easter to late October window, Ferragosto peak, ferry weather, Ravello Festival, and the shoulder windows that reward the early booker.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Best Time to Visit Puerto Escondido
The honest Puerto Escondido month-by-month calendar for 2026. Whale season, surf season, the shoulder windows, and the wet-season trade-off that seasoned Mexico travelers know.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
How Much Does a Private Chef Villa Cost?
The honest cost picture for a private-chef villa in 2026. What retail chef rates run by destination, what is included in the daily rate, the cost of the villa around it, and where the value actually is.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
How Much Does a Marrakech Villa Cost Per Week?
The honest Marrakech villa cost picture for 2026. Retail weekly rate ranges by tier, what a staffed palais includes, seasonal price swings, and where the value math actually breaks.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
How Much Does a Yacht Charter Cost in Miami?
The honest Miami yacht charter cost picture for 2026. Retail day rates by boat size, what fuel and crew actually add, the event weeks that double rates, and where the value sits.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
What Does Concierge Service Cost at a Luxury Villa?
The honest concierge cost picture for 2026. When it is included in the villa rate, when it is billed, what standalone services charge, and why the included model usually wins.
2026-09-22 · 10 min read
Marrakech vs Fez
The honest Marrakech versus Fez comparison. One is the villa capital with an Atlas backdrop, the other is the oldest living medina on earth. They are not interchangeable and this guide says which fits which trip.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Cabo vs Puerto Vallarta
The honest Cabo San Lucas versus Puerto Vallarta comparison. Desert cliffs against jungle bay, two very different whale seasons, and which one fits a villa trip versus a yacht trip.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Positano vs Amalfi vs Praiano
The honest three-way comparison of the Amalfi Coast base towns. The postcard, the historical anchor, and the quiet one that most seasoned visitors end up choosing.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Villa vs Airbnb vs Hotel for Groups
The honest three-way comparison for groups of six or more. Where each model genuinely wins, where the cost math flips, and the failure modes each one has.
2026-09-22 · 11 min read
Puerto Escondido vs Tulum
Caribbean vs Pacific. Instagram vs authenticity. Two of Mexico's best beach destinations, honestly compared for luxury villa travelers.
2026-02-15 · 10 min read
Best Luxury Villas in Mykonos
The honest guide to renting a luxury villa in Mykonos. Twelve verified estates in our collection, seven neighborhood-by-neighborhood picks, staffing and meltemi realities, and the math on villa vs hotel for groups of 10 to 24.
2026-02-22 · 12 min read
Where to Stay in Mykonos
The honest guide to Mykonos areas. Which neighborhood matches your travel style, budget, and group size.
2026-02-21 · 8 min read
Mykonos vs Paros
Glamour vs authenticity. The two Cycladic islands compared honestly for villa travelers considering their first (or next) Greek island trip.
2026-02-12 · 10 min read
Best Time to Visit Mykonos
When to visit Mykonos for the best weather, lowest villa rates, and thinnest crowds. Month-by-month island guide.
2026-02-10 · 8 min read
Best Time to Visit Marrakech
Marrakech has dramatic seasonal shifts. The right timing makes the difference between magical and miserable.
2026-02-11 · 7 min read
Things to Do in Marrakech
Beyond the souks. Private hammams, Atlas Mountain excursions, the best food experiences, and what to actually buy in the medina.
2026-02-09 · 11 min read
Yacht Charter Miami
Everything you need to know about chartering a yacht in Miami. Types, costs, itineraries, and what to expect on the water.
2026-02-24 · 11 min read
Miami Yacht Party Guide
Planning a yacht party in Miami? From bachelorettes to birthdays, here is how to turn a charter into a celebration.
2026-02-08 · 8 min read
Best Time for a Yacht Charter in Miami
When to charter a yacht in Miami for the best weather, calmest water, and biggest events. Month-by-month breakdown.
2026-02-07 · 7 min read
Why Luxury Travelers Choose Villas Over Hotels
More space. Better value per person. Total privacy. Here is why the villa model is winning over five-star hotels for groups, families, and couples who want more than a room.
2026-02-25 · 10 min read
Honeymoon in Morocco: Riads, Palmeraie Villas & Atlas Adventures
Morocco is not on most honeymoon shortlists. That is exactly why it should be on yours. Riad courtyards, hammam rituals, Atlas Mountain day trips, and zero crowds.
2026-02-25 · 11 min read
Luxury Travel in Cartagena: Walled City, Rosario Islands & Beyond
Cartagena is the most underrated luxury destination in the Americas. Colonial mansions, rooftop pools, Rosario Islands day trips, and a food scene that rivals Mexico City.
2026-02-25 · 11 min read
Mykonos Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
Mykonos is the Mediterranean answer to Tulum for bachelorettes. Better beach clubs, bigger villas, and a nightlife scene that runs until sunrise.
2026-02-25 · 11 min read
The Three Houses of Amelkis: Three Villas, Three Visions of Marrakech Modernism
Amelkis is a gated golf resort 15 to 25 minutes from the Medina with three villas that read like three competing design briefs. A contemporary compound with a private cinema. An art-collector's salon in emerald and red. A modern white-on-white pavilion with a grand piano in the living room. Same gates, same fairway, three different houses.
2026-05-10 · 9 min read
When You Need All the Bedrooms: Marrakech's Estates for 14, 18, and 24 Guests
Three private estates outside Marrakech, between 7 and 12 bedrooms, between 10,000 and 25,000 square meters of grounds. One reads like a riad scaled to estate proportions. One feels like a palace with padel and tennis. One is a contemporary compound with a separate guest annex. The right one depends on the size of the group and the shape of the week.
2026-05-10 · 10 min read
Studio KO Built a House for the Atlas Foothills: Inside Dar Tafza
Dar Tafza is the first Moroccan project from Studio KO, the Paris-based practice that designed the Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakech. A pisé rammed-earth silhouette rising from a six-hectare park of olive trees, junipers, and desert garden, with the snow-capped Atlas Mountains filling the southern horizon. Designed as a humble family home that scales. Sleeps twenty.
2026-05-10 · 9 min read
The Marrakech Wedding Issue: 24, 80, or 150 Guests, and the Villas That Hold Them
Marrakech has thousands of "wedding venues" indexed online. Most are riads with a courtyard, a marketing photo, and no real capacity to handle the day. Four estates in our Marrakech collection are different: each has been built or operated to host a real wedding party from arrival through reception. Here is the honest map.
2026-05-10 · 11 min read
A Local Calendar of Marrakech: Rose Festival, Atlas Snowmelt, the Honey Moon, and the Quiet Months
Most Marrakech travel guides reduce the year to "March through May, September through November, avoid summer." That is technically right and informationally bankrupt. Here is what each month of the year actually contains: which festival, which season, which cultural moment, and which villa-in-our-collection makes the most sense.
2026-05-10 · 11 min read
First Time in Marrakech: A Three-Day Arrival Plan from a Villa, Not a Hotel
Most first-time Marrakech itineraries assume you are staying in a riad inside the Medina walls. We write for travelers staying in a private villa outside the walls. The logistics, the timing, and the route through the souks are all different. Here is the honest 72-hour plan.
2026-05-10 · 9 min read
Villa vs Hotel in Miami: The Real Cost Per Person for Groups
For a group of twelve in Miami, a seven-bedroom villa from $1,930 per night works out near $161 per person. The same group needs six hotel rooms, each carrying its own nightly rate and fees. Here is the per-head math, run on real ERentals villa prices.
2026-06-16 · 7 min read
Polanco vs Roma Norte vs Condesa: Where to Stay in Mexico City
Polanco, Roma Norte, and Condesa are the three Mexico City neighborhoods most international travellers actually consider. Here is how each one feels, how far Polanco sits from Roma Norte and Condesa, and which groups each one suits.
2026-06-29 · 7 min read
Mexico City Airport Transfers: MEX vs NLU, Uber and Private Drivers
A short transport playbook for travellers landing in Mexico City. MEX versus NLU, Uber and Didi at CDMX airport, when to brief a private driver, and how the run to Estadio Azteca works on a big event day.
2026-06-29 · 6 min read
Where to Stay in Cape Town: A Luxury Villa Guide
The four Cape Town neighborhoods that matter for a private villa stay, what each one is built for, and the houses we put families and groups into across the coast and the winelands.
2026-06-18 · 9 min read
The Best Luxury Villa Rental Sites: An Honest Ranking
Six platforms, four axes: curation depth, direct-booking, concierge quality, and where they actually operate. No sponsored copy, no affiliate tint. Just what a repeat luxury traveler needs to know before choosing.
2026-07-02 · 9 min read
Alternatives to Airbnb Luxe: What Luxury Travelers Actually Choose
The Luxe catalog is enormous. The service model is not always what a returning luxury traveler expects. Here is where else you should be looking, and why.
2026-07-02 · 7 min read
Why Book Direct with a Curated Marketplace
Every extra layer between you and the villa owner has a cost. Sometimes that cost is worth it. Often it is not. Here is how to think about direct-booking in 2026.
2026-07-02 · 6 min read
Cape Town in Summer: A Villa Guide to the Festive Season and Beyond
The Cape Town summer runs while the north is in winter. How the season unfolds from December to the Cycle Tour in March, which weeks suit which kind of trip, and the five private villas we place families and groups into.
2026-09-16 · 9 min read
Easter in Marrakech: A Private Villa Guide for Families and Friends
Easter week is one of the best reasons to take a whole villa in Marrakech. How the 2027 holiday falls, why a private house suits a family or a group of friends better than a hotel, and the homes we would put you in.
2026-09-16 · 9 min read
Kilimanjaro in Luxury: White Mountain Camp and the Lemosho Route, Day by Day
White Mountain Camp takes the seven-day Lemosho climb to Uhuru Peak and rebuilds everything around it: expedition tents with real beds, a camp chef, a mountain doctor and hot showers. What the camp is, what each day asks of you, who it suits, and how to apply through us.
2026-09-28 · 10 min read
Kilimanjaro for Leadership Teams: A Private Summit, Then a Villa for the Debrief
A week on Kilimanjaro does something to a team that a conference room never will. How White Mountain Camp runs private ascents for leadership groups, which departure suits a team, how to prepare people who train at different speeds, and the villas in Marrakech and Positano we would book for the days after the summit.
2026-09-28 · 10 min read