Hot tubs, cinema: top luxury holiday homes luring Aussies overseas
By Sarah Falson
From eight-bedroom villas in Bali to cave suites in Santorini, Australian travellers are upping their game when it comes to luxury overseas accommodation. Subscribe now for unlimited access.
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When a hotel room just won't do, a holiday home can be just the ticket when you want more space and amenities like a pool, sauna or games room.
Aussies have traditionally booked holiday homes for a domestic getaway, but now more are looking to holiday homes overseas to fill their wildest desires.
This is according to Stayz which has released its list of top international holiday homes and amenities matter - think saunas, private pools, alfresco dining and expansive terraces.
Stayz travel expert Sarah King said more Aussies are booking private overseas stays in Greece, Italy and Croatia.
"Increasingly, Aussies are looking for more than just a room to sleep in, they want memorable stays that bring the destination to life and become a trip highlight," Ms King said.
"In many instances, these homes offer private views, standout amenities, unique experiences, and sometimes better value than traditional accommodation."
Here are some of Stayz's top holiday homes in top international destinations this winter.
Queenstown, New Zealand: Enjoy mountain views to die for at this luxury alpine escape in the heart of Queenstown. Lake Panorama Villa has three bedrooms, so grab your besties and enjoy the private outdoor hot tub, outdoor dining area and indoor gas fireplace.
Lake Panorama Villa, Queenstown, NZ.
Bali, Indonesia: Australia's favourite international holiday spot just got better with this next-level escape in Seminyak boasting eight bedrooms, a private jacuzzi, sauna and cinema. If you can drag yourself away from Villa Vienna, it's also close to Bali's beaches and nightlife.
Villa Vienna, Seminyak, Indonesia.
Rome, Italy: Stay in a Roman apartment just minutes from the Pantheon. Argentina Luxury Terrace boasts a private hot tub and a rooftop terrace where you can sip sunset aperitivos in the heart of the Eternal City.
Argentina Luxury Terrace, Rome, Italy.
Dubrovnik, Croatia: An ideal stay for families above the Adriatic in the village of Mlini, Villa Ivana offers panoramic sea views and a private infinity pool and is a short drive from Dubrovnik's Old Town. Popular with families or groups seeking a coastal escape.
Santorini, Greece: You can stay in a suite in a cliff in Santorini. Not only that, Cave Suite has a private terrace with a hot tub where you can enjoy sweeping caldera views, minutes to Oia's sunset spots and cafes.
Six out of 10 of the top international holiday home destinations are in Europe, showing Aussies will risk jet lag for cultural cities and Mediterranean coastal escapes.
Other destinations in the top 10 were Florence in Italy, London in the UK, NZ's Auckland and Crete in Greece.
Cave Suite in Santorini, Greece.
When it comes to holiday homes, the breadth and choice of amenities can set them apart from hotels and Aussies are looking for pools, parking for their hire car, internet, a washing machine and air conditioning.
Couples are the most likely to choose international holiday homes followed by friend groups and then families.
The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows more Australians are travelling overseas than before the pandemic.
In April 2025, Aussies took 1,044,530 short-term trips, an 8.3 per cent increase compared with the same month in 2024, and 14 per cent higher than the pre-COVID level in April 2019.
Indonesia was the most popular destination country, accounting for 13 per cent of all resident returns, followed by New Zealand and Japan.
New data from the Japan Tourism Agency shows 2,626,550 Australians descended upon Tokyo between May 2024 and April 2025, up 30 per cent.
Australians travelling to Osaka were up 56 per cent and Kyoto rose 33 per cent.
April data from Roy Morgan showed 23 per cent of Australians planned to travel overseas in the next 12 months, up from 16 per cent in October 2022 when final pandemic-era restrictions on travel were lifted.
However, the data found more Aussies, 57 per cent, were planning domestic holidays, up from 52 per cent a year ago.
"Australians have always possessed a deep-seated wanderlust, and these figures confirm our enduring passion for travel," said Roy Morgan head of travel and tourism, Adele Labine-Romain.
"While economic factors and confidence levels have certainly been influencing travel decisions for some, the desire to explore remains strong showing a promising future for travel."
Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life.
My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
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