Fully staffed luxury villas are the format hotels can't easily match for groups — chef, housekeeping and concierge built in, with a per-head cost that tips below five-star rates above six guests.

Our take

Run the per-head, per-night maths against a five-star hotel before booking a staffed villa — break-even is usually around six adults, and meals included is where the value actually compounds.

Attribution: Summary and commentary by My Vacation Hub. Original reporting by A Luxury Travel Blog.