Author Archive for Silvan Kitma

Silvan Kitma is General Manager of The Private World, a luxury villa rentals company offering an elite collection of holiday homes in Asia’s top tourist destinations. From tropical retreats in Thailand’s Phuket and Koh Samui as well as Bali in Indonesia to lavish holiday chalets in Niseko Japan, these properties offer complete exclusivity and unconventional opulence for travelers. Their offerings include private chefs and top-notch facilities such as gyms, cinemas, spas, and spectacular infinity pools overlooking the beauty of the local region. Though working as a manager, Silvan is also a writer by practice, a musician at heart, a comedian on impulse, and a father of four.

The luxury villa dining experience

The luxury villa dining experience

Food is an inseparable accompaniment to any travel or holiday experience. In luxury villa accommodations, dining is taken to a whole new level of exclusivity and personal touch. While some diners make reservations, drive themselves to 5-star restaurants, and wait for a table, villa vacationers instead have the restaurant experience brought right to the very
The most luxurious rental ski chalets in Courchevel, France

The most luxurious rental ski chalets in Courchevel, France

Scattered around the snow-covered slopes and valleys of the French Alps lies a bounty of holiday homes, each with a remarkable story to tell. In the quaint skiing villages of Courchevel, one will delight in the multitude of pistes and the majestic beauty of the alpine wilderness. Michelin-starred restaurants offer stellar dining experiences and high-end
Beachfront or sea view? Choosing your villa holiday setting

Beachfront or sea view? Choosing your villa holiday setting

Apart from the most basic factors such as the price and number of bedrooms, the most significant consideration in choosing a holiday villa has to be the setting. To those who delight in staying at a luxury villa in the tropics, the choices usually come down to two: either right along the beach or high
Asia’s most lavish holiday villas for a luxury ‘isocation’ experience

Asia’s most lavish holiday villas for a luxury ‘isocation’ experience

Yes. You read it correctly – isocation. No typographical errors here. We know how the pandemic and the quarantine have sparked a phenomenal new wave of creativeness among people – learning new skills, discovering new hobbies, and – to the travel community – inventing new words. Isocation: an amalgamation of the words ‘isolation’ and ‘vacation’.
Niseko, Japan - Asia’s Winter holiday destination

Niseko, Japan - Asia’s Winter holiday destination

A recent online survey with participants from a dozen different countries listed Japan as their top choice of destination once the worldwide travel hiatus finally ends. Their reasons include obvious agendas such as the food (Japan is also among the top culinary destinations in Asia) and visiting specific cultural and themed attractions, like Universal Studios
Top choices for your next villa vacation in Koh Samui, Thailand

Top choices for your next villa vacation in Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui is Thailand’s quintessential embodiment of a laid-back tropical holiday. This peaceful island offers the experiences that to us seem so familiar, and yet at the moment, somewhat strangely dream-like: bare-foot fantasies on sun-warmed white sands, being serenaded by the ocean waves, all the while admiring the endlessness of the sea and sky. Though
#TravelLocal - The importance of Asia’s domestic tourism during the pandemic

#TravelLocal - The importance of Asia’s domestic tourism during the pandemic

Along with other business sectors that have been forced into indefinite stagnation, the fate of Asia’s travel and tourism industry lies in the balance between the need to contain the virus and the need to restart the economy. And it is this particular dilemma that has the entire world under complete tension. All the while,
Future travel inspiration: The most impressive oceanfront clifftop villas in Bali

Future travel inspiration: The most impressive oceanfront clifftop villas in Bali

At the very southern tip of Bali, along the fringes of the Bukit Peninsula, is a landscape whose marvels obscure the boundaries between reality and cathartic dreams. Uluwatu, as the place is called, literally translates “land’s end rock”. This area is a vast stretch of coastal limestone cliffs, rising up to 230 feet above the
Brilliant group activity ideas while staying in at your private villa

Brilliant group activity ideas while staying in at your private villa

As the world anticipates post-pandemic realities, we all remain positive that leisure travel, among other things, will once again be an accessible privilege to people. There is certainty, however, that necessary and somewhat radical changes will occur alongside this comeback. Though travelers remain longing for the delights of holiday experiences, there is an understandable inclination
Supporting the recovery of tourism in Asia: Villa vacation destinations to visit in the near future

Supporting the recovery of tourism in Asia: Villa vacation destinations to visit in the near future

One way or another and in varying degrees, the shockwaves of the COVID-19 pandemic are definitely felt by all industries worldwide. Yet, the effects on travel and hospitality are particularly both sudden and intensive. In Asia, where millions of livelihoods are reliant on tourism, it is indeed a challenging time. Visiting these affected regions once
Spectacular luxury villas in Thailand’s most unconventional locations

Spectacular luxury villas in Thailand’s most unconventional locations

The islands of Phuket and Koh Samui possess a uniquely extraordinary landscape. Its coastline is a mosaic work of multiple characters: from towering rock cliffs to dramatic hill slopes, from immaculate stretches of white sand to beaches dotted by house-size boulders half-buried in the sand. And following all these, a tropical woodland covers the shoreline
From gyms to golf greens - top notch facilities you can find in a luxury villa

From gyms to golf greens - top notch facilities you can find in a luxury villa

The “luxury” in “luxury villa” is not there for no reason. The facilities, amenities, and services offered by these properties are truly impressive and even surprising to some, stylishly distinguishing them from your typical home rental. Having your own private chef and infinity pool are signature features of luxury villas, as many experienced vacationers already
Choosing your Thai villa vacation island - Phuket or Samui?

Choosing your Thai villa vacation island - Phuket or Samui?

Any 1970s backpacker who would venture into Phuket or Koh Samui today will definitely have a hard time recognizing the places they used to know. The paradise islands of Thailand have grown far from the far-flung tropical hideaways they once were. The old paths are now paved, fishing boats have given way for yachts and
Breath-takers and wow-drawers: Thailand villas with the most spectacular views

Breath-takers and wow-drawers: Thailand villas with the most spectacular views

Throughout our years of experience in the world of villa rentals, one of the things that never fails to capture the hearts of our guests is the awe-inspiring view from the property. In Thailand’s Phuket and Samui islands, many private villas are situated in very dramatic locations owing mainly to the region’s impressive topography and
The key advantages of staying at a private luxury villa

The key advantages of staying at a private luxury villa

Private villas have redefined the concept of vacation accommodations ever since it entered the hospitality scene. Seeing that these vacation homes offer luxuries and conveniences that other accommodation options can’t, many travellers have chosen to spend their holiday getaway in these properties. In this article, we’re listing down some of the key advantages of staying
7 of the most luxurious beachfront villas you can rent in Phuket

7 of the most luxurious beachfront villas you can rent in Phuket

A holiday in the tropics cannot be pictured without the vibrant image of a lovely beach. On the paradise island of Phuket, such gorgeous sandy shores may be plenty, but often, they come with crowds of tourists too. Surprisingly, though the island is home to an impressive myriad of home rentals that offer complete exclusivity,