FANS who want to holiday like Premier League stars can now go one better – and stay IN their private villas
A company is offering families the chance to stay in the luxury homes of big-name footballers, complete with private astroturfs, cinema rooms, water slides, waterfalls, pool rooms and even designer caves.
The villas are normally the preserve of super-rich football starsCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
The stars use their villas to sun themselves in the AlgarveCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
The firm refuses to say which world-class players own the villas, in exclusive Quinta do Lago – the ‘Golden Triangle’ of footballer homes, in the Algarve, Portugal.
But regular visitors to the golf-course rich resort include the Beckhams, Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo and Teddy Sheringham.
So far this year stars including Holly Willoughby, Rochelle Humes, from The Saturdays, and the Sheffield United squad have been spotted in the area – dubbed the ‘Alderley Edge of Portugal’.
TV favourites Ant and Dec and Philip Schofield are also regulars, taking advantage of the warm climate to practise their golf swing.
Local leisure centre ‘The Campus’ boasts training camps led by sports legends, including Rio Ferdinand, Judy Murray and Brian O’Driscoll.
Peter Jenkins, managing director of Sun-hat Villas and Resorts, said: “Footballers and A-listers in particular, flock to this Southern-most point of Portugal because it’s a hotbed of activity.
“It’s home to world-class golf courses offering jaw-dropping scenery, restaurants for every occasion, and of course the luxurious selection of villas owned by top footballers.
A pool room in one of the exclusive holiday homesCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
Some of the villas have their own football pitchesCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
One property has a cinema complete with comfy sofas for relaxingCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
“When you rent a villa, you want to feel special and away from everyday life.
“I suppose if our luxury villas give everyday holidaymakers the chance to feel like a footballing legend, if only for two weeks of the year, then we’ve achieved our goal.”
Properties in the town can fetch as much as £10million – but normal families can afford the luxury by booking for just a week.
As well as a manicured 18-hole golf courses the area boasts a dozen restaurants and bars, a gym centre and its own lake – with prices reflecting the wealthy clientele.
At the top end, a swanky five-bed villa on the same road from Steven Gerrard can cost as much £1,755 a head.
Coleen Rooney, Holly Willoughby and Dragon’s Den’s Peter Jones have all also been spotted staying in the area.
It’s only a short walk from The Shack, a trendy beach restaurant serving delicious seafood and chilled cocktails.
Villas all come with their own pools – some 100ft long. Most have private access to the golf course, or beach.
Others boast bars in the middle of swimming pools or their own private wine cellars, gyms and saunas.
In the picturesque town of Albufeira you could live in the stylish ‘Casa da Praia’, an 8-bed pad with a bar in the pool and Sky in every bedroom, for £500 a week.
At Villa Allure the bar and cinema room has a glass ceiling so you can see into the swimming pool above.
Despite the ultimate luxury most celebs still book budget flights with Ryanair costing as little as £26.
The properties have stunning views of the seaCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
This villa has a rock pool with slideCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
The villas are available for the general public to rent for their holidaysCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
Some of the properties would set you back £10 million to buyCredit: Sun Hat Villas&Resorts
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
