When spending quality time with your friends is the main activity, you want to find a space that’s equal parts lively and comfortable. You’ll want communal areas that allow for heart-to-hearts and family-style meals. But you also have to consider the spaces dedicated to your R&R.
A social battery recharge is inevitable, even among the closest of groups. Where you choose to stay sets the tone of the trip more than you might expect. We’re by no means trying to deter you from your next get-together. We’re just saying the right location can optimize the experience. Here’s the list that’ll leave a lasting impression—and maybe even become a tradition for the crew.
Singita Serengeti House
Location: Grumeti Reserve, Africa
Singita has mastered the African safari. The lodges span five regions of Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Botswana. Whether you’re looking for a national park, volcanic formation, or river, Singita most likely has an option that matches your safari criteria. If you narrow your options further, you’re met with the decision of accommodation style.
For obvious reasons, your focus will be on the villa collection. The Singita Sweni Villa is a more intimate option offering two suites. The Singita Lebombo Villa offers two two-bedroom suites, which is ideal for converging family and friends. Each of the eight villa accommodations has its own specialties. But, it’s Serengeti House that has the qualities to match a large group’s needs.
The retreat offers four suites (two of them with gardens) with their own private luxuries. We’re talking expansive bathrooms, outdoor showers, and private terraces. Warm, grounding colors offer a cozy atmosphere, while daily onsite staff customize your itinerary, leaving you with an experience tailored to your group’s vibe.
The house is set up to make the most of your time in the Grumeti Reserve, with private access to pristine migration routes. There’s also an 80+ foot infinity pool, a private tennis court, a pavilion, and a fire pit. If an African safari has been on your bucket list, and it’s time for the group trip to make it out of the text chat. Singita Serengeti House could be the answer.
Aqua Mare
Location: Galapagos Islands
Aqua Mare isn’t a destination—it’s your ride. You and up to fifteen friends can set sail on this mega yacht for seven nights in the Galapagos Islands. There will be stops along the way for snorkeling, kayaking, wildlife encounters (we see a baby seal sighting in your near future), and hikes. There are seven volcano-inspired suites aboard the Italian Costruzioni e Riparazioni Navali-built boat.
The owner’s suite features an 860-square-foot space and is the largest of the Islands’ boat accommodations. It’s only fair this suite goes to the curator of the trip. Seeing as you’ve just discovered the Aqua Mare, your chances for the master suite are looking good. In 1998, François Zuretti designed the five original suites. Then, a revamp in 2021 kept the bones of the original design and added two new suites. The boat is lined with carpeting and walnut veneer throughout. Each room includes deluxe ensuite bathrooms, walk-in rain showers, and an assortment of king and twin-sized beds that can accommodate any combination of friends and SOs bunking in the same room.
As for the communal spaces, there are four separate decks. The sundeck holds a six-person jacuzzi, BBQ, and sunbeds. The upper deck has a lounge space covered in Italian Carrara marble, and antique art prints, and conjoins with the lobby bar. There’s also the main deck and the ‘beach club’—code for the deck at water level for your swim stops. If that isn’t enough, having a one-to-one crew ratio and Peruvian Japanese award-winning chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino at your service makes this the ultimate luxury.
Villa Rockstar
Location: St. Barths
You have your literal yacht option, but there’s also the land yacht for those of you who want the luxury boat feel but aren’t ready to commit to a week at sea. This accommodation is on the larger side with 17,000 square feet. To ensure your privacy while you get lost in Villa Rockstar, three 10-meter walls offer seclusion. Beyond those walls you’ll have direct access to the Caribbean Sea—instead of “playing house” with your best friends, you’ll be playing ‘$200 million yacht’.
The feeling of boat life is further applied with access to a private chef and butler during all hours. Six master bedrooms offer space for up to twelve guests with an en-suite bathroom. Most also have a private terrace. The house is ideal for a friends vacation. They cater breakfasts, make personalized beach bags, and offer in-villa delivery from the coveted Eden Rock Resort’s bar.
Now that you know your meals are set, you can focus on the recreational features of the villa. Starting strong with a wine cellar, a 65-foot swimming pool, a screening room, a pool table, and a gym, the villa can satisfy the different hobbies of twelve people with ease. Better yet, if your friend group is at all musically inclined, Villa Rockstar is the best choice for a jam session. A state-of-the-art recording studio and grand piano inside the property may be the origin of the band you’ve been meaning to form with your pals for the longest time.
Kisawa Mozambique
Location: Mozambique, East Africa
The epitome of luxury is having the ability to rent out the entire resort, and Kisawa Mozambique will work with you to customize the space to fit your group’s needs. This resort option is for the social butterfly — the friend with a guest list that requires scrolling. Forget a house full of friends — you can invite the whole neighborhood. The land the property sits on is 740 expansive acres on the southern tip of Benguerra Island. Within the forest and beaches, lie 14 bedrooms across eight residences. Each Residence has a private beach, an open-air deck, and bungalows with separate living spaces.
They also have an infinity pool (the three-bungalow Residence has two) and a butler dedicated to the home. The bungalows can be conjoined by sundecks, so that lounging turns into a communal activity. The Main Terrace, serving meals all day and offering global cuisine, is where you’ll go for most meals. For a beach cafe vibe, you can head to Cove Mussasa for shared plates and fresh seafood. You can also grab traditional Mozambican food at The Barraca straight from the beach for a true barefoot-luxury experience.
On top of having three restaurants, a pizza tuk tuk and a wine room with a curated selection will be at your disposal. There is also a spa on the Kisawa property for the spiritual residents. Choose from Sriwijaya Sound Healing, Hot Stone Therapy, and a Japanese Lyashi dome sauna for your wellness. As far as excursions go, you can visit Flamingo Beach, go scuba diving with marine scientists, and watch a village football match.
FAQs
Q: Is Singita Serengeti House child-friendly?
A: All ages are welcome at Singita. The resort can even arrange babysitting services and an itinerary for family activities.
Q: Does the Aqua Mare cater to dietary restrictions?
A: Yes. On Aqua Mare, food preparation caters to vegetarian, vegan, kosher, gluten-free, and dairy-free diets.
Q: Can I bring my own wine to Kisawa, Mozambique?
A: You’re welcome to bring your bottles, and you can request to store them in the wine cellar during your stay.
