Hit the open road (or be chauffeured) in a luxury car when you stay at one of these cool properties.
By: Jenna Mahoney-AS SEEN IN BRIDAL GUIDE MAGAZINE-
Casetta Firenze
This revamped 270-year-old stone farmhouse in the olive-grove dotted hills of Chianti about an hour from the city of Florence embodies the enduring appeal of a Tuscan holiday. Owned by the same family for more than half a century, the exclusive villa property promises the best in local cuisine (much of the produce is grown on site, including the olives that go into the must-take-home olive oil) and pizza is cooked in an outdoor oven made of 18th-century bricks. Enhance the cinematic vacation experience with an idyllic day tour of the area as you self-drive a vintage Fiat 500 or Ferrari over the verdant hills (villa rentals start at $3,000 a night and include breakfast; casetta.net)
Montage Palmetto Bluff
Cadillac is the partner car brand of the chic Montage hotels. Many of the elevated resorts offer chauffeured service to surrounding areas. Among those gorgeous hideaways is this collection of charming white buildings and country cottages set on a rolling lawn edged by the picturesque May River in South Carolina. Positioned between Savannah and popular Hilton Head, this property, which exudes Southern charm and hospitality, is perfectly poised for off-site exploration. Ride to neighboring Old Town to visit its clapboard church and small museum (room rates start at $350 a night; montagehotels.com)
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel
Some of Santa Barbara's most renowned sites including the Botanic Garden, downtown and The Funk Zone & Urban Wine Trail are within the complimentary chauffeured radius from this storied hideaway. After exploring the charming seaside city and surrounding wine country by day, spend your nights savoring local vintages in one of the classic 92 bungalows after a memorable farm-to-table meal at a table set in a garden. Want to self-drive? Reserve one of the new Porsche Speedsters, which were welcomed on property early in 2023 (room rates start at $495 a night; belmond.com/elencanto).
The Little Nell
Transfers and self-drive experiences in all-wheel-drive Audis — including electric models — are on offer for guests at this cosmopolitan ski in/ ski out resort in tony Aspen. While heavy on the outdoor explorations, local attractions are heavy on the art viewing. There are numerous contemporary galleries and excellent institutions including the renowned Aspen Art Museum that’s as notable outside as the works it houses. Designed by a Pritzker Award winning architect, the building itself is an eco-cube enveloped in a woven wood-like material. Similarly, The Little Nell is also home to a diverse collection of works and an awesome menu of outdoor pursuits (room rates start at $899 a night; thelittlenell.com).
The Wauwinet
Grab the keys from the concierge or reserve a driver and hop in a BMW to explore the historic New England island of Nantucket when you stay at this classic resort. Make an itinerary to check out the tiny island’s myriad lighthouses and endless beaches. After lunch at sister property the White Elephant in town, check out the dynamic whaling museum, a robust collection dedicated to Nantucket’s place at the center of the industry. Insider tip: Visit off-season (September is tops for its still-summer weather) to experience the island roads without the summer traffic (room rates start at $525 a night; wauwinet.com).
Sandals Royal Barbados
A postcard-perfect ideal of honeymoon perfection, this adults-only all-inclusive hideaway is positioned on a strand of untouched powdered sands with oversized palms and the best vantage for viewing the sunset. Days here are spent kicking back by the pool, indulging in the included watersports and toasting to it all with rum punch. Among the ultra-romantic amenities — indoor/outdoor living spaces, oversized tubs for two, zero-entry access to the Crystal lagoon and private butler service — guests staying in the top-tier suites get personal roundtrip airport transfers in exclusive Rolls-Royce or Mercedes Benz automobiles (room rates start at $278 per person, per night and are all inclusive; sandals.com).
Fun Fact: 150 countries accept the international driving permit (IDP). It must be issued in the US, prior to departure. No driving test is required for those with a valid license.
