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A 40+ year journey in villa holidays
Our story began in 1984, in a small basement office on London’s Sloane Street. With just eight villas in Portugal and a typewriter, founder, Karen, and her business partner, Patrick, set out to do things differently — offering personal, honest advice to clients who quickly became regulars.
Fast forward four decades, and The Villa Agency is now based in Brighton and proudly led by Ginnie, who joined the business when she left university to work with her friend, Karen. The business has grown to offer over 500 handpicked holiday villas across Portugal, Greece, Spain and Croatia. Today, we remain proudly independent and guided by the same values we started with: exceptional service, attention to detail, and a real love for helping people plan their perfect villa holiday.
The Villa Agency is founded with a portfolio of 8 villas in the Algarve, Karen’s favourite place in the world.
Ginnie joins during university holidays (and never leaves!)
Karen passes the reins to Ginnie, who becomes the proud Owner and Managing Director.
We navigate the challenges of the pandemic, supporting our clients every step of the way and increasing our Trustpilot Rating to 5 stars!
We celebrate 40 years with over 400 villas across Europe.
We continue to grow with more destinations, over 500 villas and the same attentive service. We only add destinations and properties we would love to visit ourselves, so every new addition is fuelled by a passion for travel.
We’re not just another accommodation website. We’re real people who genuinely care about your holiday. No AI chatbots, no faceless customer service teams — just friendly, knowledgeable humans ready to help you every step of the way.
Our Managing Director, Ginnie, leads a close-knit team who live and breathe villa holidays. Many of us have worked here for years (some even decades!) and regularly visit our villas to keep our knowledge fresh and first-hand.
“Not every villa is perfect for everyone. We are here to help you make the right choice for you and your family or group of friends. We understand holidays are a meaningful investment and we are devoted to getting it right, so it is worth every penny.” – Ginnie, Managing Director
Here’s why guests return to us again and again:
Personal service, not robots
While many travel companies are switching to AI and automated systems, we do things differently. We believe in real human service — always have, always will.
When you call us, you’ll speak to someone who knows our villas and understands what matters. Heated pool for little ones? Space for a celebration? Walking distance to the beach? Nothing is too much trouble. Whether it’s your first time or you’re one of our regular travellers, we’ll get to know you, listen to what matters, and make sure your holiday is exactly how it should be — seamless, stress-free and special.
Our clients often tell us they feel like part of the family — and that’s just the way we like it.
“I’ve been using The Villa Agency since 2011. Always get an excellent service from the team. I won’t go anywhere else as they are trustworthy and understand all my needs for a thoroughly lovely holiday.” – JR, returning client
Peace of mind, guaranteed
All of our holidays are fully protected.
This gives you total peace of mind from the moment you book. You’ll also have access to a UK-based emergency contact line and local support on the ground throughout your stay.
Looking ahead
Much has changed in the world of travel, but one thing never will: our commitment to getting your holiday just right. Whether it’s a big family gathering, a romantic escape or a last-minute break with friends, we’re here to help you make it memorable.
After 40 years, we still love holidays! Let us take care of yours.
The easiest way to get in touch is by using the contact form below.
Send us your enquiry anytime, and we’ll respond promptly, even outside of office hours, including weekends and Bank Holidays (yes, even Christmas and New Year!).
