How luxury villa and chalet rental works, from first call to departure
A clear explanation of the process, what is included and what can be arranged, for guests renting a private villa or chalet with us for the first time.
If you have stayed in fine hotels but never rented a private residence, the idea can raise questions. Who looks after the house? What happens when you arrive? What is included, and what needs to be arranged separately? Understanding how luxury villa and chalet rental works removes the uncertainty and lets you enjoy the part that matters: choosing where to go.
This page explains the process as we run it at Lutetia, from the first message to the day you leave. We have been arranging stays from Paris since 1989, in chalets in Courchevel, St. Moritz, Verbier and Zermatt and villas in Saint-Tropez and Cannes, and the steps below have been refined over many seasons.
The short version: you tell us what you are looking for, we propose residences we know personally, you review a tailored proposal and rental agreement, and one dedicated contact looks after you until departure.
Four steps, clearly set out
Every stay begins with a conversation, by WhatsApp or email, with one of our advisors: Nathalie Nguyen in Client Services or Adam Haddad, our Rental Advisor. We ask about the destination, dates, who is travelling and what the stay is for. From there, the steps are simple.
Pricing is shared on request rather than published, because every stay is shaped differently. Your tailored proposal sets out the residence, the dates and the services you have chosen, so you see the whole picture before you commit.
- Your brief: destination, dates, the group and your priorities
- A selection of residences, including some not published online
- A tailored proposal and rental agreement to review before confirming
- Your stay, followed by one dedicated contact until departure
What comes with every stay
Two things are part of every stay in our collection. Breakfast is served daily, so each morning starts without effort, and a private concierge is included to look after your requests from arrival to departure.
Beyond that, the stay can be shaped around you. Services available on request include private chefs, chauffeurs and transfers, yacht charters, private jets and private aviation, helicopter transfers, spa and wellness treatments, restaurant reservations, and events and celebrations. Childcare can also be arranged on request. You choose what you would like before arrival, and can add or adjust once you are there.
- Included: daily breakfast and a private concierge
- On request: chefs, chauffeurs, yachts, aviation and more
- Arranged by the same contact who handled your booking
A private residence, not a hotel room
A villa or chalet is yours alone for the length of the stay. There is no lobby, no shared pool and no neighbours at breakfast. That privacy is the great appeal of renting, and it is why we take such care over the choice of residence. Every home in our collection has been visited by our team before joining, so when we describe a terrace, a view or the walk to the lifts, we are describing something we have seen.
The difference also shows in the service. In a hotel, each request goes to a different desk. With us, one dedicated contact follows your stay from the first call to departure and knows your preferences without being reminded. It is one reason Lutetia holds a 5.0 rating from 107 reviews on Google.
Arrival is usually the moment first-time guests wonder about most. Your contact confirms the timing with you beforehand, arranges any transfer you have requested and makes sure the residence is ready when you reach the door. Questions during the stay go to the same person, so there is never any doubt about whom to ask.
A first look at the collection
A few residences from across our destinations, to give first-time guests a sense of the range, from Alpine chalets to Riviera villas.
What makes the difference
Every residence is visited by our team, every stay is followed by one dedicated contact, and breakfast and a private concierge are always included.
Clarity before commitment
You receive a tailored proposal and a rental agreement before confirming anything. There is time to read, ask questions and decide calmly.
First-hand knowledge
Our team has visited every residence in the collection. First-time guests can ask the small practical questions and get real answers.
A guide through the unfamiliar
Renting a private home is new to many guests. Your dedicated contact explains each step and stays with you until the day you leave.
Hotel comfort, private setting
Daily breakfast and a private concierge come with every stay, and further services are available on request. The ease of a fine hotel meets the privacy of a home.
Good to know
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamWhat is included in a luxury villa or chalet rental?
With Lutetia, breakfast is served daily and a private concierge is included in every stay. Other services, such as private chefs, chauffeurs, yacht charters and spa treatments, are available on request and are listed in your tailored proposal.
How do I know the residence matches the photographs?
Every residence is visited by our team before it joins the collection. We can describe rooms, views and surroundings in detail, and answer any question before you confirm.
Is there a contract?
Yes. Before confirming, you receive a rental agreement alongside your tailored proposal. It sets out the terms of the stay, and we are happy to go through it with you line by line.
How quickly will I hear back after an enquiry?
Our team usually replies within the day, by WhatsApp or email. If your dates are close, mention it in your first message so we know to move quickly.
Can I request a residence that is not on the website?
Yes. Some of our residences are offered privately and never appear online. Share your brief and we will include them in our suggestions where they fit.
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Ask us anything first
Whether you are ready to book or simply curious, write to contact@lutetia-group.com or message +33 7 80 98 05 43 on WhatsApp, and one of our advisors will reply.