Excellence Luxury Villas · California
Luxury Villa Rentals in California
Hillside houses above Los Angeles, mid-century villas in the desert, ocean views in La Jolla and chalets by Lake Tahoe
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Ocean, desert and mountain, all in one state
Few places let you change scenery as completely as California. In a single fortnight you can breakfast above the Pacific in La Jolla, watch the sun set over the boulders of Joshua Tree and spend the evening in a Palm Springs house built for the cocktail hour. Further north there is snow at Lake Tahoe and wine in the Sonoma Valley.
Our California collection runs to 1,100+ properties. They include glass-walled houses in the Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon, low-slung mid-century villas in Palm Springs and Cathedral City, desert retreats around Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley, coastal homes in San Diego and ski chalets near Truckee. Most have a pool or a hot tub, and some have both.
Here is how to choose between them, and when each corner of the state is at its best.
California at a glance
- Properties
- 1,100+ villas, houses and chalets, with up to 24 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,500 to £10,000 a week, from around £2,600
- Best areas
- Los Angeles and Malibu, Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, Joshua Tree, San Diego and La Jolla, Lake Tahoe
- Best time
- September and October on the coast; October to May in the desert; December to April for skiing
- Getting there
- Direct flights from London to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego; Palm Springs and Reno-Tahoe for the desert and mountains
Browse all 1,100+ villas in Californiaor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Zephyros Corral Canyon Malibu: Opulent 8-Bedroom Golf Villa with Stunning Seaviews – Malibu8 bedrooms
House Laurelwood Hollywood: Luxury 6-Bedroom House with Pool & Hot Tub – West Hollywood6 bedrooms
Villa Laurel WestHollywood: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool – West Hollywood6 bedrooms
Villa Harmattan Echo Park Los Angeles: Luxury 2-Bedroom Apartment with Parking – Angelino Heights Los Angeles2 bedroomsWhere to stay in California
Los Angeles and Malibu for hillside houses and the coast road, Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley for mid-century style and golf, Joshua Tree for desert solitude, San Diego and La Jolla for beaches, and Lake Tahoe for the mountains.
Canyon houses and the Pacific Coast Highway
Los Angeles is best understood as a series of neighbourhoods, and where you stay shapes the whole holiday. Laurel Canyon and the Hollywood Hills give you city views and quick access to West Hollywood's restaurants. Bel Air and Beverly Hills are quieter and grander, and Topanga and Malibu trade the city for wooded canyons and the sea.
The Getty, on its hilltop above Brentwood, is worth a morning for the gardens alone, and Griffith Observatory is the place to watch the city lights come on. Drive north on the Pacific Coast Highway and you reach Santa Barbara, with its Spanish Colonial Revival streets and old mission.
Browse houses in Los Angeles
Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and a great deal of sky
Palm Springs has been the Hollywood weekend retreat since the 1930s, and its mid-century modern houses are the reason many people come. Modernism Week, held each February, opens doors that normally stay shut. The Aerial Tramway rises through Chino Canyon on rotating cars to the pine forests of Mount San Jacinto, where the air can be cool even in spring.
Around an hour north, Joshua Tree National Park sits where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, with granite boulders, spiky trees and some of the darkest night skies within reach of Los Angeles. Pioneertown, built in the 1940s as a set for westerns, is a good place for dinner and live music.
Browse villas in Palm Springs
Sea lions, surf and an easy pace
San Diego is the most relaxed of California's cities, with a mild climate for most of the year and a long run of beach neighbourhoods. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are sociable and sandy, Ocean Beach keeps a bohemian streak, and Point Loma's Sunset Cliffs live up to their name.
La Jolla is the polished choice, with sea lions and seals lounging around the cove, kayaking to the sea caves and clifftop walks at Torrey Pines. Back in the city, Balboa Park gathers museums and gardens in one walkable place.
Browse villas in La Jolla
Fish tacos, date shakes and snow at Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, shared with Nevada and around 500 metres deep, is a ski destination from December to April and a place for boating and hiking in summer. Truckee, an old railway town, is the gateway to Palisades Tahoe, host of the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Eat fish tacos in San Diego and a date shake in the Coachella Valley, and book a day of tasting in the Sonoma Valley. On the coast, early summer often brings morning fog known as June Gloom, so September and October are frequently the clearest months. Avoid the desert in high summer, when heat regularly passes 40°C. Our concierge can arrange car hire, restaurant tables, tee times and winery visits.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in California
House Jacaranda Sherman Oaks: Luxury 8-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool – Sherman Oaks8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £44,254 a week
Villa Harmattan Franklin Benedict Canyon Los Angeles: Luxury 8-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sauna – Beverly Crest8 bedrooms · sleeps 22From £44,184 a week
Villa Quercus Beverly: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Pool & Gym – Beverly Crest6 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £43,071 a week
Villa Safran Point Dume Malibu: Spacious 7-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Beachfront & Hot Tub – Malibu7 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £42,518 a week
House Canyonside Bel-Air: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool – Bel Air6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £41,811 a week
Villa Aurore Runyon Laurel Canyon: Spacious 8-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Pool – Los Angeles8 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £41,412 a week
Villa Boreas Escondido Malibu: Luxury 7-Bedroom House with Ocean Views & Hot Tub – Malibu7 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £41,216 a week
Villa Zephyros Roxbury Beverly Hills: 6-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Pool – Beverly Hills6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £41,132 a weekSearch all 1,100+ villas in Californiaor see them on the map
Why book your California villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
California is enormous and its villas range from canyon houses in Los Angeles to remote desert retreats, and we know which are close to the beach, the restaurants or the trailheads, and which are worth the long drive. With 1,100+ properties in California, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Car hire and private transfers, restaurant reservations in Los Angeles, tee times in the Coachella Valley, winery visits in Sonoma, guided hikes in Joshua Tree and ski passes at Lake Tahoe. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in California for a villa holiday?
It depends on what you want. Los Angeles and Malibu suit those who want restaurants and the coast, Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley suit sun, golf and mid-century architecture, and Joshua Tree suits quiet desert escapes. San Diego and La Jolla are best for beaches, and Lake Tahoe for the mountains.
When is the best time to visit California?
On the coast, September and October are often the warmest and clearest months, as early summer can bring morning fog. The desert is best from October to May, and Lake Tahoe's ski season usually runs from December to April.
Do I need a car on a California villa holiday?
In almost every case, yes. Distances are large and public transport is limited outside the city centres, particularly in the desert and around Lake Tahoe. Our concierge can arrange car hire or private transfers.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in California?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in California cost?
Across our 1,100+ villas in California, weekly rates typically range from £3,500 to £10,000, with the most affordable from around £2,600 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to California from the UK?
There are direct flights from London to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, taking around eleven hours to Los Angeles. Palm Springs is around two hours' drive from Los Angeles, traffic permitting, and Lake Tahoe is best reached via Reno-Tahoe airport.
Are there villas in California for large groups?
Yes. Our California collection includes properties with up to 24 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in California
1,100+ villas, houses and chalets across California, booked direct with our concierge on hand