What makes a villa worth the money — the things we check on every visit

Anyone can photograph a pretty pool. Here is the checklist our editors run before a property earns a place in the guide.

Every home we feature is visited in person, and every visit follows the same discipline. Glossy listings hide as much as they reveal, so we judge against what actually shapes a stay — not the brochure.

The five things we weigh most heavily:

• The team. A good housekeeper or chef will make a modest villa shine; a missing one will sink a beautiful one.

• Privacy. Who can see in, who shares the access road, and how close the neighbours really are.

• The real layout. Bedroom parity, where the children sleep, and whether the “sea view” is from the terrace or the bathroom.

• Maintenance. Heated pool or just “a pool”? Working air-conditioning? Hot water for a full house?

• Value. What is included — and what quietly is not.

Only when a property clears all five do we write it up. If something falls short, we say so. Honest beats glossy, every time.