The Founder
About Paul Partridge
I’m Paul Partridge — a travel writer, photographer, and former financial advisor who has spent nearly 30 years exploring five continents with family and close friends.
I’ve written for The Washington Post, and my writing and photography have appeared in Forbes.com and International Living.
But the thing that shaped this most wasn’t any byline or credential. It was three specific moments — each one a small surprise — that permanently changed how I think about travel.
The Founder
I’ve spent my life thinking about moments
The important ones.
The unexpected ones.
And the ones you don’t realize are going to matter until years later.
I’m Paul Partridge — a travel writer, photographer, and former financial advisor.
I’ve written for The Washington Post, and my writing and photography have appeared in Forbes.com and International Living. I’ve spent nearly three decades traveling across five continents with family and friends.
Somewhere along the way, I started seeing a connection between my two careers.
Three Moments That Changed the Way I Think About Travel
It all began with a mouse.
My parents invited the whole family to Disney World: my two sisters, our spouses, and all the grandkids.
Three generations. Five days.
My youngest daughter wasn’t even walking yet.
Then my father sat on a bench in Frontierland, proudly bouncing his youngest grandchild on his knee.
She promptly threw up on him.
We still laugh about that trip.
But what stayed with me wasn’t Disney.
It was how rare it was to have everyone together.
Then there was a peacock.
Early one morning in Tuscany, a male peacock woke me up with an earsplitting screech.
Sleep was clearly over, so I grabbed my camera and went looking for the sunrise.
On the grounds, I met an American whose wife owned a travel company.
We started talking.
One thing led to another.
My wife joined her company, and suddenly travel became part of my professional life.
I started writing about it.
I started photographing it.
And I started paying much closer attention to the moments that happen when you leave home.
Then my father-in-law changed the way I travel.
He was approaching his 80th birthday and agreed to a family birthday trip on one condition:
“I’d like us all to stay together under one roof to maximize our time together.”
So we did.
And something changed.
We ate together.
We played together.
We drank coffee together.
We told stories on the veranda at night.
Time together wasn’t something we had to schedule. It just happened.
That was the moment I understood what a private villa could really create.
Not just privacy.
Not just luxury.
Time together.
I Used to Think Travel Was All About the Destination.
Now I know it’s about the people you get to share it with.
The moments you create together.
And the stories you bring home.
That’s why I don’t think about travel the way most travel companies do.
I don’t start with, “Where should we go?”
I start with the people, what brings them together, and how you want the time to feel.
Who’s coming?
What brings you together?
What do you want to experience together?
We remember what we felt.
Why I started Travel Villa Guide
The older we get, the harder it becomes to get the people we love in the same place at the same time.
Kids grow up.
Parents get older.
Friends get busy.
So I started Travel Villa Guide to help families and close friends create one of those rare weeks you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
A private world where everyone who matters can be together.
Where ordinary life can wait.
A quick heads up – here’s what's
missing from our villas
Have you noticed the latest wellness craze?
Apparently, our lives have gotten too comfortable.
So now people are paying to make it uncomfortable.
Fasting. Cold plunges. 105-degree hot yoga.
Marathons. Triathlons. Ultramarathons.
All very . . . invigorating.
But here’s the thing:
The goal isn’t to test yourself.
It’s to spend meaningful time together.
While some people choose discomfort on purpose,
we believe special-occasion vacations should create space –
For conversations,
for laughter,
for shared meals,
and for unhurried time together.
Connection doesn’t come from pushing harder.
It comes from being present.
Our hand-picked villas are not built for hormetic stressors.
They’re cushy.
With comfy beds.
Gorgeous gardens.
Spectacular views.
Fully equipped kitchens.
In-home cinemas and game rooms.
You may have to tolerate lounging by a private pool
or sipping Prosecco in a jacuzzi.
Consider yourself warned.
If you’re committed to the hormetic lifestyle, you can always:
- Do burpees in the private gym
- Meditate at sunrise on the balcony
- Fast while everyone else enjoys the chef’s spectacular meals
- Walk to town instead of calling a car
And if you absolutely must have your cold plunge,
your concierge can pull cubes from the ice machine
and draw you a bath.
However, we recommend saving the ice for cocktails.
Ready to experience it for yourself?
Are We a Good Fit for Your Trip?
- You’ll love working with Travel Villa Guide if…
- You want a Celebration Vacation that brings everyone together in one place without the stress.
- You like saving up to 50–55% vs. luxury hotels when traveling as a group.
- You prefer vetted, curated villa recommendations instead of sifting through thousands of listings.
- You’d rather hear “This villa is even better than the photos!” than risk a disappointing surprise.
- You want authentic, local experiences —hidden beaches, family-run wineries, and moments that help you feel connected to the place, not just entertained by it.
- You value meaningful time together and want a trip people will talk about for years.
- You’d rather spend your trip making memories, not managing logistics.
- Want to feel confident in your decisions – not second-guessing later.
- We might not be the right fit if...
- You enjoy booking unknown properties and don’t mind rolling the dice.
- You prefer crowds, tourist hotspots, and rigid group itineraries.
- You’re planning last-minute travel during peak season.
- You’re working with a tight budget (our recommended villas typically range from $1,500–$50,000+ per night).
- You want a self-service platform without personal guidance.
A Few Things About Paul
- 01 Struck by lightning. Explains the hair on humid days.
- 02 Once worked with Walter Cronkite.
- 03 Got locked inside a Zurich bell tower while shooting photos.
- 04 Tears up at The Voice, Wicked, and sometimes airline commercials.
- 05 Everything he knows about life, he learned as a teenage caddy.
Some moments change the way you think about travel
Others simply make you laugh, cry, gasp, or shake your head.
We’re collecting them all in The Unforgettable Moments Project—a growing collection of tiny slices of humanity that happened because someone left home.
Ready to Create One of Those Weeks?
If you’ve been thinking about a family reunion, heritage journey, or
milestone celebration — I’d love to help you think it through.
All vacations end. This one stays with you.
