How to ace the holiday home game: it’s a revelation
Why own one dream home in Europe when you could co-own five?
20/06/2025
Words: Agatha Zarzycki
When you imagine your most dazzling holiday, is it stepping out of your traditional (and oh so stylish) Parisian apartment to be greeted by the charming bistros of the Belle Époque? Or perhaps you’re more the pamper-in-private, poolside villa type? What about five villas in five different countries every year? August lets you do just that – for less hassle and less than the price of owning and maintaining just one place. Founders Mélie Dunod and Nico Watzenig have given the holiday home market a modern makeover. Here are eight reasons why we’re in love with the idea.
Signature Collection, South of France. Opening image: Tuscany, Premium Collection
It isn’t wasteful
Yes, owning one holiday home might mean that beach house on the (busy) Costa del Sol is all yours but, let’s face it, how often do you really use it? With August, you can co-own multiple holiday homes: on average, homeowners get 12 weeks across five stunning holiday homes shared between 21 co-owners, so there’s almost always someone clinking cocktails on the courtyard terrace.
Premium Collection Mallorcan property
Chic collections
August has five different categories of holiday homes across Europe, encompassing everything from the coast to cities and the Alps, and we want them all. The Pied À Terre (in short, urban apartments to die for) and Grand Pied À Terre collections are a dream for culture seekers and foodies, while the most popular Signature collection brings everything from Tuscan stone farmhouses to Provençal villas for up to eight. Take this to another lush level with the Premium collection (entertaining here is exceptional) or, for the grandest of glam, opt for the Prime collection.
The lounge of a property in Tuscany, Premium Collection
Its homes master luxury
When it comes to authentic style, plush privacy and lust-after locations, August checks all the boxes, and adds ones you didn’t know you needed. Take Les Virettes in August’s Signature Collection, a 20th-century five-bedroom villa combining Côte d’Azur glitz and rustic charm. Or the Mallorcan stone townhouse dating back to the 12th century, with its original beams and tessellating tiling, from the Premium Collection in Fornalutx – hailed as one of Spain’s prettiest villages. But our absolute favourite is Via del Pantano, a centuries-old, renovated farmhouse in Tuscany’s serene, mediaeval Palaia. Original terracotta floors, a fully equipped Chianti-red kitchen and a garden that’s home to cypress and lemon trees are just a few reasons why this Prime Collection gem will seriously impress.
Mallorca, Premium Collection
You can live in a true original
Can’t get over August’s awe-worthy architecture and blissful backdrops? Wait until you discover the touches from local artisans: antiques from Les Puces du Canal market, chalet staircases crafted by Savoie carpenters and bespoke marble bathrooms from the quarries of Carrara. Especially enchanting is the San Sebastià townhouse in Mallorca, exhibiting the skilled craftsmanship of Adrian Nicolov, who specialises in sourcing historic woods such as repurposing old church doors from across Spain, and transforming them into dining tables and other one-of-a-kind handmade pieces.
Living room in Pied À Terre Collection Barcelona home
Everything is taken care of
Acquiring a holiday home in a familiar place can feel daunting enough, let alone figuring it all out abroad. What is the legal system? What due diligence should you do? How much should you pay? August handles it all, from finding the homes to buying and thoughtfully renovating them to interior design, ongoing maintenance and expert advice. You have just one job: to soak up the splendour from your private azure-tiled pool and keep the Champagne coming (OK, two jobs).
Tuscany farmhouse, Signature Collection
It’s fabulously flexible
Picture this: you have a share in August’s Signature Collection, giving you three months of paradise in five unique holiday homes in Tuscany, the South of France, Mallorca, the French Alps and the Cotswolds. Last year, you couldn’t get enough Mediterranean magic, so most of your weeks were spent dipping into your all-yours plunge pool at your Côte d’Azur villa, Mallorca townhouse and Tuscan retreat. This time around, it’s all about cosiness in cooler temps, making your characterful Cotswolds cottage and chic chalet in Megève (yes, there’s a sauna) top of your list. What’s next? That depends on your mood.
The tranquil outside space of a property in the French Alps, Premium Collection
The online points system is easy and efficient
Whether you’re a type A A-lister who needs to plan your beach breaks or hilly hideaways at least 12 months in advance or you prefer to experience wanderlust on a whim, August is thoughtfully tailored to both travel personalities (and everyone in between). Its online points system lets you book weeks across different seasons, with a smart allocation that balances peak, off-peak and spontaneous trips. There’s even a possibility to use no points when booking off season'.
Alfresco dining at a South of France Signature Collection property
Selling is just as effortless
If you’d ever like to part with your 300sqm villa in historic Mougin (we call dibs), you’ll be pleased to know that August offers true ownership: you own 100 per cent of your share and have total control over it, including selling. Many people prefer to buy an existing share, and the secondary market is booming (we’re talking just a few weeks or months to sell). It makes perfect sense: August offers only six new collections of new owners each year, meaning the extravagance really is exceptionally exclusive.
Curious about how you can co-own five stunning holiday homes in some of Europe’s most sought-after destinations?
Contact the August team today and request more information.
Terms and conditions
By purchasing through August, you acquire a fractional ownership interest in one or more properties via a dedicated legal structure. This entitles you to shared use and a proportional share of costs, including purchase, maintenance, and management. The phrase “at a fraction of the cost” reflects that you pay only a portion of the full market value of each home, relative to your ownership share, rather than the full price of owning multiple properties outright. This model does not imply financial return, and actual costs may vary based on location, property type, and market conditions.
