Mandarin Oriental Adds Private Homes With an Unusual Adriatic Address

Mandarin Oriental has added 12 properties to its Exceptional Homes collection, taking the portfolio to 43 across 18 destinations. Among the new addresses is LOPUD 1483, a restored Franciscan monastery on a Croatian island near Dubrovnik. Announced on October 9 and covered by Travel Weekly on October 14, the expansion gives travellers more ways to book the brand's service around an entire private home.

What makes the Lopud address different?

LOPUD 1483 occupies a 15th-century monastery overlooking the Adriatic. The published capacity is 10 guests, with indicative pricing from €105,000 per week. It is a materially different proposition from reserving a suite: a group can occupy the retreat together, with the setting and shared spaces forming a central part of the trip.

Porto Heli also joins the collection through Vanikiba, a hillside villa in Greece's Peloponnese. The two destinations widen the choice for travellers who want a private base on the Mediterranean rather than a conventional resort stay.

Where else has the collection grown?

The expansion includes Florence, Chianti, Sardinia and Marbella, alongside additional homes in Puglia and the French Riviera. Villa Petrucci and Dimora Ghirlandaio bring different Tuscan settings into the portfolio, while the Sardinian additions include beachfront properties Villa Ada and Villa Marzia.

Those locations matter as much as the total number of homes. A city-oriented stay in Florence asks different things of a house than a coastal week with several generations. Start with the places your group intends to visit each day, then compare individual properties rather than treating the collection as a single accommodation category.

Which services come with a private home?

Mandarin Oriental says its selected homes provide a dedicated concierge, private chef service and daily housekeeping. Its booking process begins with an enquiry, allowing the team to address transport, experiences and preferences before arrival. Each residence remains privately owned.

For a group booking, ask for the exact bedroom arrangement, accessibility details, meal arrangements and final quote for your dates. A headline sleeping capacity does not tell you how comfortably a particular family will share the house, and an advertised starting price is a planning reference rather than a confirmed holiday cost.

Read the brand's expansion announcement, Travel Weekly's report and the official collection and booking guidance.