Consumer Reports is like the Bible to many savvy consumers.  Why? Because they give expert, independent reviews on products and services.  Consumer Reports has been giving recommendations since 1936 and their brand and company are built on “maintaining objectivity and accuracy”.

Before the internet the only way you could get these recommendations was by reading the magazine.  Now, not only can you read Consumer Report reviews but you can read user generated reviews from millions of sources.  It’s very overwhelming and identifying trusted sources can be a full time job in itself.  Furthermore the travel industry is arguably more reliant on reviews and referrals than any other industry.  There are many resources for reviews for hotels, restaurants, bars, and activities but not until lately has anyone targeted the vacation rental industry specifically.  Recently several companies, including The Society, have enabled user reviews.  HomeAway, the industry giant, has been encouraging guests to fill out reviews across several of their sites including VRBO, VacationRentals.com and HomeAway.com amongst others.

Meanwhile, a relatively new company, FlipKey has introduced a review tool for property managers and owners in which they verify the authenticity of all vacation rental reviews.  Last year they received an investment from TripAdvisor and now the homes and reviews are being featured across the TripAdvisor website.

Below you can check out the reviews on the Robason Residence in Vail (which is a beautiful 6 bedroom estate featured on The Society).

So can you trust these reviews?  Absolutely.  All FlipKey reviews are based on actual booking records/entries and are subject to FlipKey’s authentication filter that identifies false positives (ie. self promotion).  But as with all reviews (for any product or service), you still have to assess if the actual property and services meet your requirements.

At The Society, our clients know we screen each property manager and home owner to ensure quality services and properties.  We currently feature reviews submitted directly on TheSociety.com and will be incorporating reviews from other sources in the near future.

I want to announce we can rent heart shaped islands but unfortunately that’s not the case this year.  Well, at least we can view it (thanks to Google).

Special thanks to the Professional Travel Guide for putting this in their newsletter.

So no heart shaped islands for now, but feel free to contact us about other romantic getaways.  By the way, we have a sweet wedding portal coming soon where you will be able to find awesome private villas perfect for weddings … stay tuned.

As we’ve said many times before, luxury vacation rentals are the perfect accommodations for larger groups looking for exceptional amenities and service coupled with the benefits of privacy and comfort.  The larger the group, the larger the value, and at The Society, we have a collection of some of the finest rental estates that are ideal for the largest of groups.

With these rentals available there is no reason to split up your group.  What is the point of renting multiple hotel rooms or condos when you can house the whole gang right in one place.

Take a look at some of these larger “compounds”.  They can sleep 25+ people and include the lavish comforts and exclusivity for even the most discerning of travelers.

Castlewood: Telluride, CO
10 bedrooms, 10.5 bathrooms.  Sleeps 35.
Castlewood is a storybook castle in a fairy-tale setting. Whether you choose the winter wonderland option or the bucolic summertime, the fabulous accommodations and dreamlike settings are sure to live on in your memories, and will certainly call you back. Again and again!



Bluesea Compound: Cabo San Lucas, MX
14 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms.  Sleeps 28.
The Bluesea Compound offer a collection of stunning beachfront properties designed for those with discriminating taste and an appreciation for beauty. These exclusive villas are situated on one of the least populated and most pristine white sandy beaches in Los Cabos.



Luxurious 10 Suite Villa: Florence, Italy
18 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms.  Sleeps 36.
This exquisite villa has recently been restored and luxuriously redecorated with an eclectic collection of antiques and objet d’art. It is nestled in the legendary winemaking “Chianti Classico” region. The estate reigns over 750 acres of vineyard, olive grove, Tuscan forest and reaches back over 500 years into Italian history.



Villa Rosa: Santa Rosa, FL
9 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms.  Sleeps 29.
Truly one of Santa Rosa’s most private, mature, and beautifully landscaped yards is located here at The Villa Rosa House. In addition to its lush beauty, the private courtyard was created from 3 home lots to ensure ample space for large groups.



Chateau ‘Ile de France: Versailles, France
17 bedrooms.  Sleeps 34.
Specially convenient for receptions, conferences, meetings, seminars, weddings, movie shootings and other family events, this fantastic 17th century castle and party-wing is an elegant and exceptionally well-equipped home complete with a pool, tennis court, lakes and ponds, cascade fountain, stables and a green house.



Contact The Society today with your request.

As you all know, The Society continues to add more and more luxury vacation villas and estates to our collection. Each home is screened and reviewed by our staff to ensure the highest standard of quality and service.

I wanted to take this time to highlight a few of the best rentals recently added across a few of our new destinations. Click on any of them for more details or to inquire, and please always feel free to send us a general inquiry and let us do the work to find you the perfect home for your next vacation.

The Nineteen Seventy: Lake Tahoe, CA
9 bedroom, 10 bath.  Sleeps 18.
Located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, Nineteen Seventy offers guests 12,000 square feet of glamorous yet relaxed lakefront living. The 145 foot pier features one of the few cribbed slips on the lake, providing the perfect platform for boating,swimming, and other water sports.



The Buttercup Lodge: Sun Valley, ID
11 bedroom, 17 bath.  Sleeps 20.
Just outside the charming Idaho town of Sun Valley, nestled in the Wood River Valley, the robust log and stone style of the Rocky Mountain West combines with this European Castle Fantasy to create a family retreat nothing short of enchanting.



Former Home of Gerald Ford: Beaver Creek, CO
6 bedroom, 9.5 bath.  Sleeps 12.
Recently benefiting from a 4 million dollar interior renovation, President & Mrs. Gerald R. Ford built this ski in/ski out property in 1983, and used the home as their ski and summer retreat until 2006.  This wonderful estate holds a special place in the hearts of many long time Vail Valley residents.


La Corte del Lago: Bellagio, Italy
7 bedroom, 8 bath.  Sleeps 14.
La Corte del Lago is an elegant historical villa located on the shores on Lake Como just a short drive from the “Jewel of Lake Como”, Bellagio. This villa is a wonderful base on Lake Como, giving the visitor the perfect place to stay, enjoy and understand just why Lake Como has the class and respect that it deserves.


Villa Ballena: Real Del Mar, Mexico
5 bedroom, 5 bath.  Sleeps 10.
Villa Ballena is a beautiful 10,000 sq. ft. ocean front villa in Real del Mar, a private gated residential community with all the amenties of a luxury resort.  The home is fully equipped with a high end kitchen, media room, living and dining room and outdoor palapa dining area, a full staff and private beach for Real del Mar residents.

For many of us in the vacation industry, the President’s Weekend holiday is the start of the “Spring” travel season. In the Rocky Mountain West, the weekend historically ushers in warmer days, longer hours of daylight and ample snowfall. In 2009, we are celebrating both President’s Weekend and Valentine’s Day, thus, no excuse not to head to Vail for a long weekend of beyond.

One of our partners in Vail is the premier property management and rental home company specializing in the deluxe, high-end and premium vacation home and flat rentals. What set’s their inventory apart from others is their exclusive listings of “Platinum Rated” homes and flats. The rating, provided by the Vail Lodging Quality Assurance Program provides guests the knowledge their rental home will be of a standard of a Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Mandarin and others known for their level of service and attention to decor.

We at The Society are proud to be able to offer 5 of these truly unique properties in Vail and Beaver Creek as follows:

2975 Manns Ranch Road
4 bd, 4.5 ba - Sleeps 8
$1,995/night
Recently completed in 2006, this home is a masterpiece of style, design, and spaciousness.  One of our most popular private homes for our more discerning clients who want modern luxury and privacy.


330 Beaver Dam Circle
5 bd, 5 ba - Sleeps 12
$4,275/night
On Vail Mountain a short walk from skiing the 5 well appointed gues suites, luxury furnishings, outdoor hot tub and a large estate, make this one of the finest homes in our rental collection.


The Former Home of President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford
6 bd, 10 ba + Den - Sleeps 12
$8,580/night
The Former Home of President & Mrs. Gerald R. Ford is a world class 6 bedroom property that is available for the first time as a luxury vacation rental home. Residing in the “perfect” ski in/ski out location in the heart of the resort, guests of this famous home are walking distance to everything within Beaver Creek Village.


798 West Forest Road
4 bd, 4.5 ba - Sleeps 10
$3,050/night
Perched on Vail Mountain at the West end of Vail’s prestigious Forest Road community, this recently built platinum rated home is a favorite of the luxury minded traveler.  Panoramic views abound and luxury furnishings are at your fingertips if you are a guest of this spectacular home.


706 Forest Road West Residence
4 bd, 3.5 ba - Sleeps 12
$2,585/night
One of our most striking vacation rentals in a incredible on mountain location less than a block from Gondola ski access.  Three floors of intelligent contemporary design, beautiful artwork, and modern furnishings combine to create a truly opulent environment.