Are you ready to hits the links in The Valley of the Sun?  Perhaps a little pre-holiday shopping?  Head to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and pay nothing for your rental car!

Grayhawk Private Home

Specialty Lodging, our partner in Scottsdale is offering a great deal for those traveling to the area until January 1st, 2009.  Book any property offered by Specialty Lodging and receive a rental car (Intermediate) free for 1 week from Enterprise Rental Cars.  Discounted rates for upgrades are also available as well. As mentioned, book before January 1st, 2009 to take advantage of this great offer.

Please mention this deal when booking!!

Gentleman, there comes a time at least once a year when a weekend trip with the guys becomes inevitable.  Deep down you fell an incredible urge to golf for 3 straight days, cook your entire menu on the grill and just kick back on the patio with bunch of guys who are comfortable just sitting there without saying a word except to ask for another beverage.  This is the quintessential buddy trip.  Of course, your options are endless whether it be jammed packed with activities like snorkeling, skiing or some fly-fishing or perhaps a relaxing weekend watching football with the guys, hanging out at the pool or checking into the local nightlife.

We’ve gathered a few of our favorite weekend bachlor pads that are sure to satisfy the whole crew:

The Ultimate Cabo Experience

Golf, Golf and More Golf

Costa Rica BBQ

Need some help finding that perfect guys trip?  Let us help.  The Society’s Match Maker can pair your group with the perfect guys getaway.

Its summer time, and many of us have dug the sticks out of the garage, dusted them off, and stocked the bag full of ProV1’s, but now what? “The Caribbean has not traditionally been viewed as a standout destination for exceptional course design, but in the last 10 years, advances have made golf more viable on the islands. If a golf vacation is in your future, imagine playing in the jungle with ocean and mountain view and playing along the coast with palm trees swaying.” With over 800 luxury villa rentals available on TheSociety.com, there are no more excuses. So, if you’re home course is starting to get a little too familiar, begin planning a golf trip for the ages, and look to the Caribbean to deliver a memorable experience.

Forbes Traveler published an article listing the top 10 Caribbean golf courses. Check out the list below, and read the full article here.

• Green Monkey at the Sandy Lane Resort in Barbados
• Punta Espada at the Cap Cana Resort in the Dominican Republic
• El Camaleon at the Fairmont Mayakoba Resort in Playa del Carmen
• Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic
• Temenos Golf Club in Anguilla
• Westin Rio Mar in Puerto Rico
• Ocean Club at One&Only Resorts in New Providence Island, Bahamas
• Caye Chapel in Belize
• Four Seasons in Nevis
• Cimmamon Hill Ocean Course at Rose Hall Resort in Jamaica

Check out these luxury rentals in Barbados, Anguilla, Nevis, and Jamaica to complete your vacation.

For leisure enthusiasts desiring a vacation that includes golf, tennis, horseback riding, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, boogie boarding and relaxation under the sun, the Kohala Coast of Big Island, HI is the place to be. Abbey Vacation Rentals, one of The Society’s member property managers has 57 fine condos to offer guests seeking an adventurous and exotic retreat.

Most of the homes reside in Waikoloa Beach, where the soft beaches and sea breezes are the perfect escape from the everyday. The 2 and 3 bedroom townhomes and penthouses offered on The Society feature gourmet kitchens and private lanai’s, private grills and wetbars, pool and gym, discounted golf and shuttles to endless activities. This beautiful condo “Halii Kai” is the perfect example of luxury living near to all of the activities. It is part of the newest resort in Waikoloa and it is oceanfront with golf course views.

Any time of year is a good time of year to visit the Big Island, and these properties are waiting to provide the luxurious experience you need.

The Society has added a wonderful collection of luxury properties courtesy of Specialty Lodging. These rentals are truly special, and many include such amenities as private heated pools and spas, billiard rooms, theater rooms, game rooms, and of course, stunning views of the desert landscape.

For travelers seeking luxurious comforts in the Scottsdale and Phoenix areas, these homes are prepared to deliver memorable experiences. Take Casa de Artista for example. This fantastically designed home features unique architecture that is both contemporary and elegant. It is 6,000 sq ft surrounded by hundreds of acres of naturally preserved desert land. Gorgeous views can be seen of Troon Golf Course and Pinnacle Peak. Hiking enthusiasts also have access to trails right out the back door. Plan your next desert getaway with The Society’s Scottsdale properties as the centerpiece.

And The Society goes international! Mead Brown is The Society’s newest property manager member and partner, and we are proud to welcome 16 new properties from Los Sueños Resort & Marina in Costa Rica.

Check out these homes. Casa Mono Loco is the quintessential Costa Rica experience, with an open-air living-dining pavilion, and stunning panoramic views of Bahia Herradura, the Pacific Ocean, and all of Ls Suenos Resort & Marina. This property offers maximum privacy, except from the scarlet macaws, toucans and monkeys of the area who all commune with the guests.

Villa Firenze is Mead Brown’s grandest property and the finest Italian palazzo in Central America. Many tons of limestone imported from Jerusalem, the finest finishes and furnishings, 50’ pool, and a WALK-IN refrigerator, create an ideal venue for entertaining guests, family and dignitaries.

Speaking of entertaining guests, Villa Firenze and Casa Mono Loco are the perfect combo for a small wedding. Groom and groomsmen can stay at Mono Loco. Do a cocktail party and perhaps even dinner there the night before the wedding for the party. The bridal party could be set at Villa Firenze. In fact, as Michael Brown, president of Mead Brown explains, “the wedding itself could be at VF…The very dramatic, open hallway upstairs leads to an open, circular limestone and wrought iron staircase. I envision the bride walking across the hallway (guests are gathered below in the great room…OK, it’s a grand room!), down the staircase and to the officiant.”

Perfect for hosting such an event, the villa has a chef’s kitchen, that really is a chef’s kitchen, walk-in refrigerator, wine cellar, double ovens, double microwaves, double dishwashers, multiple sinks, a fab music system, spectacular lighting from the Lutron system, and a beautiful courtyard with fountain…and if you’re already married, no worries. What better than to have an “Encore Wedding” in this exotic setting. These two properties (with supplemental villas and condos) can host a memorable reception for up to 80 people.

Mead Brown can also arrange helicopter or ground transportation, sport fishing, horseback riding, fresh flowers, stocked pantry and refrigerator, massage or most anything else you desire. How’s this for service!!

To view all of Mead Brown’s extraordinary homes, click here, and to read an exclusive interview with the company’s president, Michael Brown, click here.