At The Society we are always getting requests concerning summer beach destinations. One of our favorites is the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a chain of barrier islands midway on the Atlantic Seaboard, 90 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia and 321 miles north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Surrounded by 900 square miles of water, the Outer Banks have the third largest estuary system in the world, wildlife refuges, maritime forests, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the highest sand dunes on the East Coast at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

Yet beyond the statistics is the true beauty of the area. Beach homes perched on supports bored into the dunes providing endless views of the Atlantic Ocean. Quaint town centers with lanes filled with Ma and Pa retailers and restaurants. Many comment that the Outer Banks is the beach vacation of yesteryear when life was truly simpler. Just load up the kids in the Vista Cruiser and head east.

Ties have changed as the former beach shacks are now mini-estates. Cross-ventilation is now added by central air-conditioning. A good paperback book for the beach has been replaced by The Kindle and The Ipod. Yet, the laid-back atmosphere of the Outer Banks remains. Multi-generations of family playing on the beach building sand-castles by day and enjoy the fresh catch at night. The long lazy days of summer give way to late dusk when the grills are fired up as the sun sets behind the dunes. This is the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

May we suggest:

O’cean Easy: A 6 bedroom, 5.5 bathroom Pine Island estate which sleeps 22 and has a private lighted walkway to the beach and views to match having been built on one of the highest dunes.

Celestial Seasuns: A 6 bedroom, 6 bathroom oceanfront home which sleeps 16 and if the beach is not inviting enough, guests can enjoy the 40 x 15 Gunite Private Pool with 10 Person Attached In-Ground Hot Tub

Chateau E’lan: A 10 bedroom, 9.5 bathroom oceanfront estate designed in the style of the opulent villas of the Cote d’ Azur sleeping 22 in the pinnacle of luxury with all the amenities of Pine Island.

The selection process is complete and the bubble properties have been selected.  Now you can participate in crowning the Luxury Vacation Rental Champion.  Check out the bracket below.  Your votes will narrow down the top 64 vacation rentals.  Don’t waste any time - Round 1 has started!  Vote now for your favorite properties. Feel free to share with your friends, family, and colleagues!

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Stay tuned over the next four weeks to find out which property will be The Luxury Vacation Rental Champion.

At The Society we request our property and estate managers to advise concerning “deals and steals” which we provide to our readership and blog. Please review and consider taking advantage of these “deals and steals” while available:

Deer Valley, UT: Consistently rated #1 by readers of Ski Magazine, Deer Valley is a skiers paradise (yes skiers, sorry no snowboarders permitted on the slopes).  One of the premier vacation rental opportunities is now available for specific dates for the ultimate spring skiing experience which is characterized by sun-kissed days,starry nights and abundant spring snow. Ski Casa Nova is a ski-in/out estate without rival.  The 13,000 SF estate sleeps up to 25 guests. The following rates and dates are on a space available basis:

March 13-20, 2010 (7 nights) Std. Rate  $71,400  Special Rate $42,840 (40% off)
March 20-26, 2010 (6 nights) Std. Rate $38,000  Special Rate $24,429 (25% off)

Contact: Jenni Haines | Estate Manager and Concierge
P: 800.978.5002 | Jenni.Haines@SkiCasaNova.com

Deer Valley, UT: For those who may consider Casa Nova slightly large for their vacation, we have a beautiful 4 bedroom vacation rental in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Deer Valley. Those who may be familiar with Silver Lake know the location is premier with a quaint village setting located mid-mountain, a true ski-in/out village setting reminiscent of the Alps. Lookout 6559 is a premier luxury 4 bedroom town home which sleeps10 in opulence and luxury, which is what Deer Valley is all about. For bookings through the remainder of the season, 25% off on a space available basis.

Contact: Jaci Buckingham | Sales & Marketing Manager
P: 435.649.6175 | T: 800.348.6759 Jaci@ParkCityLodging.com

Mayan Riviera, Mexico: While we may be basking in the snow here in the Colorado Rockies and getting in those final runs of the season, Mexico becomes the location of choice when the snow melts. Many of us wait a few months until late spring and summer to travel to Mexico when the weather is glorious and the crowds non-existent.

Cottonwood Canyon, Utah offers a true taste of the outdoors.  Take a breathe of fresh air and view some of the most spectacular canyons created by explosive rivers in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Enjoy skiing at Solitude and Brighton during the winter or hike, climb, and fish in the 15-mile long Big Cottonwood Canyon during the summer.  Want to add a little history into your trip?  Ski Alta Utah’s first ski resort attracting people back to the area after the notorious saloon shootings back in the 1860’s and 1870’s.  If you’re not a skier, travel here during the summer for a hiking and mountain biking adventure in the Albion Basin.  I promise, Cottonwood Canyon, Utah offers something for everyone to enjoy.

Many resort towns what we all consider iconic hotels and resorts. These are the properties which set the standard for their peers to attain while continually improving the guest experience. In Deer Valley it’s the www.steinlodge.com, in Vail, The Sonnenalp, in Aspen, The Little Nell. In Telluride, it is The Peaks Resort, the defining symbol of Mountain Village, the mid-mountain base area known for its opulence and extravagance yet comforting with true rocky mountain sensibilities.

For those who may be unfamiliar with The Peaks Resort or The Peaks as it is known locally is Telluride’s premier full service resort. The hotel offers its discriminating guests 149 hotel rooms including 32 suites and 14-penthouse flats plus 34 truly unique 3, 4 and 5 bedroom mountainside cabins known as the See Forever collection due to their privacy and views.

We are proud to present the Penthouse Flats and The See Forever units

Each of the 14 penthouses is individually decorated encompassing the finest furnishings providing a mountain chic interior which is comfortable and inviting. In addition, to views and vistas which cannot be replicated anywhere, the penthouses are truly luxury personified.

Guests residing in one of the penthouses will be spoiled with down comforters, lavishly stocked refreshment centers, and oversized bathrooms with separate shower and bathtub. In addition, all penthouses feature all common hotel amenities plus plush terrycloth robes/ slippers, individual heating controls, multiple closets, clothes press, laundry basket, coffeemaker furnished with the finest gourmet coffees and teas.

For those who desire the privacy of a vacation home rental coupled with the amenities of a luxury full service resort and spa, The Peaks See Forever Luxury Rentals are for you.

Located adjacent to the resort, the spacious units feature one-of-a-kind custom décor along with full-size kitchens, in-floor radiant heating and wi-fi internet connectivity. All of the one- to five-bedroom units offer amazing views of the nearby San Juan Mountains and are ideal for families, groups of friends or those in search of additional space and privacy to relax and be at ease.

A few weeks back, we profiled a vacation residence recently added to the inventory of The Society. The home, Chateau Le Grande generated comments including the request for additional background information concerning Beaver Creek and other vacation rental opportunities within the enclave beyond the guard house.

Even though Beaver Creek as a resort has been in existence for almost a generation, the area continues to evolve based on the demands and desires of the luxury vacationer, usually with family in tow. While many resorts have evolved over the generations, Beaver Creek was literally designed and constructed to make the resort experience, winter and summer a most enjoyable one.

Spring Break is one of the most popular vacation times for Beaver Creek. In general most guests gravitate towards the “Town Plaza”. The Plaza is a large expanse dominated by a year-round skating rink. The open-plaza design is ringed by shops, restaurants, galleries and above the 1st levels, vacation flats. The vast majority of dining options can be accessed via the plaza, with others located within some of the lodges.

From the plaza, guests can use the escalator to access the base of the slopes for skiing and other mountain pursuits.  Tip: Remember the escalators; at the end of the day, as families descend from the base area, Vail Resorts provides freshly baked cookies by the escalators, true après-ski family style.

Keeping in the family theme of the resort, activities are oriented to adults and children. Consider a horse-drawn sleigh ride dinner to the on-mountain Beano’s Cabin or take in a performance at The Vilar Center. Enjoy pizza at Blue Moose and then do some skating on the rink, or sit by one of the open firepits with a gelato and hot cocoa.

As mentioned a few weeks back, Chateau Le Grande is just one of a select collection of vacation rentals associated with The Society in Beaver Creek. For those who wish for a ski-in/out location yet just steps to the plaza, we suggest our Ski Safari with 4 bedrooms which sleeps 10.  Others who may be in search of additional space and a sense of privacy and exclusivity, our Private Getaway, a luxury home on Holden Road with 5+ bedrooms sleeping 14 guests is perfect. While not ski-in/out, just minutes from the slopes via Beaver Creek’s Dial-a-Ride Service. In neighboring Bachelor Gulch, where privacy and exclusivity are paramount, a truly spectacular ski-in house can be provided on Daybreak Ridge, the pinnacle of mountain luxury. Truly isolated yet ski-in and just minutes from the Bachelor Gulch base area. Finally, those who desire expansive space within a condominium building, our 6 bedroom luxury penthouse at the ski-in/out Horizon Pass development is truly over the top, literally.  At the end of the day, we suggest indulging in the hot cider and cookies après –ski at The Ritz-Carlton.

Dining in Beaver Creek ranges from the casual to the semi-formal to the truly unique. Yet, every restaurant is “family-friendly” as Beaver Creek is a resort catering to multi-generational families. For those restaurants not on the plaza, consider using Dial-A-Ride. Reservations are suggested.

A few of our suggestions include:

• Splendido (Continental): Splendido at the Chateau offers fine Rocky Mountain dining featuring imaginative and refined American-European cuisine in the warmth and tranquility of a French chateau. Dinner is served nightly, with entertainment in the piano bar.

• Grouse Mountain Grill (American): Grouse Mountain Grill is an award winning upscale American restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located in The Pines Lodge, a chic European ski lodge nestled in the forest hillside of the Beaver Creek Ski Resort, the dining room exudes a comfortable mountain ambiance with spectacular views. The wine list is an award winning handpicked compilation of limited production, best quality wines.

• Spago (Continental) Bachelor Gulch: Master Chef Wolfgang Puck’s Spago continues to set the standard for cuisine, service and style. Executive Chef Mark Ferguson creates imaginative, seasonal American cuisine with Asian accents in a sophisticated, warm environment crafted by esteemed New York-based hospitality designer Tony Chi. The menu features Spago classics from over the years as well as new signature dishes locally inspired by the surrounding mountain environment with as many ingredients from the area as possible.

• 8100 Mountainside (American): Sumptuous blend of culinary and visual delights awaits you at 8100. Equally fitting for a family feast or a romantic dinner by candlelight, the warm decor, incredible view and tantalizing cuisine of this casual, friendly restaurant sets the mood for a perfect meal. The tasteful menu offers varied selections to suit anyone’s palate. Please note, access from the Plaza and The Park Hyatt.

• Toscanini (Italian) : Located next to the ice rink, Toscanini offers Italian cuisine with a casual upscale dining experience. Watch Chef Charles Hays prepare individual pizzas, fresh pastas, and rotisserie roasted meats in the open kitchen. Savor the aroma and flavor of Italian wines specifically chosen for their hearty, robust qualities. A note, the perfect stop for cocktails or dinner before heading down the escalators to the Vilar Center for the Arts.

Telluride is truly an anomaly as a resort community. In Mountain Village, visitors enjoy the opulence and splendor of a mid-mountain location similar to the exclusivity of Deer Valley and Gastaad. Yet, just a gondola-ride away is the charming Town of Telluride, a mountain community in which time seems to stand-still as evidenced by the lovingly restored Victorian homes, the quaint Nugget movie theater and an overall laid-back vibe within the town of 8 square blocks. Yet, between the Town of Telluride and Mountain Village, some of the best dining in the 8-state Rocky Mountain region can be found.

In the Town of Telluride we suggest:

221 South Oak
Campagna
La Marmotte
Cosmopolitan

In Mountain Village we suggest:

9545 Restaurant
Allred’s
Appaloosa
La Piazza
Onyx

Whether you are a guest of one of the Penthouse or See Forever cabins at the Peaks or if you choose to vacation in our ski-in/out vacation rentals including our 6 bedroom luxury Alpen Ridge which sleeps 16 guests or our 9 bedrooms of extravagance in Hood Park Manor which sleeps 20.

Of course, if looking on a slightly smaller scale yet large on luxury and amenities, please consider Tramontana #5, a 3 bedroom / 5 bathrooms flat which sleeps 11 or The Castellina Townhomes providing guests with 4 bedrooms, 6+ baths which sleeps 8.

Whichever vacation rental you choose, our partners in Telluride, you will be most welcomed and probably return year after year.

For many in the northeastern United States, the Dominican Republic was somewhat of a secret destination. Many know of the destination, yet its popularity was never on par with other island destinations such as Jamaica, The US Virgin Islands, Barbados and so forth.

Yet, within the past few years, the Dominican Republic (DR) has literally exploded on the scene with multiple vacation destinations throughout the country. A few luxury hotel developers have opened destination resorts bringing some of the most beautiful beach and golf resorts to be developed in the Caribbean.

Vacation home rentals in the DR have been somewhat of a secret. Usually the choice of clients from the United Kingdom and the east coast of the United States, DR villa rentals are known for providing the same luxury amenities and facilities of other Caribbean islands coupled with a sense of privacy and seclusion.

One such option is the Villa Cantamar, one of the most spectacular new luxury vacation villas in the DR. This one-of-a-kind, oceanfront vacation villa is located within the prestigious gated community of SeaTree Estates.

Villa Cantamar is an 11,000+ sq. ft., 4 bedroom/5 bathroom Caribbean villa with an exotic Asian influence. Each one of the four (4) beautifully decorated bedroom suites (sleeps eight) has a king bed and offers unfettered view of the swimming pool and soothing ocean beyond.  Clients have told us “The Villa is truly a private resort.”

The great room is a natural gathering place for guests when not enjoying the open-air dining room designed to accommodate options from an intimate breakfast for 2 to a formal dinner for 10. The gourmands will enjoy the opulent meals provided by the executive chef prepared in the gourmet kitchen. Use the wine refrigerator for the vintages purchased duty-free.

Yet, most guests visit the DR with one motivation, relaxation. Throughout the home are terraces designed to shelter guests from the Caribbean sun allowing for continuous outdoor enjoyment from dawn to dusk. Or, consider laps in the 45’ private pool or for beach enthusiasts, there are several local beaches within minutes of the villa. For golfers, Playa Grande is just a short drive.

Staff is provided to enhance your vacation the most of which is the villa concierge who will meet you upon arrival and be available for assistance with tee-times, messages, dinner reservations etc. On-site the host butler provides guests the ultimate personal service while in residence.

As the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics are upon us, a little known fact outside of Colorado. Beaver Creek was conceived as a purpose-built Olympic venue for the 1976 Games until Denver voters turned them down. Lucky for us skiers and boarders, Beaver Creek was built and is now considered a world-class luxury resort. A true escape from reality once guests cross the gate-house at the entry.

For many guests of the resort, Beaver Creek represents what the winter resort experience should be. An excellent mountain with terrain ranging from mild to challenging including village-to-village skiing. An inviting base area offering a year-round outdoor skating rink, escalators to the mountain, heated walkways, excellent family-oriented dining, multiple spa options and world-class shopping from clothiers to art galleries to my personal favorite, gelato.

While a guest may spend their days on the slopes (or golf course during the summer months), the lodging component and associated services of the guest experience is paramount. Thus, may we present Chateau Le Grande, a 5 bedroom estate within the resort of Beaver Creek.

Chateau Le Grande, like Beaver Creek itself was designed to enhance the vacation experience. Located on a prestigious lane, the home is situated to take advantage of the unparalleled views including the surrounding mountains and lush fairways of the golf course. Built with multiple levels, the 5 bedroom home (sleeps 10 in luxury) was designed with gathering and nesting rooms for all to enjoy.

The main level is dominated by a living room appointed with large and comfortable leather seating and a custom stone wood-burning fireplace (yes, the crackling of a wood fueled fire is available) all encapsulated with vaulted ceilings and massive windows to take advantage of the outdoor scenery. Adjacent is the country kitchen with its custom wood cabinets and professional appliances perfect for the home chef or the caterer. While the breakfast bar is perfect for a casual snack, the dining room which seats 10 is the spot for a relaxed fondue or a formal dinner. The game room invites guests to enjoy an after-dinner spirited game of billiards or slip outside to the private hot tub for a soak under the stars.

The two upper levels of the home offer three (3) bedrooms, including the master suite on the top level and an additional guest bedroom, both with king beds. Guests of the master suite will enjoy the en-suite bath with steam shower and adjacent private office. On the intermediate upper level is an additional bedroom with two (2) queen beds.