“This land is so beautiful, it must the borderland of God (D’aborde Dieu),” said Marquis de Lafayette after landing his ship on a magnificent beach side in South Carolina now known as DeBordieu.

Located in Georgetown County, DeBordieu is one of the oldest beach communities on the east coast and used to be one of the largest rice producing areas in the south during the colonial times.  Not only is DeBordieu known for its rich history, but its indescribable beauty.

Here at The Society we are excited to present our new vacation rental properties in the area.  Whether you are traveling to DeBordieu to attend the Annual Wooden Boat Show or seeking a relaxing vacation on a South Carolina beach, check out these new luxury vacation rental options.


148 Inlet Gateway: This 4 bedroom vacation rental offers a quaint feeling of home with its private boat dock and swimming pool.  Once night strikes, the indoor amenities are just as luxurious as the outdoor ones.  Enjoy a gourmet kitchen, living room, and screened deck as the dark hours pass.  If you need to entertain more than a family of four, 148 Inlet Gateway can accommodate 10, providing a king-sized bed, 2 queens, and 2 double/twin bunks.


178 Sand Castle:  Offering a great penthouse suite on the 3rd floor equipped with a sitting area, kitchenette, and private deck, this vacation rental is perfect for a multi-family vacation.  The other levels of the house contain an enormous kitchen area with a wet bar and an open dining room and living room perfect for social gatherings.  There are 5 bedrooms total and 5.5 baths, with a total capacity of 12 people.  This is only a small taste of the amenities this home provides.


183 Island Dreams:  Offering a view of the beach from nearly every room, this home is truly serene. One of the best aspects is the master bedroom suite, with a wet bar refrigerator, sun room and master bath with whirlpool for a memorable luxury experience.


191 Fairway Breeze: Just minutes from the beach this beautiful home overlooks a pond and is right on the golf course.  After a day of play, enjoy the evening hours on a wide wrap-around porch or around an outdoor fireplace.  This home can accommodate 10 guests in 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.

One of the many advantages of a vacation rental during the December holidays is the opportunity to make your lodging “personal and memorable”. From the Rocky Mountain West to the beaches of Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean, celebrating the holidays infused with generations of tradition (or make some new ones) in your vacation residence can provide memories to last a lifetime. We interviewed a few of our partners who offered some ideas:

Ski Holiday: A mountain vacation in the mountains during December guarantees a “White Christmas”. Our mountain managers suggest the following:

Holiday Décor: Request a Christmas Tree. The tree can be delivered and decorated prior to arrival. To keep the family traditions, consider shipping a small selection of ornaments to the management company prior to your trip. When you arrive, you and your family can place the “finishing touches” on the tree. Few destinations during the holidays rival our Ski Safari Chalet in Beaver Creek, CO. Families will enjoy the spacious 4 bedrooms which sleeps 10 in luxury. Even though true ski-in/out, we suggest apres-ski in the village with a hot cocoa and gelato just a short walk from the chalet.

Gifts: Consider having your gifts shipped to your vacation home rental. Imagine opening gifts by the fireplace watching the falling snow and the twinkling lights of the town. Or, if you desire a forested setting with evergreen trees covered in snow, consider our 3 bedroom condo in West Vail which accommodates 14, just minutes from the slopes yet set within a beautiful valley of mature aspens and evergreen trees, the finest mountain setting for the holidays and beyond.When its time to return home, have the larger gifts shipped.

Skis/Boards: Anyone on your gift list receiving new skis, boots or boards? If yes, ask the managing agent which retailer they prefer and order the equipment to be delivered to the vacation residence. Concerning boots, be sure to use a reputable retailer with a boot-fitting specialist. Bows and gift-wrapping are optional.

Christmas Dinner: The finest restaurants will be booked for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the weekend that follows. If you do not wish to cook, consider a private caterer or chef. Full formal meals can be delivered and re-heated or prepared on-site and professionally served, the choice is yours. Having a holiday party, have TheSociety.com assist you in securing a Butler for your event.

Florida is considered a “suburb” of the Northeast and Midwest, the perennial favorite for snowbirds has become a bargain paradise. Tourism during the 2nd quarter of 2009 dropped almost 10% when compared to the previous year. Translation, incredible rates and opportunities from airfare to lodging to activities. Tourism is a major economic generator for Florida and the opportunities available at present will soon be a memory, do not miss the opportunity to vacation like a “King on a Pauper’s Budget”.

Take a look at the Sandhurst Estate on Captiva Island, a secluded getaway ideal for weddings, corporate retreats or large groups.

If you have flown anytime from May 09 until the present, you have probably experienced the “boom” in air travel including requests for a voluntary bump and airfares at their highlest level since last summer. Yet, in the popular press, we are all seeing lodging options from 4-5 star hotels cutting rates to high-end vacation rentals providing incentives, even during high season.

Many airlines are literally reducing the supply of available seats for the Fall season and beyond (pending positive economic news). Flight schedules are being fine-tuned to maximize the highest revenue yield per available seat. For example, during summer, based on demand, there may have been 5 flights between Denver and New York, in the Fall and beyond, the number may be reduced to 4. While one can argue the airlines are matching supply with demand leading to the elusive profitable bottom-line, many experts, including myself predict demand will outstrip supply leading to higher airfares and less flexibility concerning schedules. What is the air traveler supposed to do?

Book Now: If you have travel plans for the Fall and/or winter season, consider booking now. Yes, one can argue the time value of money i.e. paying for a ticket now is providing the airlines an interest-free loan, however, do you wish to gamble on the price dropping a few dollars versus the “piece of mind” knowing your ticket is reserved? If you are a gambler, consider Yapta an excellent tracking site.

Consider Insurance: Many airlines offer “insurance” providing a refund if you have a documented illness (usually by a licensed physician) or death in the family which prevents you from flying. For those purchasing tickets for future travel i.e. beyond 30 days, I strongly suggest insurance. If you opt not to purchase insurance, please read the fine print to be sure your ticket can 1) be revised and 2) that you know the associated fees. For example, on United, the average “change fee” is $150.00 plus the revised cost of the new airline ticket. Thus, at minimum you are going to spend $150.00 per ticket as a change fee and more if the new flight is at a higher price.

While there has never been an exact science of formula concerning pricing a vacation home rental, present economic conditions, limited demand, increased supply and the multitude of options concerning exposure makes the pricing proposition a quandary many face.

In addition, it is now most important to quantify asking prices due to the issues we all face above. The discounting approach, which may or may not be successful, is more appropriate for hotel inventory versus the unique opportunities and constraints concerning vacation home rentals. Now, factor in that each night of vacancy is truly a perishable commodity, what is one to do? We hope the following provides insights and guidance and please note, the staff of TheSociety.com is available to assist on multiple levels from pricing to exposure to target market analysis and so forth.

Please note, “How to Price Your Vacation Home Rental” will be an on-going series:

Installment I: The Honest Assessment AKA “The Appraisal”
-Section I: Location

Whether you are an owner of a vacation home or a property manager, when considering the vacation rental potential of a property, the initial job is to assess the true value of the home or what we call “The Appraisal”.

Unlike the physical plant of a hotel i.e. 1-5 room categories, a strategic location, branding, a vacation residence is by design, a unique entity. No two vacation rental residences are alike (yes, even duplexes i.e. shared common wall will have unique differences. Thus one must look at the property with the skill set of an appraiser and the point-of-view (POV) of a potential renter.

As in any real estate, the ultimate value proposition is the LOCATION!

Location will dictate demand. For example, the 10 bedroom home in Marshalltown, Iowa is probably not as in-demand as the 3-bedroom oceanfront cottage in East Hampton, New York.  Even on a local level, in our (TheSociety.com) own backyard, the 2 bedroom flat in the heart of Vail Village, walking distance to the slopes will generate higher demand and revenue versus a 4 bedroom home in neighboring West Vail, just minutes away by free shuttle.

Location is a unique variable.

Consider the following (and of course there will always be variations to the information below):

Beach/Water Oriented Community (scale most to least in-demand)

• Waterfront
• Close to waterfront
• Walking distance to waterfront

All seasoned hospitality and travel professionals know, a vacation is an emotional decision. While one may argue cut-rate room pricing may influence one’s choices concerning lodging, it rarely sway’s the decision process concerning choice of destination of genre of vacation i.e. beach, ski, sun, culture and so forth. Yet, realistically we as property/estate managers and vacation homeowners are now battling for the vacationer’s attention against hotels and resorts which have drastically cut rates which will be in effect for the foreseeable future.

The following is from a VRBO listing on Hilton Head:

“Living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, screened in patio, pool, hot tub, grill water-view, 2,750 SF, wi-fi and satellite television”.

The above description does provide the facts and during the era of limited word-counts to save on print advertising it makes perfect sense. However, the Internet is not limited by word counts. Especially for deluxe and luxury offerings, copy is quite important. Consider the above description re-written by the staff of The Society.

“Located on a charming water-view lot, this expansive Hilton Head beach home of 2,750 SF/ 255 M² retains the charm of a past era of serenity yet offering its guests all modern conveniences. Guests enter the home and are immediately drawn to the living room with its floor to ceiling windows framing an unobstructed view of the majestic Atlantic Ocean beyond. The adjacent dining room seats 8 in comfort, however from our guests comments, most meals will probably be taken al-fresco on the screened-in patio while cooking on the built-in gas grill. After dinner, enjoy a soak in the 6-person hot tub while star-gazing the same skies as did the colonists on ships from England.

Upstairs, three (3) guest suites, all with en-suite bathrooms are designed with dual exposures to allow the evening cross-currents off the ocean to naturally cool the rooms. The wireless high-speed internet provides computer access in all rooms. Satellite television is available in all bedrooms as well as a large plasma screen in the living room for those movie nights after a day playing on the beach. “

For many Hilton Head is a destination for multi-generational families and groups of friends to come together and relax, unwind and enjoy each other’s company. The luxury of a day on the beach can only be rivaled by evenings within this wonderful beach home.

For many Kiplinger is the bible concerning finance isues for the average investor. While we have been preaching the inherent value of a vacation Home Rental, Kiplinger Personal Finance echoed the sentiment with the following quote

“The recession is making vacation rentals more appealing to travelers because they’re typically less expensive than resort hotels.”

Even before the recession, we at The Society knew the value proposition of the vacation home rental. From more room to roam to privacy not offered by hotels, we receive converts to the rental vacation home option daily. Statistics are proving what we have known, vacation home rental use increases daily and there are no signs of a plateau.

Thus, when contemplating your next vacation, will it be a crowded lounge area by the pool or a private beach? Will you be waiting in a lift line at the base area with others from the hotel or ski from your mountainside chalet? The choice is yours and The Society is here to assist.

Above, a gorgeous 3-bedroom beachfront villa in Belize.

While charitable needs are year round, fundraising events usually occur during the Spring and Fall months, when travel is at a minimum. Our April is becoming the busiest month to date for VacationHomesforCharity.org. April’s scheduled events include:

April 24 (Friday): The Osteogenesis Inperfecta Foundation annual fundraising event is held in New York at #5 Times Square literally above the famous ball which descends on New Year’s Eve. Guests will enjoy hors d’ oeuvres prior to their visit to Broadway to view Billy Elliot The Musical.

The highlight of the pre-theater reception will be a live auction conducted by Ms. Robin Wright of Sotheby’s Auction House for a one week stay at a vacation home designed by one of New York’s premier architects in the prestigious vacation community of East Hampton, New York coordinated by VacationHomesForCharity.org.

April 24: On the same night on the West Coast, Women of Vision presents Share the Light 2009 ~ Spring Benefit Auction and Dinner to Benefit Children Around the World. The event, hosted at the Governor Hotel in downtown Portland hopes to entice over 350 guests to join for an evening of dinner and exciting silent and live auctions.

April 27: Three nights later in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, the 4th annual Spring Soirée will be held at Restaurant 4580 benefiting teens living at Attention Homes. With our economy slumping, families are struggling and the number of teens needing our help has increased. Each of our programs, Broadway House and Chase House, is providing our at-risk boys and girls a safe home, counseling and therapy, life skills lessons, and access to education and employment. Both programs are at or near capacity. The highlight of the evening will be the auction for a stay at beautiful “Seaspray” in Manasota Key, Florida. The home’s name is most fitting with its beachfront location on the Gulf of Mexico. Manasota Key is due west of Port Charlotte, about 75 miles directly south of Tampa.
We do have charitable events scheduled throughout the year and demand for vacation homes for charity continues to exceed supply. Isn’t it time to “Do Good With Your Vacation Home”?

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.