Regal Rentals

Whether It's a Mansion on Mustique or a Castle in Cork, Renting A Luxurious Vacation Home May Cost Less Than You Think

Few people live in hotels. For most of us, our home is our most prized possession. So why do so many travelers choose a hotel room for a vacation, when they can rent a home as nice as, or nicer than, the one to which they are accustomed?

You can find every amenity imaginable in some of the world's most luxurious homes, and you have these facilities all to yourself. From grass tennis courts to private 18-hole golf courses, indoor pools to private beaches, home theaters to equestrian centers, these properties and their staffs can rival the offerings of any full-service resort hotel.

"When a client stays in a hotel, they are competing with hundreds of other guests for the services," says Tim Roney, senior villa consultant for LaCure, one of the largest luxury home rental agencies. "In our villas, they have their own maids, their own cooks, their own staffs. You eat what you want, when you want, where you want--on the lawn, by the pool or in the dining room."

The staffing, amenities, architecture and price vary enormously by region. While luxury homes can be rented around the globe, the most popular destinations for U.S. residents are the Caribbean; , primarily Provence and the Côte d'Azur; Italy, primarily Tuscany; Great Britain, primarily the Cotswolds and Scotland; and the United States, particularly in major ski areas.

Caribbean rental opportunities are quite varied, due to the number of nations and cultures and the abundance of smaller islands. In general, island villas tend to be modern, and many are staffed. Almost all have pools and outdoor dining areas, and many offer tennis courts and Jacuzzis. They are almost always true rentals, where you take the entire property for your party.

Each island or island group has distinctive features. Due to higher labor costs, U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have the lowest levels of staffing. By comparison, homes on Barbados, Mustique and Jamaica are known for having enormous staffs, which often include maids, chefs, gardeners, pool men, boatmen and other personnel. What hotel room could compare, for example, to the Bon Vivant house on Barbados?

A sports lover's paradise, Bon Vivant boasts an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, an air-conditioned raquetball court, a gym (trampoline included), a billiards room, a shuffleboard court, a Jacuzzi and even a playhouse for kids. A golf course is just a two-minute stroll from the house, and the beach (with your own private cabana) is only three minutes away. The house, which contains seven bedrooms, eight baths and spacious common areas, has a staff of 10 that is presided over by the housekeeper. The kitchen staff provides international or local cuisine as requested, and maids collect guests' laundry for washing and ironing. The house rents for about $2,645 per night during the high season and $2,075 in the low season.

The most extensive rental market in the Caribbean can be found on St. Barts, due to the European influence and the absence of large hotels, with the vast majority of tourist accommodations in the form of private homes. Hundreds of properties on St. Barts are available, ranging from one-bedroom condos to luxurious private estates. The largest rental agency for the region is the West Indies Management Co. (WIMCO), based in Newport, Rhode Island.

Charles Healy, a venture capitalist from Cincinnati, has been a longtime St. Barts renter. "In Tuscany I rented a place and it was fine," he says. "There are some really nice places in Provence. But in St. Barts I find it very simple and easy. I rent the same house every year, and by now I'm used to it. I know where the silverware is and how the dishwasher works. I want to go back the last two weeks of February forever."

Like Healy, many renters become repeat customers, taking the same property year after year. This familiarity makes their rental villa a home away from home. One luxury villa owner on St. Barts has several families who return each year, keeping his $10,000 a week cliffside estate rented about half the time.

Luxury homes can be found in every Caribbean country. Another unique attraction this area offers is private island rentals, where an entire island can be taken by a single party. Providing an unusual level of privacy, these properties are often rented by celebrities. The intimate Little St. James is a 72-acre island in the U.S. Virgin Islands that comfortably accommodates two or three couples, while the better known Necker Island off Virgin Gorda sleeps 24 people.

Breathtaking Caribbean properties rent from $1,000 to $2,000 per night in the low season and $2,000 to $3,000 in the high season, although fine homes are available for much less. Unique properties like Necker Island can exceed $10,000 daily. Some of the more expensive staffed villas include food and liquor in the rental price.

Home rentals in Europe are a much different matter. The market is far more diverse, with many types and sizes of homes available. The reason, according to Tracey Vaughan of Hideaways International, a travel club that specializes in villa rentals, is that the market has been around much longer, and as a result, rentals are widely available in all price ranges. "Villa vacationing is much more prevalent in Europe, and Americans have been the last to catch on," says Vaughan. "In 1979, when we started Hideaways, there were no American companies offering these services."

In general, European homes have less staff, are older and are often shared. Unlike tropical villas, which are almost all second homes, many European properties are primary residences. While entire homes can be rented, many accommodations take the form of apartments or homes split into individual suites.

Even the most impressive estates are often divided into areas for rent and areas reserved for the owners. In many cases these properties are owned by landed gentry, fourth- or fifth-generation nobility who no longer have the means to their ancestral homes. They rent out most of the house while living in a private wing or guest house on the property.

While this may not be as private as an island villa, it can be a much better way to experience local culture. Since many of the owners are, in fact, titled nobility, they often have privileges that can be extended to their guests, and estates that sur even the finest private homes. Guests might sit down to a private dinner in an enormous banquet hall with a baron and baroness.

In the English Manner is one firm that books such rentals. Spokesperson Joyce Fredo says, "These homes are priceless. You couldn't find them on the market even if you had all the money in the world. It's like walking into a museum." In many cases, these properties have been in the family for several centuries.

Charleton, for instance, is one of Scotland's most spectacular private homes, where your hosts, a young baron and baroness, offer you a warm welcome and a golf experience without equal--Charleton features its own private 18-hole course. In addition to his own course, the baron is a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St. Andrews, just 15 minutes away. When you can tear yourself away from golf, Charleton's 1,000-acre estate offers excellent hiking and is renowned as a first-rate riding center.

Another large Scottish home, Ayton Castle, is billed by In the English Manner as "the sportsman's dream." You can fish for salmon and trout on the Tweed River--which runs through the 6,000-acre estate--partake in game and clay pigeon shooting, hone your swing at a nearby golf course or take part in one of Ayton's polo clinics. Twelve bedrooms (and 12 bathrooms) offer a comfortable night's rest. The $300 nightly rate (per couple) only includes breakfast, but don't up a chance to eat dinner with your hosts; the meal--and the open bar--can last up to six hours.

Equally impressive is Mallow Castle, a sixteenth century home in southwest Ireland that also puts golfers within easy reach of several golf courses, including world-famous Ballybunion. Like Charleton and Ayton, there are plenty of other diversions. The white fallow deer, which roam freely on a 20-acre preserve, are a sight to behold, as is the nearby Blarney Stone, while those seeking more heady thrills can ride with the "Dashing Duhallows" on Ireland's oldest hunt or fish for salmon on the estate's River Blackwater. Inside the castle, a special treat awaits cigar lovers. Share a smoke with castle owner Michael McGinn, whose collection of 4,000-plus cigars includes more than 30 brands of Havanas.

Of course, you can also rent entire homes in Europe, as in the Caribbean. Unique to Europe are large homes located on working vineyards or olive-producing estates. Jonathan Peress and his wife, Martha, both attorneys living in Vermont, recently attended a lavish 40th birthday party for a friend thrown in a medieval castle in Tuscany called Castello di Montegufoni.

Jonathan Peress recalls their visit: "The castle was built in the twelfth century, and there were about 25 suites, all unique, with carved wood ceilings, tiled floors and beautiful murals. Some had several bedrooms. We [about 60 guests] had the whole place to ourselves. There was a pool, elaborate gardens, salons and courtyards. It was situated on a hill above the vineyards, and the estate's wines and olive oil featured the castle on the labels. Our stay was so pleasant that I brought home a case of Chianti as a memento."

One of the attractions of European rentals is the history of many of the properties, with some homes dating as far back as the thirteenth century. How about a 600-year-old manor house in the Cotswolds with Roman ruins on the premises? Perhaps a fourteenth century chateau in Côte d'Azur, previously owned, restored and decorated by Christian Dior? Or maybe a nearby stone castle built for King Leopold of Belgium as his summer home?

Many European rental properties feature windmills, chapels, ruins, battlements, walled courtyards and even moats. One English manor, Faringdon House in the Cotswolds, has a swimming pool built in the style of an old castle; the pool is surrounded by water-spraying stone gargoyles. Stately English mansions hundreds of years old begin quite reasonably at about $600 a day. The Cotswolds home with the Roman ruins, for instance, rents for around $650 a night, making the six-bedroom manor far less expensive than a nice hotel. Rentals in Tuscany and the south of have rates comparable to those in the Caribbean. The Dior chateau, for example, will run you upwards of $17,000 a week during the summer.

The nicest rental homes in the United States tend to be at a handful of resort areas, including some beachfront destinations, but the most popular luxury rentals are at the major ski resorts. Wonder-ful residences can be found in Colorado, at Aspen, Vail, Brecken-ridge and other big ski towns, where many very expensive second homes create a rental market. Skiing lends itself to groups, and skiers often want and need more space than hotels offer.

Rentals in the United States are not as commonplace or as organized as those abroad, and the market relies more on local property management firms. Bob's At The Beach, an agency in Lake Tahoe, California, offers the cream of the crop for rental homes in this four-season resort area. Popular for skiing, golf, gambling and water sports, Lake Tahoe is home to one of the largest congregations of luxury rental properties in the States.

Bob's masterpieces include a 7,000-square-foot home that has appeared on the syndicated television show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." This contemporary home, which has been a destination for many celebrities, including actors Roseanne and Charlie Sheen, is an exercise in redundancy.

Within the all-glass exterior, this beachfront home offers four bedroom suites, each with its own kitchen and laundry room. There is also a large commercial-quality kitchen and an extensive outdoor barbecue and kitchen center. There are indoor and outdoor hot tubs, an indoor pool and even a waterfall. There are seven fireplaces, seven bathrooms, a dance floor (complete with mirrored ball), a well-equipped gym and seven wet bars, including one fashioned from a 1949 mahogany Chris-Craft runabout. Outside there is a private beach on the lake and boat dock, illuminated with gas tiki torches.

Just as there are a tremendous variety of homes for rent, there are a variety of ways to rent them. One way is to go directly to the owners, who are often found through classified ments or by referral. At the other extreme are full-service agencies. The middle ground is occupied by agencies that put renters and owners together. Each method has its advantages.

"By working closely with the owners, we instill a degree of professionalism," says Karen Squires of LaCure, a full-service agency with an impressive catalog. "We go and see the actual homes, looking at the view, the furnishings, the staff and the amenities. We go into minute detail, even checking the linens. We then grade each house by stars. This way we can provide all details of the house."

"We never rent a villa if we do not have an on-island manager," says Jan Gordon of WIMCO, another full-service agency. "Our clients are met when they get off of the plane and are accompanied to the villa. The manager does not leave until they've shown the guests all the features. We don't mail out directions and leave the guests on their own. Every house has been toured by at least one of our reservationists, so we can recommend which houses are best for families with children, the elderly or those who have special needs."

Full-service agencies also offer travel arrangements, such as airfare and car rentals, as well as other services. Popular requests include provisioning the home with groceries and arranging masseuses, babysitters, chefs, yacht charters, and tennis and golf access. These agencies also tend to have someone on-call nearby, in case the guest encounters any difficulties or has additional questions, such as recommendations for restaurants or nearby attractions.

Renting from the owners themselves also offers a few advantages. Hideaways International's Vaughan notes that "since no fee goes to a property manager, you generally get the best price. This is the biggest difference." The owners can also be more flexible in of negotiating an unusual deal, such as a longer- or shorter-than-normal stay, or an off-season visit. What's more, no one knows the property better than the owners, who are familiar with all the operational issues, such as appliances, and know the local area more intimately. As Vaughan says, "Many times property managers have never even seen the home."

On the other hand, because owners are more eager to rent their homes, they may be less inclined to discourage guests for whom the home might not be appropriate. Owners generally don't accept credit cards or provide other services. And, in the event of a disappointing or misleading experience, renters who deal directly with the owners often have less recourse. This is especially true abroad, where you do not have the American legal system to fall back on. Going through an agency, however, does not guarantee satisfaction, and thousands of happy customers have gone direct.

To rent direct, there are two options. One of the best places to find owners is in the classified ments of suitable publications, such as a sports or regional publication. Michael Thiel, founder of Hideaways, has published a book, Villa Vacations Made Easy, in which he recommends Caribbean Travel & Life, Golf Digest, Tennis and university alumni magazines as good sources. Others include Ski, Skiing and Islands magazines.

The second option is to go through groups such as Hideaways or the World Wide Home Rental Guide, which send subscribers a catalog containing ments from owners. These publications make their money on ments rather than rental fees. Hideaways also has a $99 annual hip fee, for which it tracks comments from its 18,000 and makes them available to customers interested in particular properties.

Unlike the full-service agencies, which tend to concentrate on one or several countries, these guides cover a wider variety of destinations around the world. Since the owners write the ments, the information may be presented less clearly than in the full-service catalogs.

Many rental clubs or agencies also serve as U.S. agents for villa management firms abroad, especially in Europe. You can obtain the same catalogs of French vacation homes from different U.S. agencies. Since there is little exclusivity in the listings, identical homes are featured in many of the catalogs. Traditional travel agents can also book rental homes for customers, and in fact, 95 percent of LaCure's business comes through travel agents. However, for firsthand descriptions of the properties, go to the source--the rental agency or owner.

Prices vary greatly by location and by season, but these factors tend to affect nearby hotel prices as well. Due to their size, home rentals are popular with groups vacationing together, especially with children. Many renters also bring their nannies from home. Whether or not price is an object, few hotels can adequately accommodate three or four families and nannies traveling together.

"Suppose you go with two or three couples and the villa costs five hundred dollars a night," says Healy, the venture capitalist. "You have privacy and the pool to yourself. It beats a hotel six ways to Sunday." Families with children also find that dining on the premises can be a lot easier.

Before searching for your dream rental, make a list of requirements. Start with your geographic destination, such as a tropical vacation or a European visit. Determine the number in your party and any special needs, such as a home that is safe for small children or without stairs. Then make a wish list of features, such as a tennis court, pool, gourmet kitchen or private beach. Decide whether you want seclusion or to be near the action.

Once you have pinpointed your needs, turn to the catalogs or ask an agent for assistance. Dozens of homes may be available in your price range, so by knowing your specifics, you can eliminate many of them easily. If still in doubt, ask for references from others who have rented the property. The highest-end properties often have videos or additional information kits available.

Many of the larger homes are rented for special events or business affairs. LaCure's Squires notes that "some of our larger homes accommodate groups of 16 to 24, making them ideal for weddings, family reunions, corporate affairs or sales incentive rewards." For this reason, the larger homes tend to be better staffed and include business equipment and related amenities. In the English Manner also offers homes that can be used for small meetings and family reunions.

While this may be a bit much for the casual vacation rental, top-notch facilities can be found in scaled-down homes. For this reason, Fredo of In the English Manner sums up the rental experience by saying, "It's like having very, very wealthy friends invite you over to visit."

"By the way," she adds, "we have plenty of homes where cigarette smoking is prohibited, but cigars and pipes are welcome."

Vermont-based Larry Olmsted writes about travel and is a frequent contributor to Investors Business Daily. Living the Luxe Life

FULL-SERVICE VACATION HOME RENTAL AGENCIES:

At Home Abroad
(212) 421-9165
Luxury properties in Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico

In The English Manner
(800) 422-0799
Home-stays, rentals, golf packages in England,
Scotland, Ireland and Wales

LaCure
(800) 387-2726
Caribbean islands, Mexico, Europe,
North Africa and yacht charters

The Parker Co.
(800) 280-2811
Italy

Rent-A-Home International
(206) 789-9377
and other European countries, Mexico, Caribbean, Australia, Canada and the United States

Ville et Village
(510) 559-8080
and Italy

West Indies Management Co.
(800) 932-3222
Caribbean islands and

LISTINGS FOR INDIVIDUAL OWNERS:

Hideaways International
(603) 430-4433