"Best:" Exclusive, Quintess, Solstice

Would you choose a destination club simply because it was named "Best of the Best" by the luxury-goods magazine Robb Report? Of course not. Still, it is undoubtedly a good selling point for Exclusive Resorts (best "full-size" club), Quintess ("mid-sized") and Solstice ("boutique") to advertise in looking for new members. The Best of the Best June 2008 issue notes that instead of 10 properties promised a year ago, Solstice winds up with 14 (including one at Villa Dolce in Florence, shown above) plus a 90-foot yacht, for its 92 members. By comparison Quintess has 425 members at over 80 homes, while Exclusive has a whopping 350 homes and more than 3,000 members.

Why Not Rent Villa in Spain Rather Than Hotel?

Americans unhesitatingly rent vacation condos and private homes in stateside resorts so why not do the same in Europe? Marta Staples, Italian Specialist for Doorways, Ltd. says nothing compares with a luxury farmhouse in Tuscany or an exquisite apartment in Rome and its easy when you deal with an American experienced in handling these arrangements. Her firm has an inventory of sweet homes in France and Spain (like Mas Talaia near Barcelona, shown) as well. Another company I met at a recent European travel expo, the Zurich-based Interhome, has sumptuous properties for rent in 19 countries-- from Florida to the Swiss Alps. It's worth comparing these services with villas offered for rent by owners.