Wendy's Rolodex: by Wendy Perrin, Kathryn Maier
Your indispensable guide to 48 rigorously
vetted villa rental agents
Condé Nast Traveler June 2007
Following is an excerpt from the article listing Blue Escapes as the best
villa rental agency for the British Virgin Islands:
Below is a roster of villa rental agents whom I consider best qualified to
match Condé Nast Traveler readers with properties. To compile the list, I
created a 53-question application designed to assess a rental agent's
competency, connections, and business practices.
We asked each agent to send
a sample house book (that invaluable guide to a villa and its environs),
sample driving directions and other preparatory information and
questionnaires that they give clients, checklists they use to evaluate
properties, and at least one client reference. After carefully combing
through the materials, we interviewed the most promising rental agents by
phone to evaluate their friendliness, honesty, and familiarity with the
villas and regions they represent.
Only 48 agents made the cut. What separates the honorees from the also-rans?
The best have personally visited all of the villas they represent and have
slept in a good many of them. They re-inspect the properties at least
annually. They speak the local language fluently. They handpick villas that
have an authentic sense of place. And they themselves write or at least vet
their house books, update them at least once a year, and fill them with
insider tips. Some agents have a preponderance of modest cottages, others
fairy-tale estates, and we've characterized their overall portfolios
accordingly, from a single dollar sign ($) for the least expensive to four
($$$$), indicating generally very expensive accommodations. Unless otherwise
noted, prices reflect the cost of a one-week rental...
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Hunter Butler, Blue Escapes, Austin, Texas
60 properties (low season, $950-$19,500; high season, $1,100-$28,500).
Overall portfolio: $$
Butler is especially attuned to honeymooners' wishes. Her portfolio includes
many intimate and secluded cottages, several of which are genuinely
affordable. She'll direct beach lovers to Virgin Gorda, where she has many
listings right on Mahoe Bay, a quiet beach with calm waters (512-472-8832;
; blueescapes.com).
This article appeared in Condé Nast Traveler in June 2007.
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