Costco Connection - September 2010

travel connection

PLACES TO GO. PRICES YOU’LL LOVE.

QUALITY | VALUE | EXPERIENCE | WOW!

It takes a villa

AVIS MAKES SAVING A BIG DEAL

By T. Foster Jones

THERE’S ALWAYS A hold-your-breath aspect to the first moments of vacation. You walk into your hotel room or resort property—essentially, what will be your home for the next week or so. What you encounter will very likely set the tone for your entire vacation experience.

Now imagine walking into a setting that is very much your own private paradise. A home that radiates luxury from every corner of its many rooms, surrounded by property that ranges from merely beautiful to jaw-dropping spectacular.

For a week you and your companions are Rockefellers. You are well-heeled locals who, rather than being separated from your environs, are invited to become even more intimately involved with the unique experiences that your location offers. The home is just the beginning.

The possibilities are endless: Blend your own barrel of wine in California, France or Italy; race cars at a premier race track; hit the links with a pro in Sonoma or Mexico; compete with family members to stomp grapes; hike or bike hidden Bahamian trails with breathtaking views.

One-of-a-kind family reunions, weddings, birthday celebrations and inspiring executive retreats—this is the world of villa travel, a world that, with a recent arrangement between Costco Travel and BeautifulPlaces, offers Costco members substantial property-rental discounts, and is much more accessible than one might imagine.

“More and more groups of travelers are dis-
covering the rewards of villa travel,” says
Shannon Parker, Costco Travel’s general mer-
chandise manager. “If you compare the costs of
luxury hotel rooms for eight or 10 or 14 people,
the average per-person costs of a villa—espe-
cially with the Costco member discount—is
very competitive.”
“It is also about a deeper understanding
of the area,” says BeautifulPlaces owner
Patrick Smith, who originally founded the
company to focus on California’s wine coun-
try, before expanding to locales in France,
Italy, Mexico and the Bahamas. “It is about
meeting local people, exploring and discover-
ing the beauty, food, wine, history, culture

PHOTOS: REBECCA GOSSELIN

A luxurious home and amenities, such as Sonoma’s Villa Bacchus, is just the starting point for you and your fellow travelers when you embark on a villa vacation.

and recreation of the destination.”
The term “villa” refers to a luxury home,
usually an owner’s second home. The types of
residential properties BeautifulPlaces offers
are three-, four- and five-star residences,
often on large estates with a wealth of ameni-
ties. Many homes include guesthouses, pools,
tennis courts, wine caves, vineyards, movie
theaters and more.

A villa stay is typically with a group of close friends or family members who share history, relationships and interests.

It also affords families, high-profile travelers or those who require additional privacy the opportunity to reconnect without all the bustle of a large resort—but without skimping on amenities.

Customized, pampering services are available to enhance the rental, such as a concierge, private chef, private sommelier, wine tastings and vineyard excursions, and other high-end outings that lend themselves to gourmet food and wine.

“BeautifulPlaces has, from its inception, focused on epicurean travel and lifestyle-based experiences,” says Smith. “Our passion is to provide our guests with an experience and a sense of place that they will find nowhere else.” C

Costco Connection Costco members receive exclusive savings on all BeautifulPlaces Luxury Villa Rentals when they book through Costco Travel. For more information, visit the Travel section of Costco.com or call 1-866-922-5049.

Enjoy your Costco member
discount and premium services.

Get $35 off a weekly rental with the coupon below AND everyday savings of up to 25% when you use AWD A108300. Plus, we’ve got more premium bene;ts for you including:

• Additional driver fees waived for Costco members*

• where2 ® GPS at a Costco member-only rate of $8.99 per day**

$35 Off a Weekly Rental COUPON MUGA031

Book online at Costco.com or call Costco Travel toll free at 1-877-849-2730.

* where2 GPS Costco member-only rate of $8.99 per day and the waiver
of additional driver fee are valid at participating locations in the U.S. only.
where2 is an optional service and is subject to availability at select loca-
tions for an additional fee.
Terms and Conditions: Coupon valid on an intermediate (group C)
or above car group, excluding minivans (group V), passenger vans
(group P), and specialty vehicles (groups S and X). Dollars off applies
to the time and mileage charges only on a minimum five consecutive
day rental period including a Saturday night keep. Taxes, concession
recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges
($10/contract in CA) may apply and are extra. Optional products such as
LDW ($29.99/day or less) and refueling are extra. An advance reservation
is required. Coupon is non-transferable; one coupon per rental. May not
be used in conjunction with any other coupon, promotion or offer except
your Costco member discount. Renter must show proof of Costco
membership at time of rental. Coupon valid at participating Avis airport
and neighborhood locations in the contiguous U.S. and Canada. Offer
subject to vehicle availability at time of reservation and may not be avail-
able on some rates at some times. For reservations made on Costco.com,
dollars off will be applied at time of rental. Renter and additional driver
(if applicable) must meet Avis age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum
age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for rent-
ers under 25 years old. Rental must begin by 12/31/10.

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Any unused portion(s) of inclusions are nontransferable, nonrefundable and not redeemable for cash. Travel purchases are not included in the Executive Membership 2% Reward program. Seasonal surcharges, availability, blackout dates and restrictions may apply. All prices are in U. S. dollars. Costco Travel disclaims liability for any inaccuracies or typographical errors. Costco Travel is registered as a seller of travel in each of the states listed: California registration number: CST 2054248-50 • Florida registration number: ST 32555 • Ha waii registration number: TAR 5595 • Iowa registration number: TA 620 • Nevada Seller of Travel registration number: 2007-0060 • Washington registration number: WST 602042600. Registration as a California Seller of Travel does not constitute approval by the state. 10TR1206 7/10