Other than at your wedding, when else will you have the chance to bring everyone you love under one roof, with an open bar, to celebrate and toast and laugh into the early hours of the night? Most people would say never. But some travel insiders beg to differ.

Luxury travelers are branching out from the old five-star stalwarts, choosing instead to hole up in exclusive residences. But it’s not just celebrities toting millions of dollars in jewels driving the demand for private hideaways. 

"When planning a special vacation, the first decision is usually between an Airbnb-style home rental or a full-service resort. With Exclusive Resorts’ Residence Collection, you can have the best of both worlds: private-home accommodations and luxury resort amenities. And what elevates this experience to an entirely new level is the personal concierge service provided by Exclusive Resorts."

Exclusive Resorts CEO Cathy Ross shares her tips for renting a home with the New York Times—the same criteria used to evaluate the Club's portfolio of 400+ residences and experiences, providing Members with the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly what to expect when they travel with us. 

Kim Westerman was once a self-planner when it came to vacations. Now with two young kids and a busy schedule, she explains to Forbes.com how Exclusive Resorts has taken the stress out of planning trips with the family, and goes above and beyond the needs of service from the very start.

Many of the world’s better-off choose to rent their vacation homes instead of buying for a range of reasons, including a desire to avoid burdens like maintenance and homeowner association, or HOA, fees. That is why Geoff Tracy, a Washington restaurateur, bought into Exclusive Resorts with his wife, Norah O’Donnell, anchor of “CBS This Morning.” It is “like owning exquisite vacation homes all over the world without having the responsibility or the headaches that come with homeownership,” he said. 

Following a popular photo trip to Antarctica last year, Exclusive Resorts has once again engaged National Geographic photographer Ralph Hopkins to lead a photo-focused trip—this time to the Galapagos, where he will teach you how to capture the islands' unique flora and wildlife (September 17–26, 2016).

According to our initial millennial study, 69 percent of millennials consider themselves to be adventurous. Whether it is in their own backyards or across the pond, millennials are constantly looking for more opportunities to diversify their lives and experience new cultures. This diversification and cultural awareness is quickly becoming the new marker of affluence. Think about it this way, millennials are much more likely to be intrigued about a trip to Thailand rather than the Rolex watch that defined affluence for previous generations. Exclusive Resorts, a carefully vetted collection of privately managed luxury residences and global experiences paired with all-encompassing service, is focused on, “creating exotic and authentic experiences,” said Exclusive resorts CEO, Cathy Ross. Exclusive Resorts does this by offering a wide range of properties in destinations that have high appeal to a consumer that wants to sample different cultures – a major influence on the transition from badge products to badge experiences.

You can now rent everything from a shared 300-square-foot apartment in Tokyo to Richard Branson’s private island at the click of a button. However, the abundance of online rental listings also throws a wrench into the works. There are almost too many options, and you also have to make sure you get what you pay for. Cathy Ross, CEO of Exclusive Resorts, gave us a few tips for how to make ensure your property rental goes according to plan.