Wendy Perrin's indispensable guide to 50 rigorously vetted villa rental agents

Below is a roster of the villa rental agents whom we consider best qualified to match Condé Nast Traveler readers with properties. To compile the list, we created a 47-question application designed to assess an 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, as well as other preparatory information and questionnaires that they give clients, checklists that they use to evaluate properties, and at least one client reference. After carefully combing through these materials, we interviewed the most promising rental agents by phone to evaluate their user-friendliness, honesty, and familiarity with the villas and regions they represent.

Only 50 agents made the cut. What separates the honorees from the also-rans? The best have personally visited all of the villas that they represent and have slept in a good many of them. They re-inspect 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, updating them once a year at minimum and filling 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. If you would like to nominate a villa rental agent for a future list or to comment on your experience with one of the agents below, please e-mail me at perrinfeedback@cntraveler.com. — Wendy Perrin

CARIBBEAN

MULTIPLE ISLANDS
Hunter Butler, Blue Escapes, (Austin, Texas
500 properties (low season, $2,500-$12,000; high season, $4,500-$20,000).
Overall portfolio: $$
Butler's properties are interspersed throughout 19 islands, but she is particularly knowledgeable about Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She'll guide you to the perfect island for your dream vacation, whether the primary goal is idyllic white sand beaches or the ultimate island hideaway, and will work hard to find a villa to fit your budget (512-472-8832; hunter@blueescapes.com; blueescapes.com).

Timothy Roney, (LaCURE Villas, Toronto
575 properties (low season, $3,000-$62,500; high season, $4,000-$87,500).
Overall portfolio: $$$
Roney has listings on 22 islands and knows the Caribbean inside and out. He's selective about the properties he takes on, paying particular attention to furnishings and decor and only choosing places with a sense of style. He's great at helping people figure out which island will best suit their needs—say, which are best for avoiding autumn's weather woes, where homes on beaches are more plentiful and affordable, and where good golf or shopping can be found (800-387-2726; tim.roney@lacure(.com; lacurevillas.com).