For those accustomed to the finer things in life, the notion of a holiday extends far beyond the conventional. Privacy, architectural distinction and faultless service are not luxuries— they are the standard. These are homes that make a statement: a sleek, modernist retreat perched on a remote coastline or a centuries-old manor wrapped in the quiet beauty of the English countryside. In every case, they offer more than just a change of scenery— they offer an experience.
Explore the 2025 Spear’s Travel Indices:
In this index, Spear’s spotlights the most exceptional holiday home and country house rental providers catering to high-net-worth individuals. These are the names trusted by royalty, celebrities, and global elites. From the expertly staffed villas of Abercrombie & Kent or the ultra-bespoke offerings of Icon Private Collection, to the heritage-rich estates offered by Luxury Cotswold Rentals or the architectural marvels presented by Living Architecture, each provider represents the pinnacle of luxury escape.
These are not just places to stay—they are destinations in themselves, designed for those who expect nothing less than extraordinary.
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- Methodology
- Holiday home and country house rental providers: the names to know
- Best holiday home and country house rental providers: the complete list
- Contact us
Methodology
Each year, the Spear’s Research Unit reassesses and refreshes its rankings of the leading providers in each sector by gathering data from and about the advisers and firms themselves, assessing submission forms, collating nominations, carrying out peer reviews, reviewing data from third-party sources, gathering references and recommendations, canvassing experts and conducting hundreds of interviews.
Advisers are evaluated using a proprietary scoring system that assigns different weightings to certain attributes. These scores feed directly into each new set of rankings in the Spear’s Indices. Each of these indices are published first online (according to the research calendar) and then in print. Print publication takes the form of the annual Spear’s 500 directory, which includes the top advisers in every index.
[See also: A guide to The Spear’s 500: Everything you need to know]
Each featured adviser is profiled on spears500.com. The site allows users to search the Spear’s database of more than 4,000 entities to find one (or more) to meet their specific requirements by filtering for specific attributes such as an adviser’s location, their specialist expertise and information about their client base.
Holiday home and country house rental providers: the names to know
Mandarin Oriental Exceptional Homes
Launched in early 2022, Mandarin Oriental’s portfolio of top-tier homes, mansions and villas are located in the most sought-after locations around the world. From Santorini and Ibiza to Thailand and Los Angeles, the properties in the Mandarin Oriental Exceptional Homes collection have been handpicked by the iconic, award-winning hotel group.
They offer the amenities and opulent touches one would come to expect from the luxury hotelier, including a dedicated personal concierge service; private, on-demand culinary experiences; special activities designed for families; and Mandarin Oriental-trained housekeeping staff. Vetted for quality and safety, these homes provide an opportunity for discerning travellers to explore desirable destinations in new ways.
Read Mandarin Oriental Exceptional Homes’ full profile at Spears500.com
Abercrombie & Kent Villas
Abercrombie & Kent Villas, an arm of the luxury travel provider, welcomes visitors to its chic, international selection of villas and holiday homes. These elegant hideaways are located around Europe, with many beautiful villas in Italy and France, and on Greek islands. A smattering of the firm’s listed villas can also be found in Croatia, Portugal and the UK.
‘Tailor-made’ experiences, including cooking classes, wine tastings and spa treatments, are also organised by the firm. Dubbed the ‘White Lotus effect’, HNW travellers are increasingly turning to private rentals instead of luxury hotels. But with higher demand comes a greater requirement for five-star service within these properties. In line with this, Abercrombie & Kent offers 24/7 emergency support, with teams on the ground near each rental.
Read Abercrombie & Kent Villas’ full profile at Spears500.com
Icon Private Collection
Icon Private Collection’s portfolio comprises villas and chalets that are the ‘cream of the crop’, located in the world’s most sought-after destinations, including Sri Lanka, the French Riviera and Saint Barthélemy. Alongside luxury villas and residences from leading hotel brands such as Aman, One&Only and The Four Seasons, Icon’s offering includes a dedicated concierge service, superyacht charters and private island hires.
The firm’s villa-finding service helps UHNWs match with the right properties, and detailed calls with advisers before the trip help guests tailor the experience to their needs. Luke McCormick founded the company in 2019 to ‘act almost like a tastemaker of the pinnacle of travel’. ‘We have a real focus on the clients and making sure they are happy,’ he tells Spear’s.
Read Icon Private Collection’s full profile at Spears500.com
Ultima Collection
Ultima Collection offers clients ultra-luxury private residences across Europe. From ski chalets to beachside villas, its hospitality offerings are designed to make jet-setting guests feel comfortable and pampered. A spokesperson for the firm tells Spear’s that across their properties, guests stay for an average of 33 days. Their aim is therefore ‘to make guests feel at home’.
Since the launch of its first property in Gstaad in 2016, Ultima Collection has built a portfolio of properties across Geneva, Corfu, Courchevel and a host of other cities. This is only set to continue. The firm says that it is ‘on a mission to continuously elevate the traditional hospitality sector and set the trends in tailored, luxury living’.
Read Ultima Collection’s full profile at Spears500.com
Best holiday home rental providers: the complete list
Click on the individual names to be directed to more detailed profiles on Spears500.com. The table is ordered by ranking and then alphabetically.
Contact us
- To apply for inclusion in The Spear’s 500, complete our submission form.
- For further information about rankings, please email research@spearswms.com; we aim to respond to all queries within two working days.
- For commercial enquiries and questions relating to enhanced profiles, please contact Commercial Director Shady Elkholy: shady.elkholy@spearswms.com
- To keep up to date with the Spear’s 500, subscribe to our magazine, newsletter and follow Spear’s on Linkedin and Instagram.
- If you have missed calendar deadlines for our research cycles in 2025, you can still register your interest for updates about upcoming research and rankings.
- Click here to order a print copy of The Spear’s 500.
