Mint Lifestyle is an exclusive, members-only luxury concierge service based in Los Angeles, though they have clients and connections all over the world. With a membership limited to 250 - and so exclusive that it has been likened to a virtual country club - clients get the best service possible from a highly-trained staff. Unlike other concierge services, which tend to deal primarily with the minor details of daily life, their services include, but are not limited to, arranging luxury travel, event planning, finding staff, coordinating the purchase of rare or luxury vehicles and even securing real estate within days. Need a private jet for a quick trip or a suite at the hottest new luxury hotel? No problem. Of course, they can also arrange the more mundane tasks, if necessary, but the majority of their clients already have people to pick up their dry cleaning. The most attentive service money can buy is only $20,000 per year.

There is no reason to wait until the next time you're staying at a luxury hotel to enjoy outstanding concierge service. Many companies around the country offer personal concierge services and the ever-helpful Cranky Consumer column in the Wall Street Journal put a few from all over the country to the test. And with a name like "cranky," you might assume that there would be some complaints about some of the service they received, but there were really none worth making.

The upshot of their personal concierge trials was that the companies (Andrea Herbert Lifestyle, NY; Prominent Concierge, Atlanta; Gofer Girls, LA; Upon Your Request, Dallas; Envy Concierge, SF) were all very professional and very helpful. They did everything from playing with pets when the owners were out of town to locating kosher caters for an upcoming party. Having a concierge service available is an indulgence, but when life gets busy or stressful, they can accomplish a whole to-do list in just hours. And with rates ranging from $25 to $50 per hour, sometimes the tradeoff is well worth it.