Who wouldn’t want to take a luxurious vacation every year? Getting to travel to exciting new locations while enjoying top-notch perks is a great deal, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with a vacation club! A vacation club membership comes with a lot of benefits, but are vacation clubs really worth it? We’ll be covering everything you need to know to help you determine if these clubs are truly right for you.
- What is a Vacation Club?
- Weeks-Based Timeshare Ownership
- Vacation Club Points and Whether They Make a Vacation Club Worth It
- Can Vacation Exchange Make a Vacation Club Worth It?
- Are Vacation Clubs Worth It vs Staying at Hotels?
- How to Save Money While Joining a Vacation Club?
- What If I No Longer Want My Timeshare Ownership?
What is a Vacation Club?
A vacation club is a travel membership that gives you access to a selection of luxurious resorts. While some of these vacation clubs offer unique benefits, they all allow you to book a stay at a resort from one of the most luxurious resort brands. Timeshare owners will have to own a timeshare with a vacation club and pay membership fees in order to become part of a vacation club. Here are just a few of the top vacation clubs.
- Disney Vacation Club
- Marriott Vacation Club
- Holiday Inn Club Vacations
- Wyndham Destinations
- Hyatt Vacation Club
- Hilton Grand Vacations
If you become a member of any of these vacation clubs, you’ll have access to their list of resorts, but there’s a bit more that goes into booking that makes vacation clubs worth it.
Weeks-Based Timeshare Ownership
There is also a form of timeshare ownership called timeshare weeks. Let’s see if they’re worth it for you. There are two types of timeshare week ownership: floating and fixed week ownership. With fixed week timeshares, you’ll get to stay at the same resort at the same time each year. This is great if you’d prefer not to have to worry too much about planning where you’ll stay and value a more predictable vacation experience. However, that same predictability means you won’t be going anywhere else with your ownership. On the other hand, floating week timeshares offer members a bit more versatility in that you can visit your home resort during a certain range of weeks. If you’re looking for a bit more freedom, this next form of timeshare ownership might make vacation clubs worth it for you.
Learn more: What is a Timeshare and How Does It Work?
Vacation Club Points and Whether They Make a Vacation Club Worth It
Vacation Club points are a currency given to you by your vacation club that allows you to book a timeshare at a specific vacation property. Vacation Clubs provide timeshare owners with an allotment of points based on their home resort. So, if you own a timeshare in more desirable locations, you’ll be given more vacation club points, making them worth it if you like having a lot of travel options. You can spend one year visiting Myrtle Beach, and then take your next vacation in California. This also means you should make your initial purchase wisely, as it can lead to you having far more choices on where to go. While vacation club points add plenty of value to a vacation club membership, there’s another way to use that membership to get more options.
Learn more: Timeshare Weeks vs Points: Which is Right for You?
Can Vacation Exchange Make a Vacation Club Worth It?
A vacation club membership will typically make you eligible to join a vacation exchange program. Vacation exchange allows you to exchange your stay at your home resort to visit one of thousands of other resorts around the world. So, if you want to visit vacation destinations your vacation club ownership typically wouldn’t give you access to, a vacation exchange network might be able to make it happen. The two biggest vacation exchange programs are RCI and Interval International. Here are just a few of the vacation clubs tied to each of these vacation exchange programs.
RCI
Interval International
Want to learn more about vacation exchange networks? Then check out our video “RCI vs Interval International: Vacation Exchange Showdown.”
Are Vacation Clubs Worth It vs Staying at Hotels?
Sure, Vacation Clubs have a lot to offer, but are they worth it compared to just staying at hotels? Let’s take a look at what each form of vacation has to offer. With hotel bookings, you don’t have to worry about annual maintenance fees and can just enjoy simple, one-time vacations.
On the other hand, the resorts you can visit as a vacation club member have a lot to offer to make the experience once you get to your destination much more memorable. Vacation club resorts have amenities you won’t find at your average hotel. Movie theaters, water parks, and plenty of on-site restaurants are just a few of the great amenities you can enjoy at some timeshare resorts. Not to mention, these resorts are often conveniently located near popular vacation destinations. Want to visit Disney World? No problem! How about sitting right next to the ocean at Myrtle Beach? These resorts can make it happen! Plus, these resorts have spacious accommodations. In fact, they’re about three times the size of the average hotel room!
Learn more: Timeshare vs Hotel: Which is Right for Your Family?
How to Save Money While Joining a Vacation Club?
If you want to join a vacation club but want to save some money on the initial purchase price, there is a solution: the timeshare resale market. Buying resale lets you save money on that initial price, while still getting to enjoy the fantastic vacation properties that vacation clubs offer. It’s important to keep in mind that most vacation clubs have restrictions on your ability to access certain perks if you buy timeshares on the resale market. Resale owners also still have to pay maintenance fees, but if you want a vacation club membership without breaking the bank, buying resale may be worth it for you.
If you’d like to know more about timeshare resales, take a look at our video “Buying Timeshare Resale vs Direct: What to Know.”
Where to Buy a Timeshare Resale?
If you want to buy a timeshare resale, a great place to do it is Fidelity Real Estate. Our marketplace lets you find timeshare resorts from top developers like Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton Grand Vacations that offer all the comfort of your own home! No need to attend an in-person timeshare presentation, just make a few clicks to enjoy timeshare accommodations for a lower initial purchase price. Fidelity is a proud member of the American Resort Development Association, or ARDA, which means that when you work with us, you can rest assured that you’ll be working with one of the most reliable groups in the timeshare industry. If you think vacation clubs are worth it, then buy one at our marketplace today!
What If I No Longer Want My Timeshare Ownership?
On the other hand, if you’ve decided a vacation club isn’t worth it for you, we can help you too! At Fidelity Real Estate, we’ve been helping former vacation club members sell their timeshares. If you’re ready to say goodbye to your maintenance fees, fill out the form below. Still have questions? Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-410-8326 or email us at [email protected]. Our licensed agents are always happy to help!
