Vacation Travel Clubs – How Do They Work?
How Does a Travel Club Work? Basically, it works like this. Millions of timeshares, resort properties and luxury hotel rooms are left vacant each week. To recoup some of the costs associated with these properties, they will offer “expected vacancies” at discounted prices. Their thinking is that “I would rather get something than nothing at all”. Of course, they can’t offer the general public these discount prices or the end consumer (which is you and me) would never pay retail prices again. So, these resort owners offer large “lots” of these condos and villas to other corporations to market to their customers. Many of these properties are sold off to the big guys like Expedia, Orbitz or Travelocity. They in turn mark up these “discount” priced properties to cover their advertising expenses and pocket a return on their investment.
How is a Travel Club Different? A good portion of the properties that are left are sold on the wholesale market to vacation clubs. Some clubs will also mark up these properties before offering them to their customers. But, if you look hard, you can find a few that offer these properties to their members at the same price they acquired them. These are the real gems in the travel club industry. After paying an enrollment fee, the new member gains access to deeply discounted travel deals. Depending on the size of the club, these discounts can be regional, country specific or nationwide. Some travel clubs will offer hundreds of options to their members while some of the larger ones will have thousands of exclusive rentals available.
How Do I Choose a Good Travel / Vacation Club?
Here are some basics to consider when choosing a reputable club.Don’t overpay. A reputable travel club should not be charging thousands to join. A fee of 500-1,000 is quite reasonable.
3. Do they offer concierge service? A helpful concierge desk is a must when considering a travel club. They can help you book your vacation, offer traveling tips, help plan a wedding or family reunion.
4. Does the travel club have recurring fees? If so, don’t join. A reputable travel club should never charge.
5. Quality. A good travel club will offer its members 4 & 5-star resort accommodations. Be wary of clubs that simply offer hotel rooms or are specific to age or gender.
- Evaluate what they are offering. Does the travel club have resorts all over the world or are they specific to a particular state or region.
- Can you talk to someone on the phone? You would be surprised how many people purchase something only to find there is no customer support. You should have your questions answered by a real live person
How can I learn more? You can learn more about how to stay in 4-star resorts at 2-star prices by visiting us online.
