Find the Best Vacation Clubs for 2024

Most vacation clubs are luxurious, with a steep membership fee.

Is it possible to save money on vacations by joining a vacation club?

Types of Vacation Clubs

Vacation clubs can be either equity vacation clubs or rental vacation clubs.   An equity vacation club invests your money.    Equity real estate funds are groups of people pooling money to buy property. They are similar to timeshares but may be a better investment.  Investors share ownership of property which may appreciate. Some corporations even buy them as perks for their employees.

Rental vacation clubs charge a membership fee so you get access to rent properties.

When you choose to invest in an equity vacation club, you own a small part of the underlying real estate. Your upfront fee funds the vacation club’s investment into new real estate.

In addition to the initial investment, you’ll also pay annual membership fees, ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 a year. This money goes towards paying for the maintenance and management of the properties in the portfolio.


Depending on how much you choose to invest you can vacation up to two months out of the year, while the minimum stay is one to two weeks.

VACATION CLUB LIST

The Ritz-Carlton® Destination Club

Destination Club
$25,000 and up - Ownership/Equity Fund

Whether you love the beach, the city, or the mountains, the Ritz-Carlton Destination Club has a property for you. Everyone loves the luxury and world-class…

More Details

Perks of Membership in Vacation Clubs

One perk of a vacation club can be last minute deals. Often these available times are made available to members at no cost, allowing you to vacation, or gift a vacation to a loved one at no additional cost.

equity residences home ownership in florida

Investors own premium homes with Equity Residences.

Equity Funds Property

Equity Fund properties are expertly chosen to give you the most vacation options but also for the greatest potential appreciation.

Usually, the properties are held for 10-12 years, after which the homes are sold, and the funds are distributed to investors.

Investors have a share of the time in which each can use the property. Some equity funds have 20+ different properties around the world in their portfolio.

Some even have relationships with resorts that allow you to use those properties as well.

An equity fund retains a management company to maintain the homes.

If the property has any unused time, the management company may rent it out to increase the income potential.

Destination Clubs – A Type of Vacation Club

Similar in structure to a timeshare, destination clubs are usually run by resorts. Within this model, a company builds vacation condos or resorts, which limits the number of shares they can sell. Members buy into the resort and can visit any of the resort’s participating locations.

Unlike equity funds, there is never a point where the company makes a sale and distributes capital to investors, nor can you sell back your membership at an increased value. If you want to unload your membership, you must independently find a seller to purchase it.

Although you are making a concrete investment, you likely will not see a financial return on your investment because resorts rarely appreciate in value.

Destination vacation clubs grant you guaranteed access to some of the best resorts in the world. You’ll enjoy amenities like world-class spas, fine dining, private beach access, and resort service on every vacation. Destination clubs also load up the perks and discounts.

pool and grass in Cabo San Lucas

Some vacation clubs own residences in a resort.

Other Vacation Clubs

Inspirato

Inspirato is a luxury club with an upfront fee and nightly rental rates.  Inspirato is not an equity club – members join Inspirato to have guaranteed access to premium properties.

Equity Estates

Equity Estates is an equity fund, meaning you will invest in a portfolio of more than 60 vacation residences in 30 countries. You can choose between beach, leisure, city, and mountain properties, so whether you want an alpine holiday or beach retreat, Equity Estates has choices for you.

In the current fund, each property is valued at $2-$5 million. Eventually, each of these properties will be liquidated and replaced by properties expected to see higher appreciation, using the financial investments of members.

Destination M

Destination M is an equity club, which owns exclusive destination homes and dream luxury vacation resorts for unforgettable family holidays without a planned liquidation event.

Based out of Canada, Destination M offers more than 30 luxury vacation properties in North and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. The properties are all close to amenities like premium shopping, delicious restaurants, sports, and wellness facilities and more fun activities, which influences their future valuation.

Rocksure Property

Based out of the UK, staying with Rocksure Property is indeed a luxury experience. Unlike other equity funds, you’ll have the choice of multiple portfolios in which to invest. Portfolios specialize in a part of the world, one city, or a type of home. Depending on which collection of properties you choose, you’ll have access to villas and apartments across Europe, Asia, Australia, or the U.S., all set to be liquidated within 7-10 years of purchase.

Rocksure Property represents a truly luxury brand of vacation clubs. Each apartment or villa is designed to the highest standards. The villas all feature a housekeeper and a cook, so you won’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning on your vacation.

Equity Residences

Equity Residences operates properties within the U.S. but has multiple portfolios from which to choose. Equity Residences specializes in U.S. residences, but you can access vacation properties across North and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, Russia, and the Caribbean through their partners.

Previous funds managed by Equity Residences, like the sold-out Equity Villa Fund, have appreciated more than 50% since its inception in 2012.

Investors in funds like this one have access to hundreds of other affiliate homes and fractional resort residences with on-site concierge and resort facilities. Members can exchange usage times for access to THIRDHOME’s portfolio of more than 9,000 luxury residences and world-class resorts around the globe.

Ritz-Carlton Club

When you invest in the Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, you’re investing in a trust that owns a title to the real estate, which means you can pass your membership on to your children. Unlike other destination clubs, instead of buying an amount of time, you’ll purchase points which can be used at your discretion. Point values for vacations are dependent on the length of stay and choice of destination.

Whether embarking on an adventure with the entire family or planning an intimate escape for two, these exclusive destinations and experiences will help you make cherished memories.

With membership in this club you’ll have access to all five of the Ritz-Carlton Club locations in the United States and the Caribbean, as well as 50 Marriott Vacation Club Resorts worldwide, and additional adventure and specialty travel options like safaris, wine tours, and cruises.

Hyatt Residence Club

HRC is a typical timeshare, but includes great trade benefits and has some of the best low-cost weeks available on the resale market.

Banyan Tree Private Collection

Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts are Asia’s premium resort organization. Banyan Tree Private Collection operates their own residences but also has relationships with resorts and other companies which grants you access to over 100 different luxury properties.

Banyan Tree PC is a vacation club with the option of selling or transferring the membership to someone else at any point. With this club, you can choose between 7-night or 14-night memberships. As investors join, the portfolio grows, so you’ll never run out of exciting vacation destinations to visit.

Membership is filled with perks including the ability to invite friends and family to stay with you free of charge and a membership card which grants you special discounts and privileges. If you don’t have time to plan your travel, Banyan Tree PC’s agents can handle that for you.

Luxus Vacation Properties

Many distinguished travelers prefer flexibility when choosing their next elegant vacation destination. Luxus Vacation Properties is a very exclusive organization that expands travel experiences for the extremely wealthy by invitation only. As an equity fund, Luxus Vacation Properties invests in the hottest vacation spots around the globe.

To view their select portfolio of international luxury properties, you must submit a request on their website to get permission.

The Hideaways Club

The Hideaways Club, also based in the UK, was designed as an alternative to buying a vacation home for people who love to travel but are usually too busy to deal with any of the related hassles. The Hideaways Club has multiple portfolios from which to choose.

If you’re looking for a city retreat, the City Collection features exquisitely designed apartments in cities like Dubai and Rome. This collection currently offers 11 properties managed by the Hideaways Club, but through investing in this portfolio, you’ll have access to more than 70 properties run by their affiliates in the Middle East, United States, Asia, and Europe.

The Classic Collection features 36 villas and chalets designed to bring you true relaxation in 25 of the world’s best vacation destinations. When you invest in the Classic Collection, you can also visit over 200 other properties through their partners and affiliates in North America, Asia, and Europe.

The Hideaways Club is an equity club, which means there is no schedule for liquidating property and distributing funds. The Hideaways Club hopes to expand each of their portfolios to feature at least 100 properties.

Curious?

Equity vacation clubs can give you the opportunity to invest your money wisely while having the chance to travel all over the world for the price of your investment. Why buy one vacation home when you can have access to five-star service in dozens of beautiful properties in all corners of the globe? Get all the perks of luxury home ownership without the downsides of maintenance by investing in fractional real estate.