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The Value Options Part Two: The Cheapest Way into the Biggest Destination Clubs
| Written by Amy Gunderson 08/11/2008 |
In part one of this article we discussed the recent trend in the destination club industry of clubs offering lower-cost plans aimed at potential members who want to try the concept on for size before making a bigger financial commitment. Here’s an overview of entry-level options at seven large clubs. We’ve excluded Solstice, where deposits start at $615,000, as well as the new Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club, which has not yet released pricing ahead of its launch next month.
Club: Exclusive Resorts
Entry-level plan: Ten nights for a $140,000 deposit (that figure includes the club’s $35,000 initiation fee) and annual dues of $13,900.
Cost-per-night: $1,740
What you get: Access to the home portfolio of the largest destination club. Residences are located in some 35 locations and average $3 million in value.
What you sacrifice: Holiday access. Holiday reservations are sold on an à la carte basis, but you need to buy a plan with at least 20 nights in order to be considered eligible.
Club: Ultimate Escapes
Entry-level plan: 14 nights for a $70,000 deposit and annual dues of $8,000.
Cost-per-night: $671
What you get: The club’s Premiere Bronze plan gives access to a collection of homes in more than 25 locations, with an average value of $1 million.
What you sacrifice: Bigger homes. Homes in Ultimate Escapes’ higher-level Elite and Signature clubs tend to have more bedrooms and more square footage. Homes in the Premiere club are typically 2,000 square feet, with two- to four-bedrooms. Additionally, advanced holiday reservations at the Premiere Bronze level are available only every other year.
Club: Quintess, LRW
Entry Level Plan: 10 nights for a $98,000 deposit and annual dues of $12,000.
Cost-per-night: $1,445
What you get: Stays at the club’s portfolio of residences which average $4.25 million in value. One week can be reserved up to six months in advance, while the remaining three days can be booked within three months.
What you sacrifice: A higher deposit refund. In addition to forgoing holiday reservations, members at this level will receive a deposit refund of 75 percent instead of the 80 or 100 percent that Quintess members at other plan levels are guaranteed.
Club: High Country Club
Entry-level plan: Seven days for $30,000 and annual dues of $2,300.
Cost-per-night: $414
What you get: Members with an entry-level Companion membership can book stays at the club’s full collection of homes in some 29 locations. Most homes are 1,500 to 2,500 square feet, with two- to four-bedrooms.
What you sacrifice: Advanced holiday planning. Long-term holiday reservations that are booked up to a year in advance are only guaranteed to those with higher-levels of membership. Members at this level can only book holidays within four months.
Club: The Lusso Collection
Entry-level plan: 21 days for a $325,000 deposit and annual dues of $21,000.
Cost-per-night: $1,000
What you get: Holiday reservations and full access to the club’s residences in 16 locations.
What you sacrifice: Vacation days, but not much else. Lusso executives were careful to not strip this entry-level membership of the perks that come with the unlimited membership. One difference? Members at this level can have only one advanced reservation on the books at a time, versus two for the unlimited plan.
Club: One Key
Entry-level plan: 15 days for a $34,900 fee that is not refundable.
Cost-per-night: $2,327, however this can vary because the club’s points-based reservation system may yield more, or less, than 15 actual days of vacation.
What you get: Bookings at the club’s portfolio of 450 homes in 30 locations. The club has properties ranging from two- to six-bedrooms in most destinations.
What you sacrifice: Multiple vacations, if you use the plan in prime locations during the holidays. The club’s recent switch to a points-based system puts a premium on home size, location and holiday usage, so it is possible that a 15-day plan could be used up by a single, seven-day vacation.
Club: Distinctive Holiday Homes
Entry-level plan: Seven days for a $59,000 deposit and annual dues of $5,900.
Cost-per-night: $1,011
What you get: : Access to a diverse collection of residences in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
What you sacrifice : Multiple advanced reservations. The plan allows for just one advance booking to be made up to two years in advance, but given that most of the homes are located outside of the U.S., you might spend the full seven days at a single residence. Extra days can be booked for $900 a piece—a price that comes down to as low as $450 a night on higher-level plans.
Do you want to learn more about these destination clubs? Download our Decision Guide to Destination Clubs
Reader Feedback
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From: amygMonday, August, 11, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Greg- In fact the booking window for holiday reservations is longer for club members with higher levels of membership at High Country Club. Members with the highest level Private plan can make their holiday reservations up to a year in advance. Members with the Affiliate plan can make holiday bookings six months out. Members with this entry level Companion plan can only book holidays four months in advance. Being able to book holidays in advance can be a big draw for members and High Country Club offers a bigger window to those with the more expensive plans.
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From: TxnCruzrTuesday, August, 12, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Your comment regarding LUSSO 21 leaves me speechless... how is 21 days with daily maid service, travel concierge, vehicle onsite, and included airport transfers in luxury properties of the 3-4m range considered, "What you sacrifice: Vacation days, but not much else"? And, in clarification for anyone confused about the offering, the one "advanced" reservation is a vacation that is booked 1-2 years out. In addition to that, a "21" member may have 2 "standard" reservations on the books at any one time -- booked within 1 year of travel. Not a bad deal, given the quality of the properties and the amenities the club offers for only $1k per night! (And, 100% of the deposit if you ever leave the club...)
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From: amygTuesday, August, 12, 2008 at 09:02 AM
TXNCRUZR: I think we are on the same page here. In fact, the article says that the 21 day plan compared to the unlimited plan doesn't mean sacrificing much other than access to an unlimited amount of vacation days. Amenities are the same for both 21 members and unlimited members--in fact, when Lusso rolled out this plan a few weeks ago they were quick to point out that this new plan doesn't mean giving up those Lusso perks. There are however some differences in the number of advanced reservations that I thought were worth noting. Hope that clears up any confusion.
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From: TxnCruzrTuesday, August, 12, 2008 at 09:33 AM
My apologies... as I missed the part about "What you sacrifice", and only saw what followed. Thanks for your reply!




From: GregMonday, August, 11, 2008 at 11:17 AM
your comment on HCC for long term reservation is confusing - they allow a one week member to book it. You say ..."Long-term holiday reservations that are booked up to a year in advance are only guaranteed to those with higher-levels of membership." This is confusing or wrong.