The year is coming to a close but if you are thinking that 2008 might be the year you take the destination club plunge, consider looking at membership plans now. Destination clubs routinely raise prices several times a year (late summer is another such rush), and early in the new year several clubs will bump up their deposit price tags.

Some clubs like Solstice, which raised deposit fees in November, have already boosted prices while others including OneKey, have no immediate plans to raise membership costs. But several other destination clubs are raising the bar of entry in the first quarter of 2008.

More homes, bigger price tag

Quintess will raise membership costs on January 1, citing the rollout of new homes in Santa Barbara, Calif., Steamboat Springs, Colo. and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Last month Quintess rolled out a series of new membership plans that offered an increased number of vacation days. The price of joining the 50 night Q5 plan for instance, which includes access to holiday reservations, will jump $15,000 to $425,000. Dues will remain at current rates.

Lusso Collection, a club that passed the 100-member mark this year, will increase prices early in the new year. Lisa Bergerson, a spokeswoman for the club said price increases have yet to be determined but that past rate jumps have ranged from $20,000 to $25,000.

Distinctive Holiday Homes, a club with 37 members, plans to raise membership costs March 1. The six available plans currently have deposit membership requirements ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 that secure members anywhere from seven to 35 vacation days a year. Prices will jump from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on the level of membership, with the most expensive plan topping out at $300,000.

BelleHavens has a series of deposit price increases that coincide with its release of new homes to members. Prices on the four plans will jump anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 depending on the plan and marketing director Michelle Stevens expects the next round to take effect in the first quarter of 2008.

Year end deals expiring

While Exclusive Resorts does not have a planned deposit price increase in the works it does have a deal with American Express that is expiring December 31. Card members can earn blocks of American Express membership rewards points when they purchase an Exclusive Resorts membership. For instance purchasing an Elite level membership for $459,000 gets you 1,000,000 American Express points. To secure the points, the card has to be used to pay for the entire deposit and the annual dues. Platinum and Centurion card holders get extra perks including membership fee discounts as well as gift cards. For instance a platinum card holder who buys that same Elite membership gets 1,100,000 membership points, a $22,000 membership fee discount as well as a $500 American Express gift card. And since points can be converted to airline miles on various carriers, members can use the perk to book freebie tickets for travel to the homes.

New club means new prices

The merger between Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes will likely close in early January and when complete the new company, Ultimate Escapes, will have three categories of club membership each with five levels of plans. Plans across the board will see price tags of at least $20,000 higher than the current cost of a plan at Ultimate Resort said CEO Jim Tousignant. Pre-merger, Ultimate Resort is throwing in an end of the year perk by automatically upgrading those who purchase a silver membership or higher to the next level.

Of course a credit card deal or a looming price increase shouldn’t be the only factor in a decision to join a destination club. For a a comprehensive look at the process of joining a destination club as well as a list of due diligence questions to ask each club, download our Decision Guide to Destination Clubs.