With their promises of privacy, luxury and exclusivity, it is not surprising that destination clubs have moved to the top of A-listers vacation lists. Destination clubs provide spacious stand-alone homes offering privacy and personal service that even five-star hotels do not offer.

The destination clubs have varying rules covering use of the clubs homes by unaccompanied guests. We've summarized the rules for most of the leading clubs.

Joining a destination club can be a way to ensure great luxury getaways several times per year. Before committing to a club, potential members should be well-equipped to choose the club that best suits your needs. As minimum night requirements vary from club to club, it is important to look at the minimum number of nights for any given stay and be sure they suit your travel plans.

The International Herald Tribune estimates that there are fewer than 25 fractional developments in Europe, with just a few thousand fractional owners.

About three years in the making, Distinctive Holiday Homes (DHH) just opened its doors for new members in the summer of 2007. The years of careful planning and preparation have allowed this "members only" luxury destination club to raise the bar of opulent vacations.

The two destination clubs have both announced price increases in the last two days. Both sets of increases become effective in November.

As a first in the destination club industry, Solstice is acquiring a luxury villa within the eco-resort development of Warapuru, in Brazil.

Another destination club has just passed the 100 members mark, with LUSSO Collection announcing that it recently added its 100th new member.

The new "Associate Membership Plan" from Exclusive Resorts provides 10 nights of usage.

Luxury destination club LUSSO Collection recently announced the availability of its new home in Aspen Highlands.

This months issue of Smart Money Magazine has a 4 page article on villa rentals. The real focus of the article is on the inspections that some villa rental companies carry out to check on their properties.

Rick Aristotle Munarriz on the Motley Fool speculates that it’s only a matter of time before Disney comes out with its own destination club – Disney Escapes !

So you've decided fractional property ownership is for you. You realize that owning a second home is not as economical or practical as you once thought because you only use it a fraction of the year. You want the best, most desirable location without having to worry about upkeep or finding renters when you are not using the property. But before you buy, you still have some burning questions.

M Private Residences recently announced the increase of its property portfolio to 15, with the completion of their custom-built luxury vacation home in the heart of the Bear Mountain Golf Course community.

One of the strongest selling points of fractional ownership properties has long been the flexibility that it affords owners. However while the opportunity to purchase a fractional ownership property at a single destination is appealing to some, for globetrotting clientele being tied to a given destination resort can be less than ideal. Enter: the luxury fractional trading program.