Which is the Best Destination Club?
Discerning members of Destination Clubs and Residence Funds enjoy access to private, luxury, vacation homes and appreciate the five-star travel services that the clubs provide.
For 20 years, SherpaReport analysts have interviewed club and fund members, visited homes, interviewed club management, and spent hundreds of hours researching the options
Based on this research, the best choice for you and your family depends on:
- your travel preferences
- your budget
- your feelings about club structure
1. Use the Selection Tool to get some initial ideas about suitable products.
2. Then download the comprehensive Guide to Destination Clubs, which includes details on over 20 programs.
By reading the Guide you'll learn about:
- The characteristics of destination clubs
- What to consider when reviewing the clubs
- Real services vs marketing brochures
- Current costs and hidden fees
- Key questions to ask the clubs prior to joining
- The home locations of the leading clubs
Destination club homes are located in over 25 countries around the world. They tend to be in prime locations in exclusive resorts and at beaches, in mountains and in major cities. Some of the more popular locations include:
- Beach: Los Cabos, Hawaii, Florida, Turks & Caicos, Bahamas
- City: London, New York, Paris, Chicago, Miami, Florence
- Leisure: Tuscany, Kiawah, Scottsdale, Napa Valley
- Mountain: Aspen, Vail, Telluride, Park City, Jackson Hole, Swiss Alps, French Alps
The homes are typically large, spacious, single family residences which are impeccably furnished and provide chefs kitchens and spa like bathrooms.
The average values of the homes varies depending on the club, with a range from about $1m (£700k) to well over $6m (£4m).
The SherpaReport Guide includes details on the locations of the homes for the leading clubs.
A large part of the appeal of club membership are the full services that they provide. The clubs ensure members can go on vacation and just relax and enjoy time with their friends and family.
The clubs help members plan and organize their whole vacation. The clubs vacation planners will help set up all aspects of the trip prior to departure, and local hosts or concierges are on site to look after members when they arrive. They will:
- book all air travel
- arrange car hire or ground transportation
- reserve restaurants, theater tickets or other cultural activities
- stock the pantry with your favorite food & wine
- arrange private chefs and book spa times
- book tee times, lift passes, tennis lessons, fishing trips or any other sports activity
- provide ideas, advice and arrangements for any other activities
Many clubs will meet you at the airport as you arrive and some clubs even provide complementary luxury vehicles as part of the membership.
Most clubs offer a variety of membership plans that provide from seven to over seventy nights of use of the club homes each year. Membership works similar to an exclusive country club, in that members pay a one time membership fee, and then pay annual dues and sometimes nightly fees.
The level of these fees varies depending on the average value of the club homes and the number of nights that a member chooses in their membership plan.
The SherpaReport Guide includes full details on the membership plans for the leading clubs.
The SherpaReport Guide is designed to educate you on the clubs and how they work. It includes a series of questions for you to ask the clubs to help find the one that is right for you and your family.
Answer the questions below and we'll suggest some initial clubs and then access the Guide.
By reading the Guide you'll learn about:
- How the destination clubs work
- What to consider when reviewing the clubs
- Comparisons of the leading clubs
- Comparisons to luxury vacation alternatives
- Comparisons of all membership costs
- Key questions to ask the clubs prior to joining
If you have any questions after reading the Guide, or you just want to discuss the Guide, please contact our President & Senior Analyst, Nick Copley. His email is included in the Guide.
Free Club Guide And Selection Tool
Readers Comments
It was very useful in helping me evaluate the clubs and their options. The list of questions to ask helped me analyze the myriad of options out there.
Jack L., Dover, MA
Thankyou. I really appreciate the work you did in putting this together.
Chris B., Denver, CO
For somebody like me who’s just starting to explore the subject, the report was very helpful.
Bob F., Rome, GA
Whats in the guide?
-
The characteristics of destination clubs and funds
-
Comparisons of the leading programs
-
What to consider when reviewing the options
-
Comparisons of membership costs
-
Key questions to ask prior to joining
For many people, the Guide is all they need. If you have any further questions after reading the Guide, please contact our President & Senior Analyst, Nick Copley. His email is included in the Guide.
SherpaReport has been featured in
I do appreciate having the whole landscape laid out in front of me in the Guide.
Brian W, Pittsburgh, PA
