Holiday Clubs - Making the Right Choice
Posted: Tuesday, June 20, 2006
by John Davids
Timelinx
With the holiday season upon us, Timelinx offers the following guide for tourists who may be appro
First of all, Holiday Clubs and Timeshare Clubs are not the same thing.
Holiday Clubs offer access to resorts or villas that are not normally open to the public or are offered at a discount on the normal retail price. They are similar to Lifestyle companies in that they usually offer a range of other personal benefits such as a helpline, airport lounges, retail discounts etc.
Timeshare on the other hand offers:
A - The ownership or fractional ownership of a property
B - Specific right of occupation for a specific number of weeks per year contracted for three years or more.
It is important to understand the differences between the two before deciding to purchase either Holiday Club ownership or Timeshare ownership.
Points to be aware of:
1. Never purchase membership of any Club because you feel pressurised into it, or ‘just to get away from’ the salesperson. If you feel that the product is not for you just say ‘No’. If you have to, just walk away
2. Ask for references from the marketer that shows that they are a reputable company. If ‘Big Names’ are thrown in to the presentation to impress you, ask for evidence of a relationship with these ‘Big Names’
3. Never purchase membership of a Holiday Club without being given in writing a seven day cooling off period. This is your right under European law and if you decide to withdraw from the contract during the seven day period, the company is obliged to refund any monies paid by you in full
4. Seek proof that the Club has actual access to holidays for your use. It is absolutely reasonable to see evidence of availability, including high season such as July and August
5. Check that the Club is ABTA bonded. An ABTA number is proof that bonding is in place to ensure that your future holidays are covered against the financial failure of carriers, agents and tour operators
6. Seek proof that the Club can demonstrate the benefits which are explained to you during the presentation. An easy way to do this is ask for a direct comparison between the Clubs prices and those shown for the same product on the Internet or in a holiday brochure
7. Ensure that anything that you are promised is put in writing and is consistent with the product advertising. For example, check the product benefits on their public website
8. Beware of anyone that promises to rent weeks that are allocated to you through your membership to earn you income. Always bear in mind that if these companies could rent the weeks allocated to you for a much higher amount than they propose to rent them to you, why would they want you to be involved?
9. If you are already an owner of a Holiday Club or a Timeshare week beware of anyone claiming to be able to sell your existing ownership on your behalf if you purchase their product. This is a well know technique that is rife in the Timeshare industry and is called a ‘Buy Sell’
10. Holiday Club ownership, like Timeshare, is not an investment, it is a Lifestyle choice. Do not be taken in by promises of investment growth, future re-sales or potential ‘rental’ of your membership to other people.
This information has been produced by Timelinx in order to give general advice and to highlight some of the areas which will help you to decide upon whether or not to purchase a Holiday Club membership.
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