| Holiday clubs typically have a worse reputation than | | | | of sun-kissed beaches and happy looking tourists - |
| timeshare, yet still many people fall for the bogus | | | | supposedly existing customers - and glowing |
| club scams every year. The reason for this is due | | | | 'testimonies'. They may tell you that their holidays are |
| mostly to the glossy sales technique used to present | | | | cheaper than anything you'll find on the high street, |
| the benefits of buying into a holiday club; the | | | | and you can have a fantastic holiday in a fabulous |
| high-pressure way the sale is presented leaves you | | | | location whenever it suits you. |
| signing the contract before you can think. | | | | The reality is that discounts aren't guaranteed and |
| A holiday club is similar to a timeshare in that you pay | | | | you could probably get the same price at a local high |
| a fee to gain discounted holidays throughout the | | | | street retailer or by booking online. Dates and |
| year. The difference is, a timeshare is just in the | | | | destinations aren't guaranteed either, and you'll |
| same resort for the same week every year whereas | | | | probably find that the dates you require aren't even |
| a holiday club can be almost anywhere, and for | | | | available when you come to book your holiday. You |
| almost any week. You have to pay a deposit and | | | | will have to pay the annual subscription charges |
| joining fee to the club, and then an annual | | | | whether you actually book a holiday with the club or |
| subscription which covers the cost of the | | | | not; if the dates you need aren't available you'll |
| accommodation. Sometimes the club may use a | | | | effectively pay for a holiday you haven't had. |
| points system - allowing members to accumulate or | | | | You may also be told that you can sell on your club |
| buy points which they can then 'cash in' for holidays. | | | | membership and get your money back if you change |
| Holiday clubs will typically start by inviting you to a | | | | your mind; the fact is that these memberships have |
| 'free day out' at a top hotel - which really means a | | | | a typical resale value of zero, even if you can find a |
| day-long lecture - sorry, presentation - on why you | | | | buyer. |
| should buy shares in a holiday club. Sometimes, the | | | | There are some reputable holiday clubs out there, |
| clubs will approach you while on holiday, use 'free | | | | but you have to learn to spot the fakers to find the |
| holiday' scratch cards or call you on the phone saying | | | | real deals. If the club allows you to have a few days |
| you've won a free holiday...but you have to attend a | | | | at home to think about the offer and read the |
| presentation to claim it. These 'presentations' are | | | | contract - which should have all the points mentioned |
| often so high-pressured that the unfortunate | | | | in the presentation written within - then the chances |
| audience sign the contracts out of sheer desperation | | | | are it's the genuine thing. Make sure you have |
| to leave. | | | | cancellation rights, which should also be written in the |
| The representatives blind you with glossy brochures | | | | contract. |