Featured Property: The Hideaways Club South Africa

By: Destination Club News
Date: June 13, 2010

The 2010 World Cup is in full swing, already including its fair share of incredible goals and high octane drama. In honor of the first World Cup hosted on African soil, we featured properties throughout South Africa in our destination club property of the week vote, with readers selecting The Hideaways Club, edging out both The Oyster Circle and The Markers Club.

Nearly a year ago, The Hideaways Club introduced two South African properties to their property portfolio: Villa Arabella and Villa Steenberg. Not only had the destination been highly requested by members, but both residences also were "excellent" investments for the club.

Over the past week, readers selected Villa Arabella over other options, a four bedroom home just an hour outside Cape Town. Providing views of the largest natural lagoon in the country, making it a safe haven for a wide range of indigenous bird species.

Situated on a gated estate with around the clock security, the spacious residence sleeps eight and makes use of large windows to make use of the natural light. The living and dining areas both overlook the garden and heated pool, spanning 14 meters by 2.5 meters, ideal for lap swimming. Wooden beamed ceilings and gray stone walls grace the home's interior, as do a list of modern amenities including flat screen televisions, DVD players, an iPod music system, and Nintendo Wii console and games.

Both Villa Arabella and Villa Steenberg are currently in use by members of The Hideaways Club who are enjoying the World Cup in person. The club also set up club members with an over night safari adventure and wine tour to make their vacations even more memorable.

We profiled the destination clubs in South Africa last week, a list that continues to grow for its strong value, culture, and activities. Members of both Exclusive Resorts and the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club have also been able to visit Africa's southernmost country and The Markers Club, the world's only golf focused club, has unveiled The Markers Club Africa, a subsidiary of the club situated in South Africa.

Unlike timeshares or second home ownership, destination clubs give members access to dozens of vacation options around the world. Similar to a country club, members typically pay a refundable membership deposit to join and annual dues for every year they remain with the club. Members have access to travel planners, akin to a financial advisor who helps make reservations, create itineraries for each vacation, and offer an insider's perspective on each property and destination. If you would like to learn more about the destination club concept, request a free copy of our Destination Club Guide where you will find a history of the industry, suggested due diligence questions, and contributions from executives across the industry.