The Discovery Club Introduces Timeshare Trade In Program

By: Destination Club News
Date: March 3, 2010

If you describe the destination club model to someone who knows nothing about the concept, more times than not, you will get the same response: "So it's like a timeshare?"

While both timeshares and destination clubs offer shared vacation usage, the comparison essentially stops there. Timeshare owners traditionally have one week of access during the same time period, to the same property, year after year. To procure other dates or stay at other residences, owners can elect to trade with other owners who are in the same situation. Destination clubs give members access to a portfolio of properties that can be used at nearly any time, subject to availability.

Owning a timeshare may very well be a fantastic vacation option for some, but The Discovery Club is allowing those not satisfied with timeshare ownership the ability to "trade in" their timeshare towards a membership with their destination club.

"Do you love to travel, but feel restricted and tied down by your timeshare?" The Discovery Club asks. "Are you tired of travelling to the same property, at the same time, year after year? Do you feel like your timeshare is bleeding you dry with extra fees and maintenance costs? Not to mention the fact that you’d be lucky if it’s worth even half of what you initially paid for it. Let’s face it, timeshares can be vacation clunkers!"

"We hear from disgruntled timeshare owners all the time who feel stuck with their old timeshares even though they don’t use them anymore, so we’re inviting you to trade in your timeshare with us, and upgrade to the freedom and flexibility of traveling with The Discovery Club. We’ll give you up to $25,000 in trade-in value towards a membership in The Discovery Club."

Memberships with The Discovery Club currently begin at $49,000 at the Bronze level, providing approximately one week of annual access, to $270,000 for the club's Platinum plan, giving members roughly 42 nights of usage per year. The Discovery Club has an ever growing list of "affiliates" that "comprise a multitude of five-star destination hotels, resorts, and adventure travel experiences throughout the world." The structure employed by The Discovery Club is a departure from the standard destination club model where properties are purchased and owned by the club, but The Discovery Club remains a popular option, winning our most recent destination club property of the week vote, as chosen by readers.

This new program was first announced in December of last year and The Discovery Club plans on keeping the incentive alive as long as there is interest or until they reach a capacity of timeshares that they are willing to hold. According to Shawna Walker, Co-Owner of The Discovery Club, the timeshares obtained by the club through the trade in program will be resold to recoup some of the club's costs.

Timeshare ownership and destination club membership are two entirely different vacation options, but either may potentially fit your travel needs. If you would like to compare the two, request a free copy of our Destination Club Guide.