Paradise Destination Club
Properties

The properties of Paradise Destination Club was what the young club marketed most, proclaiming the benefits that their club had over other clubs such as Exclusive Resorts and Private Escapes, both leaders in the field.

Creating a list of suggested due diligence questions, daring interested parties to ask these questions of the more established club. "What other club will answer them as we do and prove it?" Paradise suggested.

According to club literature, Paradise had a far more sustainable business model at cheaper rates than other clubs.

  • "No Paradise Destination Club properties have a mortgage - zero debt properties."
  • "Paradise Destination Club has Zero Mortgage Payments."
  • "Paradise Destination Club homes are not leased."
  • "Paradise Destination Club has NO lease payments."
  • "Paradise Destination Club never allows rental in a Club Home."
  • "The only indebtedness the club has is the upkeep of the residences which is more than 100% covered by the annual dues."

While all true, it appears that the reason that they were accurate was because the "destination club" more closely resembled a vacation exchange program where members traded access to their vacation homes for use at other properties. In the long run, Paradise likely planned to use new membership deposits to acquire properties themselves.

This type of design can be a very attractive option for select travelers, but is widely considered not to fit the rather generic definition of a destination club.

According to the club, members had access to a collection of several thousand properties around the world through this trade network. The numbers below indicate the "homes in area requesting a trade" according to the club. Despite being headquartered in Baton Rouge, it appears that the club had a decidedly European focus to their club.

  • Europe - 934
  • Canada - 133
  • United States - 534
  • Africa - 19
  • Asia - 13
  • Australasia - 245
  • Caribbean and Atlantic Islands - 13
  • Central America - 23
  • South America - 8

While this structure does have benefits, it does have drawbacks. Namely the need to contribute your own vacation property to the club for use by other members and a widely varying travel experience based on different home values and designs. True destination clubs strive to provide a consistent travel experience every time with touchpoints before, during, and after every trip to ensure that every detail is taken care of.

To learn more about the various differences between destination clubs and other luxury travel options, request a free copy of our Destination Club Guide.