Vacation Club

When was the last time you treated yourself to a vacation? Club dues, kid's school activity schedule, spouse's work schedule or some other reason holding you back from a relaxing weekend in the Bahamas?

Or maybe you would prefer to travel to Idaho for your next vacation? Clubs such as Warren Miller's exclusive Yellowstone Club provides great ski experiences, but require a hefty real estate price tag.

If you have small children or grandchildren, maybe a trip to take the tykes to Florida to go to Disneyworld is your next vacation. Club experiences abound inside the Magic Kingdom, so be sure to do plenty of research ahead of time.

All sorts of different vacation clubs exist today for travelers to join to receive some sort of discount. The question is, which vacation club is right for you? The truth of the matter is that only you are able to make the final decision. However, here are some things to consider when deciding whether a vacation club is the right way to go:

• Is there an upfront membership fee?
  Some vacation clubs will charge you an annual membership fee, regardless of whether or not you utilize their facilities prior to the end of the calendar year. If you do not plan on taking a vacation where you visit one of the vacation club's facilities every year, this probably isn't the right club to fit your needs.
• How significant are the savings?
  If you spend several hundred dollars each year on a vacation club membership, but are only able to recognize fifty dollars worth of vacation savings through club deals, the economics of the situation simply don't pencil out.
• What sort of perks to you get from the club?
  If your vacation club doesn't offer significant savings or a significant improvement in amenities over what you could get as a member of the "Joe Public" club, then don't waste your time with membership forms and dues.
• Are their calendar restrictions for members?
  As a member, if you aren't able to use your vacation club when it works with your family's schedule, what is the point of being a member? Family schedules are very demanding these days. Ask about peak versus off peak periods for both members and non-members. You may find there isn't a significant savings between the two categories.
• Is your membership transferable?
  We've all heard stories about the couple that arrives at the airport early, but can't use the airline's VIP lounge since only one of the couple is a member. Ask if the membership is assigned to a specific member of your family, or if any family member can enjoy the membership privileges, because there are some days when you may want to take a nap while your spouse sits poolside with the kids.