What Is a Vacation Club?
A vacation club is a membership-based travel program that gives you access to resort accommodations, typically at all-inclusive properties. Every vacation club is, legally, a form of timeshare — but the industry has evolved far beyond the old "buy a week at one resort" model.
Modern vacation clubs operate on points-based systems, giving members flexibility to choose when and where they travel. Programs like Royal Elite through Sandos Resorts offer access to multiple properties across Mexico, plus exchange networks like RCI that open up over 6,000 resorts worldwide.
Straight Talk
We use the term "vacation club" because that's how modern resort memberships are structured and marketed. But we'll never pretend it isn't a timeshare product. Transparency is the foundation of everything we do. If a program isn't right for you, we'll tell you.
How Promotional Stays Work
Resorts offer deeply discounted 3-7 night stays to qualified travelers in exchange for attending a 90-120 minute sales presentation. These are real vacations at full-access, all-inclusive resorts — not bait-and-switch deals.
To qualify, you typically need to be 25-70 years old, married or cohabitating couples, with a household income of $50,000+, and a valid credit card. Requirements vary by resort and program. The promotional rate covers your room and all-inclusive access — food, drinks, entertainment, pools, beach — everything a full-paying guest receives.
Featured Resort Families
Sandos Resorts
Four all-inclusive properties across Mexico's Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Known for eco-tourism, family experiences, and the Royal Elite premium membership tier with RCI Gold Crown exchange access.
Explore Sandos Promotions →Krystal International Vacation Club
Three resort brands spanning Cancún, Los Cabos, Nuevo Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, and Ixtapa. Part of the Santa Fe Hotel Group with 30 consecutive years of RCI Gold Crown recognition.
Coming Soon →Understanding RCI Exchange
RCI is the world's largest vacation exchange network with 6,000+ affiliated resorts. Gold Crown designation is the highest quality tier. Members can trade their home resort weeks for stays at properties worldwide.
Learn About RCI →Vacation Club vs. Timeshare: What's the Difference?
Legally, all vacation clubs are timeshares. The difference is in the structure. Traditional timeshares sold you a specific week at a specific unit — a deeded real estate interest. Modern vacation clubs sell points or right-to-use (RTU) memberships that give you flexible access across a network of properties.
Points-based systems let you choose shorter or longer stays, split trips across multiple resorts, or bank unused points for future years. The trade-off is that you're buying access, not real estate — which means lower resale value but greater flexibility.