One of my longest standing dreams is to own a holiday house or apartment. However, the added costs and ongoing maintenance have always made me think twice about taking the plunge. Something I had not considered until recently was the option of Vacation Ownership {VO}.
Vacation Ownership
What is Vacation Ownership you may ask? Essentially, it is a form of shared property ownership, something you might remember as Timeshare. With the rise of inflation and cost of living, an annual hotel vacay is out of reach for many SA families. This type of shared ownership has provided an excellent alternative for holidaymakers.
Today, Vacation Ownership has had a significant impact on the hospitality and leisure sector, creating a R3.5 billion per annum industry. The industry, according to The Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa (VOASA), includes over 200 resorts, as well as half-a-million shared owners throughout the country.
Top Benefits
Cost Effective
Your once-off upfront payment, as a shared vacation owner, secures your future holiday lifestyle at today’s prices. You will not only pay a fraction of the full ownership cost, but there is also no massive bill at the end of your stay, as your annual maintenance fee is spread over 52 weeks. The maintenance fee ensures that your accommodation is always in perfectly maintained.
Flexibility
The introduction of a points-based plan provides greater flexibility for the holidaymaker. Club members pay an upfront amount to purchase points, which can be redeemed for different annual vacation, no longer tying you to one vacation home each year. Instead, you can opt for various types of holidays, based on the resort location and time of the year. Family and friends can also take advantage of your purchase as the product is very flexible.
Spacious Accommodation
Vacation units are priced according to their size, facilities offered, the location of the resort, as well as the time of year used. Most standard hotel rooms are rather small unless you pay for a suite. With VO, however, you will have much more space! Most units offer several bedrooms, a fully fitted kitchen, a lounge and one to two bathrooms.
On-site Facilities
A few of the onsite facilities you can expect are swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, wellness spas, games room, horseback riding, mountain biking, as well as entertainment programmes for kids and adults alike.
Variety
There are over 200 luxury resorts, and a global portfolio of over 4000 resorts, through exchange companies such as RCI. You are therefore able to select from a wide variety of vacation destinations. Holidaymakers can choose from luxury apartments with breath-taking sea views, to rustic cabins in tranquil mountain settings. If like me, who suffers from Wanderlust, this could well be the best possible way to explore the beauty on our very own doorstep and that of the world.
In Closing
Vacation Ownership is something I would like to investigate further. I especially like the benefit of doing an international exchange. I think that this could drastically reduce the cost of international travel.
Contact Details
To find out more information about shared vacation ownership, visit the Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa (VOASA) website.
Images: Supplied 1) Nibela Lake Lodge. 2) Kiara Lodge, a 14-minute drive from Clarens, set amongst the Maluti Mountains. 3) Midlands Saddle and Trout, located just 13km outside Mooi River, ideal for exploring the fascinating Midlands Meander. 4) Nibela Lake Lodge, overlooking the beautiful Lake St Lucia. ©2010 – 2017 Inspired Living and Fiona Rossiter. {Please do not use any images featured on this website without written consent from the copyright holder and owner}
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