What Holiday Inn Club Vacations is

Holiday Inn Club Vacations is a timeshare program run by IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) that lets you buy the right to stay at affiliated resorts for a set number of years. You pay an upfront purchase price, then annual maintenance fees, in exchange for a certain number of vacation days each year at properties branded as Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts or partner locations worldwide.

The program operates on a points system. When you buy in, you receive an annual points allotment that you use to book stays. The number of points required varies by resort, season, and room type — a beachfront property in peak season costs more points than an inland resort in off-season. Points that go unused in a given year may roll over to the next year, though there are limits on how many you can carry forward.

Unlike a hotel stay you pay for once and forget, a timeshare requires you to commit to paying maintenance fees every year for as long as you own the contract, typically 25 to 50 years depending on the deed terms.

Key Takeaways

  • Holiday Inn Club Vacations requires both an upfront purchase price (typically $5,000 to $25,000 or more) and annual maintenance fees (usually $500 to $2,000 per year) that increase over time.
  • You receive annual points to book stays at Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts and some partner properties, with point values changing by season and location.
  • Points you don't use may roll over to the next year, but there are caps on how many you can carry, and unused points eventually expire.
  • Exiting a timeshare contract is difficult and often costly; many owners who want out find resale values far below their purchase price or encounter scams when trying to sell.
  • The contract locks you into decades of obligations, so understanding the full cost and your actual vacation habits before buying is critical.

Purchase price and how the points system works

When you buy into Holiday Inn Club Vacations, you pay a one-time purchase price to the company or a reseller. Prices vary widely depending on the resort, the number of points you're buying, and whether you're buying directly from IHG or on the resale market. Direct purchases from the company typically range from $5,000 to $25,000 or higher; resale purchases are often cheaper but come with their own risks.

Once you own the contract, you receive a set number of points each year. You use those points to reserve rooms at Holiday Inn Club Vacations properties. The cost in points depends on the resort's location, the time of year, and the room category. A standard room at a less-popular resort during low season might cost 4,000 to 6,000 points per week, while a premium oceanfront suite during peak season at a desirable location could cost 12,000 to 20,000 points or more for the same week.

IHG also allows you to exchange points for stays at other hotel brands within the IHG portfolio (such as InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, or Holiday Inn regular properties) through their exchange program, though the point values and availability vary.

Annual maintenance fees and other costs

Every year you own the timeshare, you pay maintenance fees to cover the upkeep of the resorts, staff, utilities, and property taxes. These fees are separate from your purchase price and are mandatory. Initial maintenance fees typically range from $500 to $2,000 per year, depending on the size and location of your points package and the specific resort.

Maintenance fees are not fixed. They increase annually, often by 3 to 5 percent per year or more, according to IHG's discretion and actual resort costs. Over a 25-year ownership period, a fee that starts at $800 per year could grow to $1,600 or higher by the end of the contract.

Beyond maintenance fees, you may encounter additional costs: special assessments if a resort needs major repairs, transfer fees if you want to move your points to a different resort within the program, exchange fees if you book through IHG's partner network, and guest certificate fees if you want to give your vacation week to someone else. Some owners also pay for title insurance or legal review when purchasing.

How points roll over and expire

If you don't use all your points in a given year, most of them roll over to the next year. However, IHG caps how many points you can carry forward — typically you can hold no more than 150 percent of your annual allotment in any given year. Points that exceed that cap are lost.

Additionally, points have an expiration date. Points from the current year usually remain valid for 24 months from the date they were issued. After that window closes, they expire and cannot be used. This means if you receive 10,000 points in January and don't book a trip within two years, you lose those points even if you paid maintenance fees to own them.

The rollover and expiration rules are designed to encourage annual usage, but they also mean you must actively track your points balance and plan vacations around the calendar to avoid losing money.

Resale market and exit challenges

If you want to sell your Holiday Inn Club Vacations timeshare, you have two main routes: sell directly to another buyer (private resale) or list it through a resale broker. The resale market for timeshares is typically much weaker than the primary market. Most timeshares resell for 50 to 70 percent less than the original purchase price, and some sell for pennies on the dollar or don't sell at all.

The resale process can take months or years, and you may encounter scams. Some companies charge upfront fees to list your timeshare, promising to find a buyer but delivering nothing. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general regularly warn consumers about timeshare exit scams.

Giving away your timeshare is also difficult. Even if you offer it for free, the new owner must assume your maintenance fee obligations and sign a new deed, which requires IHG's approval. Many people find themselves unable to exit their contracts without paying a lawyer to negotiate a release, which can cost thousands of dollars.

Contract length and long-term commitment

Holiday Inn Club Vacations contracts typically run for 25 to 50 years, depending on the specific deed you purchase. This means you are legally obligated to pay maintenance fees for decades, even if your vacation habits change, your financial situation shifts, or you straightforward decide you no longer want the timeshare.

If you stop paying maintenance fees, IHG can pursue collection action, report the debt to credit bureaus, or in some cases foreclose on the deed. Bankruptcy does not automatically eliminate timeshare obligations in all jurisdictions, though some states offer stronger protections for timeshare owners than others.

Before signing a contract, carefully consider whether you will realistically take vacations at Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts every year for the next 25 to 50 years, and whether the total cost (purchase price plus decades of maintenance fees) makes sense compared to booking hotel stays independently.

Comparing costs: timeshare versus paying per stay

To decide whether Holiday Inn Club Vacations makes financial sense for you, compare the total cost of ownership against what you would pay to book the same vacations without a timeshare.

For example, suppose you buy a timeshare for $15,000 with an initial maintenance fee of $1,000 per year. Over 25 years, assuming maintenance fees increase by 3 percent annually, you will pay roughly $15,000 upfront plus approximately $32,000 to $35,000 in maintenance fees — a total of $47,000 to $50,000. That works out to roughly $1,880 to $2,000 per year in average annual cost.

If you take one week-long vacation per year at a Holiday Inn property, you need to compare that $1,880 to $2,000 annual cost against what you would pay to book a similar room at a Holiday Inn or comparable hotel for one week each year. If nightly rates at your preferred resorts average $150 to $200 per night, a seven-night stay costs $1,050 to $1,400 — meaning the timeshare costs more than paying per stay, especially when you factor in the upfront purchase price.

The timeshare becomes more cost-effective only if you take multiple vacations per year, consistently book premium resorts during peak seasons, or can reliably use all your points every year without waste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Holiday Inn Club Vacations points at any Holiday Inn hotel?

No. Holiday Inn Club Vacations points work only at resorts branded as Holiday Inn Club Vacations properties and at partner resorts within IHG's exchange network. Regular Holiday Inn hotels are not part of the program. You can exchange points for stays at other IHG brands like InterContinental or Crowne Plaza, but availability and point costs vary.

What happens to my points if I don't use them in a year?

Unused points roll over to the next year, but you can carry forward no more than 150 percent of your annual allotment. Points expire 24 months after they are issued. If you don't book a trip within two years, those points are lost, even though you paid maintenance fees to own them.

Can I get out of my Holiday Inn Club Vacations contract?

Exiting is difficult. You can try to resell on the secondary market, but resale prices are typically far below purchase price and sales can take months or years. You can attempt to give the timeshare away, but IHG must approve the transfer and the new owner assumes all maintenance fee obligations. Some owners hire lawyers to negotiate a release, which costs money and is not always successful.

Do maintenance fees ever stop increasing?

No. Maintenance fees increase annually at IHG's discretion, typically by 3 to 5 percent per year or more. Over a 25-year contract, fees can roughly double. You are obligated to pay them for the entire length of your contract regardless of increases.

Is buying a Holiday Inn Club Vacations timeshare on the resale market cheaper than buying directly from IHG?

Yes, resale prices are usually lower than direct purchase prices because the resale market is weaker. However, resale purchases carry risks: you may encounter scams, title issues, or unexpected fees. Have any resale contract reviewed by a lawyer before signing, and be wary of sellers or brokers who charge upfront fees before finding a buyer.