‘Lifetime value of a British Traveller’ revealed

As the UK recovers from Bank Holiday chaos, RCI, the world’s largest timeshare exchange company, revealed the lifetime value of the British traveller. According to new research commissioned by RCI in conjunction with Mintel, on average Britons spend 840 days holidaying abroad and pay £39,900 on accommodations alone over the course of their lifetime.

The study, to find the ‘Lifetime Value of a British Traveller’, showed that in 2007 the average Brit went on two holidays a year, each lasting one week, generating a total spend of £665 on accommodation - this equates to a huge £39,900 across a lifetime.

And yet the fact that over half of people in the UK now plan to forgo an overseas holiday** suggests worrying times ahead for the travel industry.

The ongoing global credit crunch, a cooling property market and inflation have resulted in the majority of people viewing holidays as a luxury purchase, with only 17% of the population seeing them as a ‘necessary’ spend, according to the study.

However, holidaymakers need not miss out. RCI, the world’s largest timeshare exchange company, can deliver the same holiday time to its members at a massive saving of more than £23,000 on average per person.

An RCI member, who owns a timeshare, will spend an average of just £15,175 on holidays of the same duration in their lifetime. The RCI exchange network may allow members to exchange their RCI Points or Weeks for holidays at over 4,000 affiliated resorts worldwide.

RCI has reported a dramatic increase in enquiries for its ‘Weeks’ and ‘Points’ products, which is not surprising when you compare what its members spend compared to the ‘Lifetime Value of a British Traveller’ figures revealed in the research.

Brett Archibald, senior vice president, business development at Group RCI in the UK, comments: “During the credit crunch, timeshare represents increasingly good holiday value and although many Brits may be forced to cut back, Group RCI members can rest assured that they have budgeted in advance for a well-earned holiday. In addition, our members can choose breaks from a wide portfolio of holiday properties, such as lakeside retreats in Finland, a spa hotel in the UK, or perhaps a beach resort in Florida.”

Worldwide Selection of top timeshare resorts

Club Mahindra Varca Beach, Goa - RCI Resort Number 4883

Club Mahindra Varca is located in the south of Goa. The development of apartments has its own beach, only five-minutes walk from the resort. Built in characteristic Goan architectural style, the resort is a heaven for luxury lovers with its exquisite decor, luxurious comfort and breathtaking views. The air conditioned rooms and suites with attached balconies make it a perfect place to sip on a drink and relax.

The central feature is the tiered swimming pool and children's pool. Other facilities include bar, restaurant, indoor games, boating, waterskiing, scuba diving and snorkelling.

Prices for a 1 bedroom apartment start at €4,160

Prices for a 2 bedroom apartment start at €6,400

Residence Portoselvaggio, Italy - RCI Resort Number 7643

Situated on the unspoilt coast of Apulia, overlooking the transparent Ionian Sea, Porto Selvaggio is the only RCI seaside resort in Italy with English speaking staff to look after your every need during your stay, whether it’s help with booking restaurants or suggesting beautiful places to visit.

Prices for a 1 bedroom apartment start at €3,000

Prices for a 2 bedroom apartment start at €4,200

Resort Peñíscola Plaza, Spain - RCI Resort Number 5326

This resort is located in the northern part of Peñíscola. It is fascinating to explore the narrow streets of this ancient village and the castle, built in the 13th century by the Order of Temple, which was used as the residence of Pope Benedicto XIII. Do not miss la lonja, the fish market at the harbour, where you can buy excellent seafood. The resort offers one of the largest and modern spa centres in Spain, which includes thalassotherapy treatments.

Prices for a 1 bedroom apartment start at €10,000

Resort Jardines del Plaza, Spain - RCI Resort Number 3052

The resort is located in the northern part of Peñíscola. It is fascinating to explore the narrow streets of the ancient village and the castle, built in the 13th century by the Order of Temple, which was used as the residence of Pope Benedicto XIII. Do not miss la lonja, the fish market at the harbour, where you can buy excellent seafood. The resort's sister property and the nearby resort Peñíscola Plaza offer one of the largest spa centres in Spain, which include thalassotherapy treatments.

Prices for a 2 bedroom apartment start at €10,000

Laguna Holiday Club, Phuket, Thailand - RCI Resort Number 8715

Discover a world of luxurious vacation living here, with beautiful appointed suites facing tranquil lagoons and lush greenery. An exclusive resort within easy reach of the Andaman Sea, The resort offers the comfort of home and the fun of a resort. Guests can enjoy a multitude of activities including riding on top of a majestic elephant, relaxing at the many renowned spas, teeing off at an award winning 18-hole golf course or simply unwinding beneath a swaying palm tree.

Prices for a 1 bedroom apartment start at €10,360

Summer Bay Resorts, Florida, USA - RCI Resort Number 3175

This intimate vacation destination is located on the grounds of beautiful Summer Bay Resort, just minutes from Walt Disney World(R) and Universal Studios. The resort offers several heated pools; a beach with water-sports activities including Jet Skis; an interactive water feature; Kokomos Tiki Bar; miniature golf; on-site Disney ticket sales; an exercise room; games room; horseshoes; volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts; shuffleboard; and children and family activity programs. Free transportation is provided to the Disney parks.

Prices for a 1 bedroom apartment start at £10,800

Top 5 Tips for Purchasing Timeshare

Timeshare is a great way of vacationing and caters for many different holiday preferences. It is important to establish your own personal and family holiday wishes when choosing a timeshare. The Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE), established to promote fair trading in the timeshare industry, has compiled the following list of things to think about when choosing a timeshare property.

1. Compare timeshare concepts and resorts to find the most suitable. Getting the right location with available amenities is vital, so select a well-situated development which appeals to the whole family. If you are likely to want to resell or exchange in the future, the location will prove even more important to your choice.

2. Remember to factor in the costs of travelling to your holiday apartment and the annual charges for upkeep of the resort where you own

3. Buy from a well-established developer or selling agent who has a reputation for fair dealing. Developers who are members of the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE) must comply with a strict code of ethics.

4. Know the legislation and check what cooling-off period is allowed before signing any contract as UK regulations differ from those in the EU. All OTE members offer a cooling off period for ALL products, including resale.

5. If you wish to have the flexibility to swap world-wide, the timeshare resort should be affiliated to an exchange organisation, such as Resort Condominiums International (RCI). Check any claim to affiliation.

For more information about Group RCI visit rci.com