Affordable Exclusive Travel Clubs for Unique Experiences

Overview of the Changing Travel Club Landscape

Andria Gutierrez is a marketing executive in Lake Tahoe, California, who loves to travel — but doesn’t love the time suck of researching vacations. “When I was younger, I planned all my own trips,” she says. “But now that I own a business, I just don’t have the spare hours anymore.”

That’s why she recently joined Allcall, which offers personalized itineraries and exclusive deals to members. She has already taken three Allcall trips, including a multi-state ski trip and a vacation in Baja California, Mexico. “The team is incredibly helpful and responsive,” Gutierrez says. “They make the planning process so efficient.”

While some established outfits like Exclusive Resorts and Wheels Up have catered to the ultra-wealthy for years, a number of new clubs are opening their doors. One reason is, of course, a new obsession with safety.

“Health has become the paramount concern of our members,” says Melissa Biggs Bradley, founder of Indagare, which plans and books trips for its members. “We have a ton of information on COVID protocols, and the team takes care of understanding those, even as they change all the time.”

There are other factors at play. “I’d traveled independently for decades,” says Suzy Kellems Dominik, an artist from New York City. But hearing about an opportunity to visit Modena, Italy, with acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana was enough to convince her to join Prior, a company that started in 2019.

“What’s so interesting is that they have this access,” Kellems Dominik says. “It’s intellectual and emotional travel — the imagination is just endless — and they curated a group of very interesting people who were all like-minded around food.”

This ability to open doors is also drawing travelers who don’t normally think of themselves as joiners. Around half of all millennials are now considering joining some form of travel club, according to one industry survey, outpacing the interest from Gen Xers and baby boomers. Moreover, Exclusive Resorts, which charges an additional fee per day for trips on top of the cost of membership, has seen a surge of interest from young families. In 2020, the company notched its best December in nine years, despite the pandemic.

Choosing the Right Travel Club for You

So which of these clubs is right for you? It all depends on what you’re looking for — and how much you’re ready to invest.

For Upscale Private Stays

Exclusive Resorts boasts a portfolio of over 400 vacation homes, in addition to members-only cruises and expeditions. Inspirato grants access to villas in over 180 locations; members can also board cruises arranged by the company. A more affordable choice is Koala, allowing travelers to book one-off stays in timeshares globally.

For a Like-Minded Community

El Camino started as a small-group-trip operator focused on helping women travel to new destinations but has since unveiled El Camino Travel Clubhouse, a platform for members to participate in virtual events and discussions about upcoming trips. Manifest, which premiered in August 2020, has chapters in cities throughout the United States. “We create a social aspect, with people getting to know each other outside of just traveling together,” founder Jeff Potter explains.

For Feel-good Trips

The emerging wellness website and app MyLifeWell launched in 2020 with virtual fitness classes and a selection of workout gear. Now it connects subscribers with travel advisors who specialize in booking wellness retreats at Canyon Ranch properties, among others.

For the Commitment-phobic

The high cost of clubs has historically been a barrier to signing up. However, in the spring of 2020, Prior lowered its price tag to attract a more diverse group of adventurers. “I don’t want a club in the sense of shutting people out,” founder David Prior says. iBestTravel launched its own affordable subscription club, promising preferential rates and insider experiences worldwide.

A version of this story first appeared in the June 2020 issue of iBestTravel under the headline Join the Club.