If you’re looking for a more cost-effective way to get away for a couple of weeks every year, you may have considered purchasing a holiday lodge or a timeshare.
The two types of holiday property have their similarities, but they’re also very different, so we’re going to take a look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Holiday Lodges
Holiday lodges have quickly established themselves as one of the go-to options for luxury self-catered holidaymaking in the UK.
The lodges themselves are usually constructed from timber and are spacious and modern.
The timber construction makes these lodges feel incredibly snug, and they’re a lot like your conventional home, often with a few added luxuries!
Lodges are fully furnished with luxury furnishings and the latest modern appliances. Many will include en-suite master bedrooms, with your own outdoor hot tub on the decking another popular feature.
As for how much all of this will set you back, it varies from park to park, but you can often find a week’s rental for under £500, even during the peak seasons (remember that this covers the whole family, and lodges can sometimes accommodate as many as six people).
Some of the top parks may charge closer to £1,000 during peak periods, although this price could drop significantly during Spring or Autumn.
Bear in mind that for your money, you don’t just get access to the lodge, but usually a range of other activities and amenities such as a swimming pool, tennis courts and children’s play areas.
Holiday lodges offer up a range of different holidays, whether you simply wish to get away from it all and relax for a quiet weekend, spend your time enjoying the park facilities, or simply wish to use it as a base to explore the surrounding towns and countryside.
And if you really love your holiday lodge, you could even consider purchasing one for yourself, which you can then rent out while you’re not using it for a bit of income on the side.
If this is something that interests you then it might be worth heading to Sell My Lodge to investigate further.
Timeshares
On the other hand, timeshares have garnered something of an unsavoury reputation. While they’re not necessarily always a bad idea, it is important to know what they are and what you’re getting into!
With a timeshare, you essentially own a ‘slice’ of a holiday property, which you can use for a certain period (usually a week or two weeks) once a year.
This is great if you are ok with returning to the same location year in, year out, and the timeshare properties themselves are usually high-end properties in exotic locations around the world.
The issue arises if your circumstances change, and you are unable to visit your timeshare for your allotted week.
If this is the case, you will still be liable to pay your annual maintenance fee. These are usually around £500, but they usually go up every year.
You could also be liable to pay special assessment fees which are often charged when work is carried out on the resort.
People often don’t quite understand the costs that are involved in a timeshare and wish to get rid of their timeshare, but this is often more difficult than it seems.
Because there are so many timeshares on the market, they’re very difficult to sell. For this reason, many find themselves having to try and terminate their contract through specialist services such as TESS (the Timeshare Exit & Support Services).
While holiday lodges and timeshares can both offer up some great holiday experiences, it’s important to know which one is right for you.
As more Brits are turning to ‘staycations’, and considering the luxury that holiday lodges offer, there’s definitely an argument to say that they are the preferable of the two options.
