Pros and Cons of Holiday Inn Vacation Club

If you’re weighing the pros and cons of Holiday Inn Vacation Club, you’ve probably already sat through a developer presentation or at least seen the brochure version. This isn’t that. This guide is for travelers genuinely comparing vacation ownership options and wondering whether HICV fits the way their family actually vacations. We cover what ownership includes, how the points system works, what it really costs, who it makes sense for, and how buying resale can bring the price of entry down considerably.

What Is Holiday Inn Club Vacations?

Holiday Inn Club Vacations is a points-based vacation ownership program with more than two dozen resorts across the U.S. and Mexico. Each year, members receive a set of Club Points and use them to book stays anywhere in the portfolio.

The program launched in 2008 and has grown steadily since. Orlando, Galveston, and Gatlinburg are among the most popular spots, but there’s quite a bit more to choose from. Members can also access partner exchange programs that open up thousands of properties worldwide.

What shows up most in owner feedback is the family focus. These resorts aren’t boutique or adults-only; they’re built for groups, with multi-bedroom suites, full kitchens, and locations near major attractions. For the right traveler, that format works very well.

What Do Members Like Most About Holiday Inn Vacation Club?

Flexibility, mainly. You’re not locked into one property or the same week every year. You pick a home resort, receive your annual Club Points, and decide how to use them: one longer trip or a few shorter getaways spread throughout the year.

Think of the points model as pre-paying for vacations at today’s rates. Hotel prices keep climbing, but your points stay the same. For families who travel two or three times a year, that difference adds up over time.

Why Are HICV Resorts Considered Family-Friendly?

HICV resorts feel more like vacation rentals than hotel rooms, and that distinction matters more than it might seem. A standard hotel room works fine for a quick overnight. For a week with kids, it falls short fast.

Every resort includes villas with:

• Separate bedrooms and full bathrooms, so there’s one less thing to argue about
• Full kitchens, so eating out every meal isn’t mandatory
• In-unit laundry or laundry access, which turns out to be more useful than most people expect

Amenities vary by location, but you’ll regularly find lazy rivers and waterslides, mini golf and game rooms, movie theaters, horseback riding, and poolside bars for when the adults need a break. Resort staff also run seasonal programming like holiday events, summer activities, and themed weekends. Members get priority booking windows and VIP perks on top of that.

Which Destinations Does HICV Offer?

HICV resorts span more than a dozen states, and they feel genuinely different from one another. This isn’t a chain where every property starts to blur together after a few stays.

• Desert Club Resort: just off the Las Vegas Strip
• South Beach Resort: right on Myrtle Beach
• Orange Lake Resort: private waterpark, just outside Orlando
• Lake Geneva Resort: trolley access to ski slopes in winter

Beach, mountains, city, theme parks. The portfolio covers a real range of travel moods.

How Do HICV Exchange Programs Work?

Exchange programs let members trade Club Points for stays outside the HICV network. That’s where ownership gets more interesting for travelers who like to go further afield.

Points can be exchanged through Interval International and RCI, two of the largest vacation exchange networks, which together cover thousands of resorts across Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond. IHG membership (Intercontinental Hotels Group) adds another layer: access to over 5,600 hotels plus a loyalty rewards program. For anyone who travels internationally every few years, that’s a genuinely useful perk.

Pros and Cons of Holiday Inn Vacation Club: What Does It Cost?

The upfront price depends on how many points you buy and can be significant. But the part that tends to catch people off guard isn’t the purchase price. It’s the fees that come every year, whether you travel or not.

• Annual maintenance fees: cover landscaping, pool upkeep, general property management, and resort renovations
• Annual member dues: currently $169/year for priority booking access, member perks, and partner networks

These costs don’t go away. That’s just how ownership works, and it’s worth sitting with honestly before you sign anything.

It’s also worth saying plainly: a timeshare is a prepaid vacation product, not unlike a car or a boat. It’s a luxury purchase built for enjoyment, not a financial vehicle. Outside of rare exceptions, you’re unlikely to recoup what you paid if you sell. Buy points because you plan to use them and want the experience, not because you expect anything back down the road.

Is Holiday Inn Vacation Club Worth It?

For families who travel two or more times a year and want access to multiple destinations, HICV is a solid fit. For occasional travelers, the annual fees will likely cost more than simply booking a hotel.

The math comes down to how often you travel and how much you actually engage with the points system. Owners who take time to understand the program tend to get the most out of it. Those who don’t sometimes feel like they’re paying for something they’re barely using.

Pros and Cons of Holiday Inn Vacation Club: Who Is It Best For?

A good fit if you:

• Vacation two or more times per year
• Want spacious accommodations with full kitchens and resort amenities
• Like having access to multiple destinations without starting from scratch each time
• Are willing to learn how the points system works to get the most out of it

Probably not the right fit if you:

• Vacation once a year or less
• Are hoping ownership will cover its own costs over time
• Prefer boutique properties or adults-only environments
• Want to avoid recurring annual costs

HICV tends to reward frequent, flexible travelers and frustrate those who vacation occasionally and don’t engage much with the program.

What Do Reviews Say About Holiday Inn Club Vacations?

Vacation ownership isn’t for everyone. It clicks for some families and doesn’t for others.

The Better Business Bureau reflects that range. On the positive side, reviewers consistently mention:

• Villa size: families who’ve spent years in cramped hotel rooms tend to notice the difference right away
• On-site amenities: enough going on that kids don’t need to leave the resort to stay entertained
• Location: convenient proximity to Orlando, the Smoky Mountains, and other popular destinations

Most of the friction comes back to the points system. It has more nuance than it first appears, and owners who don’t take time to learn it sometimes feel like they’re underusing what they paid for. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to go in aware of.

How Many Points Do You Need?

There’s no universal answer. The right amount depends on how you actually travel:

• Travel style: Off-peak trips and shorter stays use fewer points
• Group size: Bigger families need more points for multi-bedroom villas
• Vacation length: More trips or longer stays mean more points
• Timing: Peak season dates cost noticeably more than shoulder season ones

The system is flexible enough to accommodate different habits. The key is mapping your travel patterns before deciding how many points to buy.

Can You Sell a Holiday Inn Vacation Club Timeshare?

Yes, but it’s worth going in with realistic expectations. Resale Club Points typically cost far less than buying direct, which is good news for buyers and a reality check for anyone looking to sell.

If you own and want to move on, the resale market connects you with buyers who are specifically looking for a lower cost of entry. Some perks may not carry over depending on the purchase, so it’s worth confirming that before you proceed. The resort experience itself stays the same either way.

Common Questions About the Pros and Cons of Holiday Inn Vacation Club

Ready to Move Past Researching the Pros and Cons of Holiday Inn Vacation Club?

You don’t need to pay developer prices to get started. Buying resale is a practical way to access HICV resorts at a fraction of the upfront cost, without giving up the destinations you actually want to visit.

At Timeshares Only, you’ll find Holiday Inn Club Vacations resale advertisements alongside other top vacation club brands. Not quite ready to commit? Renting first lets you try the experience before making a longer-term decision, and our representatives are here to walk you through every step.

Already own an HICV timeshare and looking to move on? We can help with that too. As the Featured Reseller for ARDA’s Coalition for Responsible Exit, we’ve been helping owners navigate the resale process for over 25 years.

Browse HICV resale advertisements today and start planning the kind of vacations your family will actually look forward to.