By Karen S. Kim

"We're not interested in buying a second home; we'd rather visit different locations and have various adventures," says Janet Fallon, while shuffling through a bundle of glossy vacation brochures. This 44-year-old wife and mother of two from Waldwick, New Jersey, encapsulates the shift from a culture based on acquisition of assets to one based on the accumulation of experiences. And because her two sons, Ryan and Alex, are difficult to confine in a hotel room, Fallon and her husband Thomas are looking into alternative travel options.

The Evolution of Upscale Resort Real Estate

Fortunately for her, as well as other wanderlust families, the natural evolution of upscale resort real estate offers a solution: destination clubs. At the simplest level, destination clubs offer members luxury vacations in very exclusive, high-quality resort homes without the hassle of owning them. And these homes are a far cry from rustic cabins with hand-me-down furniture in the woods and musty beach houses blocks from the ocean. Destination clubs offer fully furnished properties worth between $1 and $5 million in the most sought-after locations around the world including beach, mountain and metropolitan areas.

Like a high-end country club, destination clubs require a membership fee of a few hundred thousand dollars (which is usually wholly or partly refundable upon resignation from the club) and annual fees ranging from $10,000 to $35,000. In return, members are allowed to travel to all club locations and access all club properties. A variety of vacation options is provided, which is quite appealing to those who have been confined to a single site.

Steady Success and Continuing Growth

The steady success and continuing growth of established companies such as Exclusive Resorts and Tanner & Haley Destination Clubs affirm that destination clubs are not just a flourishing trend, but rather the preferred method of vacationing for affluent travelers.

Exclusive Resorts was started in order to give families the benefits of multiple vacation homes without the costs or headaches. Though the company already owns more than 300 residences, with over 280 currently in use, construction of new homes is being completed every month. The largest club in existence, its more than 1,800 members have access to an $800 million portfolio of homes in dozens of destinations worldwide.

A pioneer in the industry, Tanner & Haley was founded in 1998 as Private Retreats. Its goal was to create a club that would address the shortcomings of luxury resort real estate ownership and the inefficiencies of the high-end travel market. Its more than 750 members now have access to executive aircraft, private watercraft and over 150 residences around the globe.

Here's a look at some other properties that are catering to this new breed of vacationer.

Indulgent and Convenient Retreats

The two-story, four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath residence at Private Escapes' Punta Cana location in the Dominican Republic offers a 3,835-square-foot floor plan with separate maid's quarters, a private pool with covered cabana and access to a beachfront clubhouse, fitness center, spa and golf course.

Created in November 2003, Private Escapes' two membership choices provide distinct options, one more affordable than the other. Just over two years after inception, the club boasts more than 200 members and 35 locations throughout North America and the Caribbean.

Similarly, Gentry Retreats allows potential second-home buyers the alternative of enjoying luxurious vacation homes without the hassles of ownership. After an initiation fee of $80,000, members can choose to pay for two, four or six weeks at 12 different locations.

Though 70 members are projected to join by year's end, only 500 memberships are available in Gentry Retreats' first collection of homes. For those who are reluctant to invest a substantial amount of money in a vacation home that is used infrequently and want to travel to worldwide destinations, Gentry provides a tangible solution.

Another club that extends two membership plans is BelleHavens. The private million dollar homes typically have sleeping capacity for at least eight people, making it possible to travel alone, with family or with friends. In other words, no more cramped hotel rooms or inadequate rentals.

Members of BelleHavens have access to a collection of homes that are located along golf courses, beaches, cities or a mountain resort. And to ensure memorable experiences, BelleHavens provides numerous service options, such as pre-arrival grocery shopping, daily maid services and a personal concierge.

Wealth of Amenities

"When researching destination clubs, I was overwhelmed by the amenities offered," says Fallon, who has been comparison-shopping various companies "Not only will they extend a gorgeous home to my family, but before we arrive, they will stock the kitchen with our favorite food and beverages, hook up the Xbox for our boys and create an itinerary specially designed to satisfy each of our needs. For once I can stop being Mom and simply sit back and enjoy."

Since many destination club members have owned second homes, they also want the feeling of home comfort when they travel. Local hosts and concierge teams make sure that everything requested is in place before arrival, and everything needed during the stay is provided with the greatest possible speed. Some of the standard services they attend to are planning daily itineraries, providing advice on the best activities and attractions, assisting with travel arrangements, stocking the kitchen, supervising maid service and booking tee times, spa treatments, lift tickets, theatre, dining and all other leisure activities.

Accordingly, Dream Catcher's 21 residences provide all 76 members many occasions for indulgence. From the moment a member chooses a location, she will no longer have to lift a finger because a Personal Reservation Assistant will plan all the details. And upon arrival, a Destination Host, who is available 24 hours a day, will assist with every need.

Membership with Dream Catcher accommodates users with a five-to-one member-to-property ratio and admission to homes that average $3.25 million in value. As a point of reference, the residence in Naples, Florida, features a 5,400 square-foot interior living area that includes five bedrooms (two master suites, two guest suites and cabana) and five and a-half baths, along with an extensive covered lanai, swimming pool and four-car garage.

Destination clubs allow members virtually unlimited access to the entire collection of luxury private residences. At Ultimate Resort, a proprietary capacity-planning system limits the number of members per club, thereby purposely underutilizing each property in the portfolio. Also, a special corporate membership offers an attractive perk that helps to recruit, retain and reward staff. And because it is also a great way to enhance client relationships, corporate memberships make financial sense as an alternative to a corporate apartment in a major city like New York or London.

Membership with Ultimate Resort not only opens doors to the ten million-dollar-plus residences, but also to the 21 homes projected by year's end. The annual dues are less than an owner might pay in property taxes and maintenance on just a single second home. Plus, members avoid the worries of absentee ownership and the limitations of being tied to a single location for years.

That last point is music to the ears of Fallon. "It's hard work keeping up with the needs of our primary residence; I don't want to deal with bursting pipes in a vacation home from hundreds of miles away." Clearly, the financial and psychological burden of second-home ownership is steering many people toward the hassle-free vacations offered by destination clubs.

Home Away From Home

The destination club concept is ideal for those with nomadic travel interests. For people who don't want to repeatedly pack and unpack, Dolan, Pollak & Schram Development Company develops privately owned residences in sporting communities. Established clubs include The Ford Plantation in Georgia, Deep Water Cay Club in the Bahamas and The Greenbrier Sporting Club in West Virginia. Newest properties include The Turks & Caicos Sporting Club in the British West Indies and The Snake River Sporting Club in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

DPS communities offer unique access to the great outdoors. Accordingly, The Greenbrier Sporting Club's plans call for over 500 homesites with a members-only golf course, equestrian center and spa -- all among 6,500 acres of unspoiled forests and fields.

For those who wish second-home ownership would be as effortless as a luxury hotel vacation, The Ritz-Carlton Club is one solution. The RCC encompasses fractional ownership properties in six locations: Aspen Highlands, Colo.; Bachelor Gulch, Colo.; Jupiter, Fla.; South Beach, Fla.; San Francisco, Calif.; and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. However, regardless of the location of ownership, The Ritz-Carlton Club's 2,500 members enjoy reciprocal benefits that allow them to stay at any of the properties.

Because owners purchase an interest in a particular residence, they stay in the same home, where sports gear and other personal items can be stored and used when needed. The residence is maintained in their absence, prepared for their arrival, and serviced twice each day. Members are offered all the benefits of ownership with the amenities and services available from a distinguished hotel company, without the usual burdens.

The Pursuit of Personal Pleasures

As the fast-growing destination club market continues to mature, some are concentrating on one theme. Devoted to food and wine lovers, The Vintner's Club currently has a chateau in Burgundy and grants access to a significant collection of rare wines. The property includes an on-site chef who prepares daily creations made from local ingredients, a bilingual staff and the use of a chauffeur-driven Mercedes. Plans for future residences in Bordeaux, Italy, and Argentina should delight all high-end gastronomes and oenophiles.

Alternatively, The Markers Club is geared purely toward golfers. With 36 residences planned in the world's legendary golf destinations, including Pinehurst, NC and St. Andrews, Scotland, each home is located on or in close proximity to several courses. Unlike other clubs that offer golf as one of their amenities, the Markers' vision is to create the most incredible golf experiences short of being on the PGA Tour.

Signature Destinations is the first regionally focused luxury residence club. By forming hubs of vacation homes around several target metropolitan areas such as the Pacific Northwest, the club provides members with multiple residences at several destinations within driving distance, as well as desirable locations around the country. Accordingly, Seattle members appreciate the convenience of driving to residences in the San Juan Islands, Whistler and Lake Chelan, but also have the opportunity to fly to Tahoe, Hawaii and Santa Cruz.

A World of Adventure Awaits

"Why should we settle for just one experience over and over again?" asks Fallon. With destination clubs delivering residences directly on the beach, the slopes and the fairway,

families have the freedom to wander the world and stay in luxurious private homes in some of the most desirable locations on the planet. The allure of hassle-free vacations in a variety of locations is not to be underestimated.