Real Member Stories: From Skeptic to 3 Vacations a Year

We know the travel industry has a trust problem. Timeshare horror stories, misleading deals, and "too good to be true" promises have made everyone rightfully skeptical of travel clubs.

So we asked our members to share their honest experiences. Here are their stories - the skepticism, the first booking, and how wholesale pricing changed their travel habits.

"I Almost Didn't Sign Up" - Jennifer T., Phoenix, AZ

"My parents got burned by a timeshare in the 90s. They're still paying maintenance fees on a property they haven't used in 15 years. So when my friend told me about VAYO VAULT, my immediate reaction was 'absolutely not.'

She convinced me to at least try the free trial. No credit card, no obligation, just look around. Fine.

I searched for a resort in Cabo that my husband and I had been eyeing. On Expedia, it was $389/night. Through the member portal? $167/night. Same resort. Same dates. Same room type.

I spent an hour comparing prices on different properties. The member rates were lower every single time. I signed up that night.

We've now taken three trips using the membership - Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and a cruise to Alaska. Total savings so far: over $4,000. That's not an exaggeration, that's what we've tracked."

"Finally, a Family Vacation We Could Actually Afford" - Marcus W., Atlanta, GA

"Four kids. That's the challenge. Every hotel price you see, multiply it by the rooms you actually need. Family vacations were basically impossible without spending our entire savings.

A coworker mentioned he'd booked a Disney-area condo through a travel club. I figured it was another scam, but he showed me his confirmation and the price. I couldn't believe it.

We booked a 3-bedroom condo in Orlando for spring break. Retail price on VRBO: $4,200 for the week. Member price: $1,680. Same property. Same week. We saved $2,520.

With that savings, we bought Disney tickets we wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise. My kids still talk about that trip.

We've now done Orlando twice, a beach trip to Myrtle Beach, and we're planning a cruise for next summer. Before the membership, we were lucky to travel once a year. Now it's three times."

"Retirement Travel on Our Terms" - Barbara and Tom S., Seattle, WA