Club Mahindra - A waste of Money. Review on Club Mahindra

I find the Club Mahindra Timeshare memberships in India are all very deceptive and sheer profiteering without creating any value for members.

I purchased a club Mahindra Red membership two years ago. Other than availing the initial free gift certificate, I have not been able to avail any holidays. This is when, I purchased the best membership available (Red) (BTW they have created a concept called Purple which is nothing but best days when you can holiday and they sell it outside).

I find it a complete waste of my money as whenever I call them and want to fix a holiday, they say it is not available. The system is so opaque, that you don't know if they are telling you full truth. There have been a recent instance where I have caught them lie as in half hour the entire inventory position (availability) changed. They are always trying palm off days or resort inventory to its members which they cannot sell directly or through RCI (as this is an incremental profit).

I have personally found it to be a complete waste of money. I find that given the overall cost of ownership, Club Mahindra holidays are not for those folks who want to take vacations at times when school kids are home or at best seasons or at times instant vacations.  The overall cost of ownership is quite high compared to what season and holidays you get (You can compute overall cost of ownership by assuming an EMI on the upfront option and add inflation adjusted ASF(annual fees) to it.

The system has been designed in such a way that Club Mahindra has no incentive beyond enrolling new members. At times you think by taking club mahindra, it will create a discipline of taking vacations. Before you fall into this trap and justification, HOLD YOURSELF – The flexible vacation plans are not similar to getting locked into a holiday scheme where you have no choice. You cannot take vacations at time when you want and at place where you want. Thus overall, you end up paying much higher for vacations that are anyways useless.

The only options that you are left with are to exchange this for RCI. Understand RCI comes at an additional cost of membership and exchange charges. Many of the RCI resorts in India are useless and junk. It is good if you are planning international vacations. If you want to take vacations in Europe or US, RCI exchange at India comes out as good option. However many times you can buy this inventory on Internet at cheaper rates, without need to lock in for life in useless holidays.

I did not mind paying money to Club Mahindra initially. But I feel that I have bound myself into an option on which I have no control and visibility. I am a slave to their whims, I am slave to the initial 2.10 Lacs that I have paid two years back and I am a slave to that desire that I will use it somehow someday.  The system is so useless that after sometime you feel like not paying the ASF (annual service fees) which keep increasing.

Another problem with them is that they don't have their owned properties. So you end up in some makeshift properties which are useless or management is very weak (and junk). Of the total properties listed on their site, they own only 4 resorts. They are the Airtel of Time Share Holidays (i.e. only a marketing shell company with no deep commitment and investments to keep you going for 25 years).

I seriously doubt that this model of tie-ups is sustainable in Indian market. As the vacation resort quality is very suspect beyond few.Either they should do a management takeover and own the full property or construct their own properties. This partial sharing results in a very bad experience and low quality resort, food etc for customers. BTW the four resorts that they own have not been constructed to serve the members. They are primarily constructed to attract and catch new members. This is where they will bring you with your gift voucher, show you the excellent service, hospitality and trap you.

Instead of increasing inventory for the members,  currently they have found that they have milked this market segment enough, so they are constructing new properties under different name or brand (like luxury brand or Zest). This is crazy because even their current members do not have enough options at right time.

My suggestion is a no to Club Mahindra. However, if you are still feeling compelled to buy, and if you are fine going at odd times in year to odd places, it is a fine option for you. Just to give you an example - you may have options to take vacation on beach during rains, or you may get a hill station option in November, December (not in peak Dec). If you still feel compelled to buy, all you need is to take basic membership (the minimum cost - because in any case you will not be able to avail better days.)