Holiday Concepts

Do not use Holiday Concepts Cruising – Do not use Holiday Concepts Cruising, my recent experience was not good. Does anyone else have problems with bookings and assistance. Clean cruising are so helpful, will be using them next time.

Locked in forever - Buyer BEWARE – My parents and myself had 20 good years using our Holiday Concepts time for some great holidays, both in Australia and overseas. Upon the death of one of my parents, the other decided that they would no longer use this timeshare, now that their travel companion was gone. However, it is impossible to sell it, even for a few hundred dollars and no… Read more

one in the family are willing to take it over due to the high yearly maintenance costs (our daughter who owns with another company pays nearly $250 less in maintenance fees per year). So we have to keep paying the expensive maintenance fees every year and force ourselves to use it every year. My remaining parent struggles to find a travel companion as her friend are also old and struggle physically.

Most of the resort managers are lovely and helpful, but the incredibly rude South African manager at Bellbrae has completely put us off Holiday Concepts.

Beware of lengthy contracts – Firstly thanks to all in sharing their experiences with this company, you all really save me from making a huge mistake. Family tried to gift me this but upon looking at contract it went until year 2090 which locked me in until I am over 120 years old. I also notice company has not responded to any comments, so I guess they don't care about their customers.

Warning! Warning! Do not enter into any agreement with this organisation!!! – Warning! Warning! Do not enter into any agreement with this organisation!!! What a pity you can't give 0 stars because this is the worst company I have ever dealt with. We have been members for more than 20 years. We paid a huge amount of money for this membership based on some very extravagent promises which we now know are just a hard sell.… Read more

During Covid we obviously couldn't travel. My husband and I both have cancer and by the time we found time to travel we were told that our week for 21-22 had expired and to access it we would need to pay a fee of $169.00. Of course, we had to pay the "Maintenance Fee" for that year as well. The latest exploit from Holiday Concepts concerns a week we had booked in November 2022. 15 days out from the booking we realised it clashed with a chemotherapy appointment. We have been told that there is no opportunity to move the booking to a later date regardless of the reason, so we would forfeit that week. Holiday Concepts is lacking in empathy and devoid of any business ethics. I implore anyone thinking of joining Holiday Concepts to be very certain of what you are buying into. Ask other members, who like us, have been stuck with this appalling company for years

Always been happy – Hi all, we bought our timeshare back in 1990 in South Australia for $9000. Quite a bit of money back then and I must say we have always been satisfied with our accommodation. Fortunately we have a floating week and do not need to book in school holidays, although last year we had a week in Victoria in December with no problem. I am not sure… Read more

what people are complaining about regarding the maintenance fees - where can you get a 7 night holiday in a lovely resort with all the facilities they have to offer for this price (in our case $750). We have just booked a "superior" cabin in a caravan park and it's costing us $170 per night!!!!!! There really is no comparison. I think if you get organised and book quite a few months in advance or even a year, it's sometime nice to go the same place and get acquainted with the restaurants, resort etc. We go to Port Macquarie every year in winter. We've also exchanged with RCI and been to Florida and other overseas resorts. I've never tried the bonus weeks as living in South Australia it's a fair way to travel interstate if you're not flying, but don't give up on it - book your holidays and it gives you something to look forward to, have great fun times or book a week for friends, they will jump at the chance of only paying the maintenance fee for a weeks holiday.

Great way to have a holiday – Been in HC for 20 years. Good locations, helpful staff. Easy to book. Been interstate lots of times. School holidays need booking well in advance, however. We both worked in schools for some of this time, you see. Never had any trouble. Was in RCI for a while. No point as we could NEVER get school holidays through them. And where else can you… Read more

holiday on the Sunshine or Gold Coasts for a whole week for the cost of the maintenance fee? About $700 ATM. In your dreams! Resale value problematical. Fees in 1995 were about $450, so not too bad an increase over that time. Units are always clean and linen etc excellent. If you want to cook in, good range of simple equipment there. Upfront cost is less than a caravan, or camper, and the maintenance on one of those monsters beats HC annual fees every time. You can have more weeks at any time for the same cost as your annual maintenance fee ( and sometimes less) if there are weeks available close to the time you actually take your holiday, as someone else pointed out in one of the other reviews

No flexibility little options to find a place and tired resorts – The company appears to be struggling to compete with the efficiency of new players like Airbnb. Very unfair cancellation policy unlike other players even hotels etc. high fees for tired facilities. We haven’t been able to sleep in the queen beds for about 5 years now. Mattresses dumped on top of each other. As we’re getting older not sure what to… Read more

do about this dreadful perpetual aspect of the levy. Nobody in our families wants it. Not a good option for these times

Unfair charges – I have just booked one week in January 2023. However, I have been charged $169 because I have used a week from 2020. We still have 2021 and 2022 unused, so if I choose to use these weeks I will be slugged another $169 for each. The only way this can be avoided is to use the 2023 week, but will need to pay the maintenance fee first. In the past… Read more

when older weeks were used there not no “late fee” charged. Illness and Covid have prevented us using these weeks.

Not adaptable – I booked a school holiday week with a week I had previously banked. I!ve been in hospital and won’t be strong enough to go. Now back home and 23 days before the holiday I’ve rung up to transfer to a little later. Nope less than 4 weeks! I’m sure a family with school aged kids would be on a waiting list. It’s ungenerous service to a rehabilitating client and ungenerous to those whose family would like the holidays

Ripoff – This company are so hard to deal with. If we don’t want our timeshare anymore they want to charge you for giving it back to them. There is no way I am paying anymore fees to this company.

Beware – Timeshare (Holiday Concepts) is a trap. You can’t sell it and have to keep paying for yearly maintenance even if you don’t use it. They don’t buy it back or help you sell it.

Covid – What a joke. Haven't been able to use for 18months. Covid and if there's a lift of restrictions there's nothing available. Too many owners and not enough properties. And now they've increased the Levy. Absolutely disgusting. No one using the property. No cleaning to be done. No wages to pay. $805 for them to dust the cobwebs.

you can never escape – it will cost you to leave this once you have signed on dont sign up they are way overpriced no escape if you fall on hard times and can no longer afford to continue - even if you offer to give it back they expect you to pay them to take it of your hands

One star because I have to – The resort we stay at is always fantastic however the management team for decision making is in the city and are clearly just greedy and out of touch with consumers.

Do not buy into this company {One star because I had to give them a score} – Way too expensive and over subscribed, we are totally unable to use this membership or even give it away. There is no customer service and they just send threats. Biggest mistake ever, Do not buy.

Ok but you can't get out of it when you no longer need it – I no longer need my 2 weeks at the Bright Resort, I'll give them away FREE if anyone wants them. The resort is great but I no longer want to be locked in, the kids have grown up and I just want out. Show reply

Don't Don't Don't less than one-star – Poor value for money. Poor customer focus. Holiday Concepts resorts tend to be tired, spartan and missing real management drive for customer satisfaction, as do the ones we swapped with. Yearly maintenance fees are more than total revenues at similar but non-timeshare resorts yet you'll find minimal staff and minimal facilities. You'll get better… Read more

value using their sale weeks, which are cheaper than management fees and without the annual commitment or shopping for real resorts. We got lured in 20 years ago and resent every year when the annual maintenance fee demand comes in. They are simply a huge money tree for the managers, who wrote all the rules for themselves. The only plus was being able to exchange them, especially overseas. The most recent downer - we have been told our 7 days are now only worth 4 days at RCI resorts.

Timeshare Must Keep Up With The Times – Bought a contract about 20 years ago. Like most of the members attended a "seminar" and convinced of the benefits. To be fair the times we had at the resorts were good, very friendly managers and place well maintained although some of the resorts are quite dated. I think most of the original members like myself are getting on in age and may not be… Read more

able to use the facilities as readily as before. However it will be a rude shock to many that the contract is "perpetual". Even after you die the fees still need to be paid! Sound familiar? Looking at the resell sites you find these are almost worthless. With this ridiculous condition who would ever touch it. It is amazing how a company can stand by to see it's products becoming valueless over time. Times have changed with the internet and new players like Air BnB. All the negative reviews will keep on coming unless these companies change their ways. For example have a reasonable buy back scheme for loyal members. Must act before the authorities steps in!!!

Cult like – I worked as a cleaner in two locations yesterday i was fired after two shifts with no explanation nor complaints or feedback about my performance at phillip island the manager heidi sourced me on fb asked me to go in that day used words like ill snap you up . She called the other location manager got a reference from her . I told heidi my second… Read more

shift i left my other job as a single mother it was easier i followed all instructions and my mannerisms were on point at work . She saud great when i left my other job no guidance no mabye just wait then called saying we are letting you go because we have more staff now . what person with such a low moral compass does this to a single mother and the standards of an international company considering all up ive worked at two locations im seeking legal advice .

Bookings impossible – Someone is allowing prime bookings to be made by the same people every time. Is this insider trading? I heavily suspect dodgy practises inside the head office /bookings machinations. I hope HC are investigated forensically as to how the best units get booked ever peek time. We purchased this timeshare over 23 years ago and it cost us $16,500… Read more

dollars AU. We have Never been able to book a 3 bedroom unit at peek time no matter when I try to book. This was no small amount if money back then and we have booked a week and sometimes more bonus weeks each year, however it is not a fee week by any means. My huge bugbear is that I cannot ever book a room in school holidays unless I book a year or two in advance which means paying maintenance fees upfront for both years. We also cannot be sure if we can make the time available 2 years prior!

Disillusioned and angry – The huge escalation of Maintenance fees, the imposition of having to pay $149 just to keep your points to use after 2 years, the inability to see how many points are needed for a booking when planning, without having to ring up ... We realise now we could have a week anywhere we choose.... and outside of Victoria... for what it costs to access a… Read more

week we thought we had paid for annually when we signed up in 2004 and paid $14,500 for!

We feel deeply disappointed, sad and yes, angry.

Would like to be warned before buying into HC – We bought in Holiday Concept over 30 years ago. Sales person was on our back and we were not given time to think and process the idea they were selling to us. First think next morning we received phone call to transfer money straight away- no time to think and do the research. We paid our membership regularly all those years and were not being… Read more

able to use our week for more that just few times because we could never get a week during school holidays. After paying fees over 30 years which would amount around $20,000 and having nothing for it we are trying to give our share back to Holiday Concept for free. For them to accept it back at no cost to them, totally free, we have to pay all of transfer fees and this years membership and produce a title.

Totally bad, bad investment. Actually it is not investment at all. We were taken for a expensive ride with no benefits.

It was an expensive lesson. Is someone over there able to stop this company tricking others into loosing their hard earned money for no benefit?

What 20 years of Loyalty gets you! – The reason for my review is simply this, for over 20 years I have been a member of Holiday Concept timeshares. I have always paid my fees when due even though I think they are exuberant, $800 annually. This morning I attempted to change the booking a day prior because of unseen and totally unexpected family issues that arose. This reservation was… Read more

made in in September 2017 when everything was good. I also expected that I will probably have to pay a difference to change the date. However this booking as it was constantly pointed out to me by the operator who continued to over talk me , stated you cannot make any changes. Timeshares use to be a good thing in the past, however today there are more accommodation choices for $800 a week. Don't waste your money or your loyalty, because at the end of the day doing all the right things for over 20 years amount to diddly squat.

Worst investment ever made – Bought this so called investment for $ 25000. The worst investment we ever made. Called them today to advise my wife was rushed to hospital so we cannot travel today. Was told no option to extend or rebook and would have to forfeit our holiday. You would expect a bit of empathy. Not from this company. DISGUSTED. Please do not invest in this company.

scam scam scam – we joined this company 15 yrs ago and at that time you were lucky enough to occasionally get a holidays nowadays ,unless you can book 2-3 yrs in advance or are happy visiting one of their resorts forget it, fees have gone up cant walk away threats of legal action and bad credit rating if you dont pay annual fee ,are there others here interested in starting a class action? Do yourself a favour dont join

Feel like I have been robbed by dodgy operators – Very heavy initial expense plus loss of income on the price, plus heavy annual fees plus most of the 'concepts' are in Victoria why bother as it makes no economic sense. Try to unload (good luck) if you have already bought the deal. I will try to give them away.

Warning on Holiday Concepts – Don't get involved with this company we bought timeshare when kids were little didn't really understand how it operated and lost a lot of money on unused time that we paid maintenance fees, the increasing fees now $800 became too outrageous. Further to this we use to be able to bank our weeks with DAE now Holiday Concepts intercept the banking… Read more

process and you are beholding to them. Looked at other timeshare companies in Australia to trade in our Holiday Concept this company was on the do not trade list which shows what sort of company we are dealing with however found an overseas company that would trade-in. Well surprise surprise Holiday Concepts won't accept the transfer because they say these companies don't pay their maintenance fees not my problem so if you want time share look elsewhere as this company will cause you a lot of grief and angst. I question the positive reviews and who has orchestrated them.

Worst "Investment" I ever made – Rang Holiday Concepts and suggested giving back our share and was immediately advised of Debt Collection fees etc etc. So no, you can't give it back. You have to try and find some poor shmuck who will take it off your hands. Don't believe the positive comments on this site.

Holiday Concepts is not a good purchase , – you can only holiday in Victoria at holiday concepts resorts , then they charge to book you in other resorts which becomes very expensive for week accommodation , better off just searching own holiday without all extra fees and high cost of owning , They were good company years ago but not now with only owning Victoria resorts their… Read more

other,resorts got bought out by CLASSIC which has lots of resorts to choose from , SO PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE BUYING OFF HOLIDAY CONCEPTS .Maintenance Fees keep going up every year because resorts are getting old , Very hard to sell , no one wants to buy them if you change your mind .

ok if you are rich – a very expensive and confining way in my view to take holidays ! we bought into something that appeared on the surface to be a good idea ... not so true in reality for us ... be very very careful with anything like this in the future

Timeshare/Crimeshare – Timesharing is widely acknowledged as one of the biggest frauds ever inflicted upon an unsuspecting public. There are scores of web sites which attest to this. Nearly every timeshare resort has rentals and in every case the rental is LESS than the cost of an owners annual maintenance fee. Honestly, you would be insane to waste money on a timeshare. Holiday Concepts is a small cog in a worldwide racket.

Bonus weeks are bargains & make it worth your while – Our family has been going to Holiday Concepts resorts for years with my mum's timeshare and 3 years ago we bought our own week. The best part of timeshare is the bonus weeks. The bonus weeks are a bargain. The closer to the date, the cheaper the week. I have used lots of bonus weeks and they have been fabulous holidays and have also bought weeks… Read more ·  1

for friends. The resorts are not 5 star but they are of very good quality with fun activities.

You can also join affiliated groups e.g. DAE, for free without additional exchange fees.

I don't know how hard it is to book a week in school holidays. We also joined RCI (for a fee) and are on a waiting list for a holiday overseas for 2016, using out Holiday Concepts week. Hopefully that will work out.

One negative is a cancellation fee. I needed to cancel with about 5 months' notice due to an error I made booking online. I phoned immediately to change the date of the week I booked to the following week, and they charged me about $56!!

Holiday Concepts is a rip off – Having been one of the chumps who bought units in this trust back in 2000 for $14,000, I really feel it necessary to warn people from investing in this time share scheme. I couldn't sell my units for even $1000. The maintenance fees keep increasing due to the need to renovate now deteriorating resorts. There is no such thing as a 'free' week when annual levies are over $500 per year. The ability to use reciprocal resorts has been reduced, too.

makin it work 4 us – I Thought the same way you did untill recently. I bought a time share in 2001 with all the bells and whistles ...forked out $25,000. Then couldnt get a place when I wanted it... found it expensive and the maintenance just keeps going up..... I am also a RCI member and paid those annual fees as well (Now they are sort of affiliated and its not an… Read more ·  1

extra cost , and the service is better if you bank your week with them and book through them, and they usually get you a spot when you want it with enough notice)

We went to the snow... cost approx 500. and priced other resorts/motels etc in the area, $2500 was the cheapest that we could get over prime time. (for the 6 of us- thanks holiday concepts)

Then went to Mandura resort in WA. It is absolutely a beautiful magnificent and the best resort with a wrap around pool you can walk out of your room into and swim up to the bar. (was in 2005 any how)

My daughters now are older and have both been to France and New Zeland and Loved the opportunity to use one of my bonus weeks for each of their trips

I tried to sell once and was only offered about $5000. So resale is not good. But did you know there is a clause that actually says you can rent out your time share??? So when the surf is up at Bells, you can make a tidy profit as homes in Torquay rent for around $3000. for the week!! I've not bothered to do it (others have)but check out your contract closely.

So in hindsight - for my large family who could never afford to holiday, we have stayed all around Australia and overseas, we couldnt have done it with out our time share and no "Bali" would never be one of our preferred holiday destinations.

We DONOT work for ANY time share scheme and like your self was very disallusioned, but seriously learn to use your time share well and you may change your mind too ($650 annual fees plus booking fee and week fee - say Total of $1000) For 6 people to be accomodated for a week is not too bad...($23.80 phead per night) add bonus weeks - (so the $1000 + another 500 = 1500) and that is 12 people for a week or 6people x 2 weeks bringing it down to 750 p/wk. ($17.85 per head per night) I cant even pitch a tent in a caravan park for that!!

I have even given a week at a resort as a present for newly weds who couldnt afford a honeymoon - Who doesnt spend a couple hundred on a wedding present??

We can have unlimited bonus weeks and our friends and family all access our weeks, so it has been better value the more we use it. In fact going to book another one right now :) It made us stop and actually take holidays. The fees do keep going up and up ..so does every thing I guess and its almost impossible to get rid of.

Scammers – Fees went from $670 to $740 this year, rang and was referred to 37 pages of financials, not impressed. VCAT or class action needed.