Experiences of the Holiday Club Timeshare Presentation
We attended a Holiday Club timeshare presentation. In return, we received a discounted stay at a Holiday Club spa hotel. Read the article to learn about our experiences with the timeshare presentation and whether we decided to purchase a timeshare week.
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Holiday Club
Holiday Club Resorts Oy was founded in 1986 in Finland; however, it is now owned by Indian investors. The company runs spa hotels and holiday resorts across Finland, with a few spots in Sweden and Spain. They offer nearly 3,500 holiday apartments and hotel rooms. While most people know Holiday Club for its hotel services, it also sells shares in holiday homes. When you buy a share in one of their housing companies, you get time-limited rights to use that holiday property.
What Does Timeshare Ownership Mean?
Buying a timeshare means owning a share in a housing company that gives you a week’s stay each year in a holiday home maintained by Holiday Club. The housing company handles day-to-day upkeep, and owners pay an annual maintenance fee for their share of the expenses. Prices vary from about €5,000 to €37,000 depending on location, with average yearly maintenance fees around €350.
This article won’t dive deep into timeshare terms but instead shares our personal experience from attending a timeshare sales presentation.
Our Visit to the Holiday Club Timeshare Presentation
In fall 2022, we spotted a tempting Facebook ad: a Holiday Club introductory stay for just €63 for two nights per room. The deal included breakfast and unlimited access to the spa. The catch? We had to attend a Holiday Club timeshare presentation during our stay.
With a few free days, we booked the stay at Holiday Club Caribia in Turku—a city that’s enjoyable to explore anyway. The spa hotel is conveniently close to Turku’s city centre. Our train ride there took less than two hours, travelling comfortably in VR’s Ekstra Class. All in all, Holiday Club Caribia was a great choice for an affordable two-night break with spa access and breakfast, plus the obligation to sit through the sales pitch.
On day one, we had a two-hour timeshare presentation right at the hotel. We approached it with an open mind and no big expectations. Timeshare presentations have a reputation for being high-pressure sales events, so we braced for a hard sell—though we weren’t sure if it would be just us or a group session.
We stayed in a standard double room that showed signs of wear. We felt that Holiday Club could have made a better impression by placing presentation guests in a fresher, recently renovated room to showcase their brand quality more effectively.
The Time of the Presentation Trip
Here’s a quick rundown of how our presentation went and what we thought. Presentations vary, but many seem to follow a similar playbook.
Pre-Event Survey
A few days before our trip, we got a text asking us to review info about the presentation and complete a survey so Holiday Club could get to know us better. The questions felt pretty personal and detailed, so we chose not to share our info. We get that they want to tailor the presentation, but we preferred to keep things private and show up with a clean slate.
We also emailed Holiday Club asking if they’d mind us sharing our experience publicly; they never replied. Therefore, we decided to share our thoughts honestly, so readers know what to expect and can prepare accordingly. Silent customer service isn’t exactly reassuring.
Arrival and First Impressions
We showed up a bit early at the reception area for the presentation. The room was inside the hotel but had its own separate outside entrance.
They greeted us with coffee from an automatic machine, and the presenter arrived right away. It quickly became clear the presentation was just for us.
The space reminded us of a timeshare sales factory—an open area buzzing with chatter, multiple presentations going on behind partition screens, little privacy, and quite noisy. Still, none of that took away from the presentation itself, which we were curious about.
Inside the Presentation
Our presenter was upbeat and friendly, well-prepared with all materials on her computer. At first, she didn’t push us to share much, but as the session went on, she dropped lots of casual questions to figure out our travel habits and spending—questions you don’t often get asked outright. They were woven in smoothly, making it hard to say no.
The presentation covered a lot, and the timeshare system sounded pretty complex at first. We didn’t catch every detail during the two-hour session, but got a solid overview. A few things puzzled us, like whether Holiday Club actually turns a profit. Alongside timeshare weeks, we learned about the related RCI points exchange system. This system lets owners swap their Finnish holiday week for stays abroad at partner locations. The exchange sounded simple, but it seemed hard to secure popular spots, often leaving you to book at the last minute. Since last-minute flights tend to be pricey, that was a downside. The representative also promised a free Gold Card, although its perks weren’t immediately apparent at the time.
The presenter was a pro, guiding us effortlessly toward the big reveal—the offer. Before that, we toured a demo holiday apartment upstairs: spotless, cosy, and in great shape. It showed that Holiday Club maintains quality properties.
The Offer
We didn’t ask for an offer, but the presenter said it was customary to present one at the end. Judging by her tone, she’d sized us up as unlikely buyers. She offered a timeshare week at Katinkulta, a budget-friendly choice, with various added "extra" discounts to sweeten the deal. At that point, the pitch felt a bit like a bargain bazaar or some late-night TV shopping segment. We couldn’t tell if it was a real steal or not.
She had clearly done her homework—knowing we preferred international trips over domestic ones, she pitched Katinkulta based on its high RCI point value, which could allow weeklong vacations abroad at reasonable cost. It all sounded tempting, but many details were vague, and two hours just isn’t enough to get the full picture.
Turning Down the Offer
The offer was handwritten on plain paper and was only valid if accepted on the spot. Though we worried about missing out, we declined because we didn’t want to commit sight unseen and preferred to think things over. Later, we were told we could call the presenter if we changed our minds, and the offer would still stand.
Unfortunately, we left without brochures—just the handwritten offer, making it tricky to analyse later.
Did We Finally Buy a Timeshare?
No, we didn’t. Afterwards, we dug deeper, especially into the RCI points system. Our biggest hang-up was the uncertainty around booking preferred vacations. We found numerous online stories echoing our concerns: the points’ real value was unclear, and committing to a fixed Finnish destination didn’t appeal. It just wasn’t the right fit.
How to Prepare for a Timeshare Presentation
We don’t think you need to prepare anything special before a presentation. But it’s smart to set firm personal boundaries and decide ahead of time what you’re comfortable sharing. Also, consider whether you’re ready to decide on the spot—it’s easy to feel rushed, but taking time to understand the deal is crucial. Rushing can lead to surprises down the line, so make sure you get all the info and mull it over before signing anything.
A Note on Competitors
While our presenter was professional, one thing rubbed us the wrong way: she frequently downplayed travel agency packages. Travel agencies run solid businesses, and package holidays remain a great option for many travellers. Dissing the competition doesn’t make your own product shine any brighter. We don’t often book package tours ourselves, but we respect them as a choice.
Common Questions
- Is a timeshare presentation a pleasant experience?
- Based on our experience, the presentation is pleasant and stress-free.
- Do you have to make a timeshare purchase decision immediately?
- You shouldn’t and don’t need to make a decision on the spot. The event might give the impression there’s a rush, but plenty of timeshares remain unsold.
- How long does the timeshare presentation last?
- Our presentation lasted just over two hours.
- Is a timeshare a good purchase?
- We do not judge whether a week-based timeshare is a good deal. It depends entirely on the individual. We recommend carefully reviewing all the details before signing any documents. You can find reviews by searching online.
- Who is a week-based timeshare best suited for?
- In our opinion, timeshares are best for families who love travelling within their home country and are willing to visit the same destination multiple times. The system is flexible, however, so it can accommodate various types of travellers.
- Does Holiday Club’s introductory holiday live up to its promises?
- At least our introductory holiday fulfilled all the promises made.
- How should you prepare for a timeshare presentation?
- We recommend discussing as a family in advance what information to share with the presenter and how to approach any potential purchase decision.
- Is Holiday Club a Finnish company?
- The company is Finnish but owned by Indian interests.
Bottom Line
Our Holiday Club Caribia timeshare presentation was an eye-opening experience. Would we do it again? Probably not—the two-hour sales pitch can be pretty exhausting. Luckily, we got an almost free spa holiday with breakfast as a nice bonus, so it felt worthwhile.
If you’re a domestic traveller who already has a favourite spot you want to visit yearly, timeshare presentations can be genuine business talks where both sides know what they want. They’re probably the best place to get detailed info about timeshares, so there’s no need to feel intimidated.
Have you ever been to a timeshare presentation? We’d love to hear your stories—drop a comment below!
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