Last Updated: 3/19/2025
There are plenty of ways to experience luxury travel. But most alternatives come with additional costs, responsibilities, management and risk. Below, we’ll compare Equity Estates vs Exclusive Resorts—superficially, a luxury shared usage model—so you can make an informed decision.
What Is Exclusive Resorts?
Founded in 2002, Exclusive Resorts is a luxury destination club offering access to a range of properties around the world. Like Equity Estates, the service is designed to provide an elevated experience built on luxury, comfort and one-off memories—though there are many differences beyond this.
Exclusive Resorts members pay a one-time non-refundable initiation fee and yearly dues, which allows access to the club’s portfolio of properties, concierge service and various amenities. Unlike Equity Estates, Exclusive Resorts is a purely membership travel service—there is no investment component.
What Is Equity Estates?
Equity Estates is a unique investment fund where accredited investors own a share in a diverse portfolio of luxury vacation homes around the world. Since 2006, we’ve raised over $300 million, providing access to stunning properties and creating unforgettable holiday experiences for over 25,000 trips. Not only do investors enjoy the benefits of staying in these amazing homes, but there’s also the potential for returns when the fund’s properties are sold. It’s the perfect blend of luxury living and smart investing!
Equity Estates vs Exclusive Resorts: A Comparison
There are certainly some similarities between the two services, but let’s compare Exclusive Resorts vs Equity Estates to show the true value of each.
Home Availability
With Equity Estates, you will have access to over 65 luxury homes in more than 25 countries. With a target occupancy rate of 60%, Equity Estates has the best availability in the industry.
Exclusive Resorts occupancy rates have been reported to run as high as 87%, meaning competition can be heavy amongst Exclusive Resorts members in its 350+ residence portfolio.
Membership Options
Investment options vary with Equity Estates. Investors have the option to choose from five investment levels between 15 and 45 nights of annual travel included.
With Exclusive Resorts, options for Classic and Plus memberships are available, with 15-30 travel days per year included at both levels.
Pricing
Pricing is where Equity Estates and Exclusive Resorts differ most. With Equity Estates, there is a minimum investment level of $380,000. When we sell the residences after about 10 years, investors get that back first, followed by 80% of the profits thereafter. $1,463 is the prorated annual shared nightly expense to maintain the Fund’s homes.
With Exclusive Resorts, their 10-year non-refundable memberships start at $195,000 for Classic and $225,000 for Plus, with a nightly cost of $1,750 plus additional fees for traveling over the holidays.
Services & Amenities
One thing that we value most at Equity Estates is our commitment to delivering an outstanding service. Our properties include five-star concierge service including pre-trip grocery shopping, dinner reservations, private chefs, and other activity bookings. Daily housekeeping is also included. The Exclusive Resorts dedicated concierge service and daily housekeeping is very similar to Equity Estates.
Investment Return
With Equity Estates, investors see 100% of capital contributions returned before a single dollar of profit is distributed. Then they receive the lion’s share of the profits.
This is not applicable to Exclusive Resorts as they do not offer an investment.
Value
The value of Equity Estates lies in the potential return on investment plus profit sharing. Alongside this, Equity Estates offers excellent availability and the average nightly costs to stay in the homes is far less than Exclusive Resorts. With Exclusive Resorts, there is a high cost of membership with additional fees for added services and vacation bookings. There are also high occupancy rates which can sometimes lead to availability challenges.
Events
Both Equity Estates and Exclusive Resorts offer member-only trips outside of their portfolios throughout the year.
Equity Estates introduced their Expedition Program in 2016, which is a way for investors to enjoy Equity Estates in the company of fellow members. This allows members to travel the world and enjoy once-in-a-lifetime, custom-crafted itineraries, with previous trips including a private yacht tour of the untouched Galapagos Islands and an African Safari.
Exclusive Resorts run dozens of Once-In-A-Lifetime trips a year, which are designed exclusively for members and have included an Antarctic cruise and a gorilla tracking tour of Uganda.
Residence Locations
Equity Estates is able to be very selective about where they purchase a home in any given destination given they are looking for one hidden gem. Exclusive Resorts typically need land for a larger number of homes in each destination given their model, so they often need to purchase real estate in locations where there is more land. For example, Equity Estates has a beachfront residence on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. Whereas Exclusive Resorts has around a dozen homes a half mile from the beach located on the golf course.
Transparency
Equity Estates works with a top five accounting firm each year to do a comprehensive audit, and also has third party appraisals done on the real estate. All of this is shared with investors. Exclusive Resorts is a privately held company that has not historically shared audited financials.
Conclusion
While there are a number of similarities between the two companies, there are distinct differences in investment return, pricing and availability. Speak to a member of our Investor Relations team to find out more about the differences between Equity Estates vs Exclusive Resorts.
