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As a digital nomad, the idea of a vacation has gotten blurry: never fully working, but never fully off, either.
I’ve grown so used to working online, overlooking a rice field, it’s barely worth an Instagram snap anymore. But the downside is that I can’t remember the last time I logged out for more than a weekend.
Meanwhile, my list of dream destinations keeps growing. With increasing flight prices, economic uncertainties and decision fatigue over putting together the perfect itinerary, planning a vacation can be mentally taxing.
So the idea of paying for future vacations in advance sounds ... odd. Why spend now on a trip I might take five years from now, especially when I’m not even sure when my next time off might be?
But rest is necessary. And if we want rest to become routine, would it help to book our holidays ahead of time? Is prepaying for future breaks a ridiculous indulgence, or a smart way to make sure they actually happen?
Enter time-shares
Time-share, also known as shared vacation ownership, involves multiple people “buying” the same property and taking turns using it at different times of the year.
It started in the 1960s in Europe, particularly in the Alps, as a way for middle-class families to experience resort living without purchasing an entire home. Over time, it became a model that sold time, not property.
The concept never really took off in Indonesia, where families tend to prefer buying second or third homes they can pass down: places meant to anchor memories for generations.
Traditional time-shares also have their limits, as these lock us into a specific place that we don’t fully own. No flexibility, no variety. What if we get tired of spending every Christmas in the same villa?
What I’m seeing with the younger generation is that they don’t necessarily want to buy a full asset and return to the same place every time. - Barry Robinson
Travel habits have changed. People want more destinations more often, and on their own schedule.
It's easy to see why the old model no longer works.
Points for memories
When I visited Accor’s Novotel Bali Nusa Dua last week on a media tour, I didn’t know what to expect. The 4.8-hectare resort felt like any other family-friendly hotel: cabanas surrounding a tropical pool, kids painting under a thatched roof, an ice cream stand nearby.
But tucked away from the main building are dozens of spacious, fully furnished houses reserved for members of the Accor Vacation Club.
“Some of these people will come here and not leave the resort in a week, which is absolutely great,” said Craig Wood, CEO of Accor Vacation Club.
This is not our parents’ time-share.
Launched in July under the established global travel and hospitality brand, the club membership program gives access to 3,200 vacation properties across 90 countries.
“What I’m seeing with the younger generation is that they don’t necessarily want to buy a full asset and return to the same place every time. This is where shared ownership gives you flexibility,” said Barry Robinson, president and managing director of international operations at Travel + Leisure Co., which manages time-share properties including Accor’s.
Instead of buying a fraction of a property, members receive points each year, which can be used like currency at Accor hotels in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Members can save, borrow or spend points as needed. They can also be redeemed for discounts on restaurants, experiences and even cruises from Accor partners.
In theory, the program locks in the cost of future vacations at today’s rates. That’s quite compelling.
It’s not like other hotel memberships, either. When the program ends in 2045, the properties are sold and the proceeds shared with members. This means members might recoup some of their investment, but the real payoff is less tangible: a travel lifestyle with global reach.
Accor isn’t the only one offering this model, but it’s among the most flexible out there.
So what’s the catch?
Like buying property, there’s a substantial upfront cost and annual fees. Terms are negotiable and fees can be adjusted if you skip a year, but it’s still a serious commitment.
Detailed costs weren’t provided during our visit, but Accor’s team said it would present detailed packages to prospective members.
Strategy, not shortcut
This isn’t for everyone. Frequent travelers, especially families and retirees, stand to benefit most. Holiday expenses rise quickly when traveling with teens or toddlers, and a flexible booking system can help manage that.
Let’s say you’re a family of four and need a two-bedroom suite. In five years, your teens might start planning their own holidays and your family’s needs would shift. Maybe you’ll travel longer during low seasons instead of squeezing into school breaks.
“What we’ve created now is an ultimate flexible product: not for today, not for next week, but for the years ahead. So, as your holiday habits or family travel changes, you have the ability to change with it,” said Wood.
In that scenario, a time-share could perhaps help save money. And if the program offers access to accommodations of all sizes, from studios to townhouses, members will have the flexibility to adjust their travel setup to fit their family’s life stage.
But let’s face it: Life changes, incomes shift, circumstances evolve. Global events happen. If our travel habits or finances become less predictable, what once felt like flexibility might start to feel like pressure.
The problem is that unused points expire after two years, which might force us to take last-minute trips out of necessity rather than excitement.
Still, for people who travel often, think long term and want more structure in their downtime, prepaying for future vacations might not be such a wild idea after all.
