Capital Vacations is a notable player in the timeshare industry. Specifically, this is a brand known to many travelers in the eastern half of the United States, with properties in that region making up a large portion of their portfolio. A quick look at the pictures from some of their locations throughout this part of the world would leave many people thinking that owning a piece of Capital Vacations would be a great opportunity.
Sadly, the reviews for Capital Vacations seem to tell a different story. You’ll notice online that the reviews for this company are overwhelmingly negative, with complaints that mirror many of the issues seen throughout the industry. In this article, we’ll get into the details of some of those complaints and discuss whether or not Capital Vacations makes sense for the average family.
Before we get started, we’d like to make you aware of some resources we have in place to help people who already own a timeshare get out of their ownership if they would rather be free from the contract. Countless people want to leave their timeshares behind, and this list of the best timeshare exit companies is an excellent place to start that process.
Capital Vacations Pros and Cons
The best place to start this kind of article is with some of the pros and cons that are seen with the timeshare. By looking at what Capital Vacations might have to offer as a benefit, and where there are some drawbacks, you’ll have an easier time figuring out if you should be interested in what they are selling.
Pros
With some timeshares, ownership grants you access to a single location – or perhaps even a single, specific unit – for a week or two per year. With that kind of timeshare experience, you are locked into visiting that one place as the years go by.
Capital Vacations is different, in that this timeshare has a portfolio of locations throughout the United States, as well as some international spots. As mentioned above, many of the properties are found in the eastern U.S., although there are also some locations offered in the west, including California, Oregon, Idaho, Hawaii, and Utah.
So, for people who like to explore many different places when they travel, the list of options available through Capital Vacations would be seen as a notable positive. Owners aren’t locked into a single destination, meaning they can adjust as family needs or preferences change over the years.
Cons
If the positive side of Capital Vacations involves getting to go to plenty of different places, the negative side is highlighted by the difficulty that you might face when trying to book travel to some of the best places on that list. Unfortunately, availability is only the start of the issues you may face, so we’ll get into a few different points below.
Availability Struggles
Let’s start with the problem of finding space in the places you really want to visit. While there are many options listed by Capital Vacations for owners to explore, the reality is that a large percentage of the owners are going to want to book trips to a relatively small percentage of the most desirable spots. For example, properties on the warm beaches of Florida or Hawaii are likely to be booked well in advance, making it quite difficult to secure a booking for your vacation at a time that works for your family. You might wind up taking trips to places you aren’t as excited about visiting just because it’s what was available.
Inconsistent Accommodations
If you are picturing beautiful, well-appointed accommodations when you travel as an owner with Capital Vacations, you might be disappointed with the condition and age of some of the properties. Some of the newer locations might offer an enjoyable experience, but there seems to be some inconsistency within the portfolio as far as what you are going to find when you take a trip.
Misleading Promises
As is the standard in the timeshare industry, the overwhelming negative that comes with Capital Vacations is the misleading nature of what you are offered and how it will actually play out. Whether it is making promises during the sales presentation that aren’t delivered on, or offering booking availability that is later changed when the owner is told the property isn’t available on those dates, it can be hard to trust what you are told by this business.
Capital Vacations Complaints
If we are being honest here, it’s not uncommon for timeshare businesses to rack up a lot of complaints. Making a visit to the Better Business Bureau website and reading the pages of some of the top timeshare companies will review countless complaints from a range of individuals. These include people who are owners, as well as those who were subjected to long and aggressive sales presentations.
When you view Capital Vacations on the BBB, you’ll find much of the same. Page after page of reviews on the BBB website feature complaints from people who feel they were misled, mostly during the sales presentation process. One particularly concerning note is that some feedback indicates that Capital Vacations tries to act like they operate differently than “standard” timeshares, in an effort to move themselves away from the industry norms. If these hundreds of reviews are to be believed, however, it’s just more of the same.
The two screenshots below capture a sentiment that is representative of many more reviews.
Is Capital Vacations a Good Investment?
You might be told as part of a sales presentation that buying a timeshare from Capital Vacations is not only a great way to have fun with family and friends, but that it can also be a solid investment option as a place to put some of your money. This does not tend to be true in the real world.
Most people who purchase timeshares find that, over time, they do not prove to be a good investment. Due to a lack of a strong resale market, and unclear valuations to determine what a timeshare is actually worth when you buy it, counting on your timeshare purchase to play out as a nice investment is likely to lead to disappointment. There are plenty of other ways to invest your money in modern markets that have a stronger track record of success than timeshares.
Is Capital Vacations Worth It?
In the end, it’s unlikely that you’ll find Capital Vacations to be worth your money, or your time. Although the portfolio of properties does represent a nice selection of destinations, not all of those destinations will be reasonably available to you as an owner, and some of them won’t be in the condition you might expect. If you avoid timeshare ownership and just travel by paying for one trip at a time, you’ll have more flexibility and will almost certainly save money.
Speaking of saving money, don’t forget to account for the ongoing maintenance fees when thinking about whether or not Capital Vacations is going to be worth it to you. There isn’t only the initial purchase price to consider, but also the maintenance fees that just keep coming year after year – and will go up in time. Once you start to do the math including those fees, you’ll find that these vacations could wind up being very expensive, and you’ll be locked into a contract that can be difficult to exit.
Capital Vacations Lawsuits
Timeshare businesses are regularly sued by unhappy owners. The reasons for these lawsuits are many, but they often come back to the central theme of the timeshare not delivering on promises that were made during the sales presentation or the time immediately after that presentation. Some people who are led to believe one thing only to be delivered another will wind up taking legal action in an effort to recover money or at least get out of their contract. Capital Vacations is no exception to this pattern, and you can find stories about various lawsuits easily by searching the web.
Of course, businesses are regularly sued for various reasons, so the simple existence of some lawsuits does not mean that you should never deal with a given business. However, the regularity of this issue in the timeshare world might cause you to think twice about exactly why so many owners are upset enough to take their issue to court.
The Solution You Need
Paying ongoing maintenance fees on your timeshare gets old in a hurry. Ready to be done with those fees? Take the first step toward getting rid of your timeshare by calling 833-416-8796 to speak with a member of our team. It can be hard to work through this process on your own, so getting experienced help is the way to go. Of course, you can also contact us here through our website, either by filling out the form or using our live chat. We are excited to serve you!