Trifter

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Sometimes you need more than just a warm bed in an exotic locale. Sometimes you need a whole network of mansions, so you can entertain friends in the most idyllic places on Earth.

In the interest of protecting your endangered cash pile, we suggest a little help from Halogen Guides for Destination Clubs, a canny free resource to luxury vacation real estate.

If you’re unfamiliar, Destination Clubs land somewhere between a time-share and a second home—only you get more than one house in the bargain, and without the burden of mortgages. For a refundable deposit and an annual dues payment, you’ll get access to millions of dollars worth of real estate, ranging from ski chalets to Italian villas and ridiculously opulent beach palaces, with access to private clubs and restaurants along the way. You can entertain dozens of friends and family members at once and, in the tradition of a five-star hotel, you’ll have a full concierge staff attending to you at every step. In short, you’ll get just about anything money can buy.

It’s the equivalent of buying seven or eight resort homes in one fell swoop, only you won’t have to worry about repairs or cough up quite so much dough. And since you’ll want to choose the right club, Halogen Guides will do the legwork for you, including financial reportage like checking out each club’s equity and member-to-home ratio.

We hear Maldivian bungalows are rallying in Q4.