Alternatives to Buying a Vacation Home: Smarter Ways to Get the Same Lifestyle
Ember Team
For decades, buying a vacation home was the goal.
If you traveled often enough—and had the means—it felt like the natural next step. A place to return to. A place to make your own. A place that, over time, became part of your family’s rhythm.
But that model was built for a different kind of lifestyle.
Today, people travel differently. Work is more flexible. Destinations change. Expectations are higher. And the idea of owning a second home that sits empty most of the year feels… harder to justify.
Not because the dream has changed.
But because the math—and the reality—has.
Most second homes are used just a handful of weeks each year. The rest of the time, they still require upkeep, coordination, and cost. And even when you’re not there, they’re still on your mind.
So the question more people are asking now is:
Is there a better way—one of the real alternatives to buying a vacation home—that still delivers the same lifestyle?
There is. And depending on how you travel, there are several.
Why More People Are Looking for Alternatives to Buying a Vacation Home
It usually starts with one of three things:
- Underutilization — realizing you’re only using the home a fraction of the time
- Maintenance fatigue — the ongoing effort of managing a property from afar
- Financial inefficiency — tying up capital in something that isn’t fully used
But there’s also a more subtle shift happening.
People are placing a higher value on ease.
They want the experience of arriving somewhere that feels like theirs—without the logistics that come with it. They want time together, not time managing.
As James Sukhan, co-founder of Ember, puts it:
“The traditional model assumes you should own something 100% of the time, even if you only use it 10–15% of the year. That gap is where most of the friction comes from.”
That gap is exactly where these alternatives live.
Co-Ownership: A Modern Alternative to Buying a Vacation Home
Co-ownership has quickly become one of the most compelling alternatives to buying a vacation home—especially for people who still want ownership, just not all of it.
Instead of buying an entire home, you purchase a share (often 1/8), which aligns closely with how often most families realistically travel.
That typically gives you:
- ~6+ weeks per year in a luxury home
- Fractional upfront cost
- Shared ongoing expenses
- No individual burden of maintenance
But the real appeal isn’t just cost-sharing. It’s friction removal.
With Ember’s model, everything is professionally managed—from cleaning and maintenance to scheduling and coordination. Ownership becomes something you experience, not something you manage.
“We wanted a vacation home for years, but the idea of maintaining it from out of state never felt realistic. This solved that completely.” — Ember Owner
Homes are held in a dedicated LLC, with each owner owning a real, deeded share. Scheduling is handled through an app designed to keep things fair and predictable, removing the typical coordination challenges that come with shared ownership.
There’s also flexibility layered in.
Through Ember Exchange (powered by ThirdHome), owners can access a global network of luxury homes—extending their travel options beyond a single destination.
“It feels like we have a home base, but also the ability to explore other places without starting from scratch every time.” — Ember Owner
Among all the alternatives to buying a vacation home, co-ownership stands out for people who want a true sense of ownership without the inefficiencies of going all-in.
Renting High-End Vacation Homes: A Flexible Alternative to Buying a Vacation Home
For some travelers, even fractional ownership isn’t necessary.
They don’t want to commit to one home or one destination. They want the ability to adapt—season to season, year to year.
Renting offers that freedom and remains one of the simplest alternatives to buying a vacation home—especially when flexibility matters more than consistency.
But there’s a wide gap between standard vacation rentals and thoughtfully managed homes designed for repeat experiences.
That’s where curated rental platforms like Ember Stays come into play.
Instead of sorting through inconsistent listings, guests book homes that are:
- Professionally managed
- Designed specifically for group travel
- Consistent in quality and experience
“We’ve done a lot of group trips, and this was by far the easiest one. The layout, the amenities, everything was just set up right.” — Ember Stays Guest
For many families, renting becomes less about finding a place and more about returning to the right kind of place.
“We didn’t realize how much the details mattered until this stay. It changed how we think about booking trips.” — Guest Review
That consistency starts to blur the line between renting and ownership.
You don’t own the home.
But the experience starts to feel familiar.
Vacation Clubs: Access-Focused Alternatives to Buying a Vacation Home
Vacation clubs take a different approach.
Instead of owning property, you pay for access to a portfolio of homes or resorts. This gives you variety—multiple destinations, different types of stays—without the responsibility of ownership.
For travelers who prioritize exploration, this can be appealing.
But there are tradeoffs:
- Availability depends on demand
- No equity or ownership stake
- Less consistency in experience
You gain flexibility, but you give up permanence.
For some, that’s a worthwhile exchange.
For others, it lacks the grounding of having a place that feels like their own.
Timeshares: A Traditional Alternative to Buying a Vacation Home
Timeshares are often the most familiar alternative—and the most misunderstood.
They typically offer access to a property for a specific time period each year, sometimes through a points-based system.
While they can work for certain use cases, they often come with constraints:
- Fixed schedules or limited flexibility
- Ongoing fees regardless of usage
- Minimal resale value
Modern travelers tend to expect more control and transparency than traditional timeshare models provide.
Which is why many are exploring newer alternatives instead.
Renting + Ownership Hybrid Strategies
One interesting trend that’s emerging is a hybrid approach.
Some families:
- Rent in multiple destinations to explore what they like
- Then co-own in a place they return to frequently
This approach allows them to maintain variety while still building consistency where it matters most.
It also reduces the pressure of choosing the “perfect” option upfront.
You don’t have to commit fully on day one.
You can evolve into it.
How These Alternatives to Buying a Vacation Home Compare
When you step back and look at the full landscape of alternatives to buying a vacation home, each option solves a different version of the same problem.
Co-ownership is often the best fit for people who still want a sense of ownership, but do not want the full cost, maintenance, or underutilization that comes with buying an entire second home. It offers more consistency than renting and more long-term value than access-only models, though it does require shared scheduling.
Renting tends to work best for travelers who want maximum flexibility. It allows you to choose different homes and destinations without any long-term commitment, which can be ideal if your travel habits change often. The tradeoff is that you are not building equity or creating the same sense of permanence that can come with ownership.
Vacation clubs appeal to people who value variety and want access to multiple destinations through one membership. They can be a strong fit for travelers who enjoy trying new places, but they usually do not offer ownership, and the experience may feel less consistent depending on availability and the types of properties included.
Timeshares are a more traditional alternative to buying a vacation home and may work for people who like predictable annual travel patterns. Still, they often come with more limitations around flexibility, ongoing fees, and resale value, which is why many buyers now look to newer models instead.
And of course, some people decide not to pursue any ownership or membership model at all. That option offers the most simplicity, but it can also mean missing out on the consistency, ease, and lifestyle benefits that make a vacation home appealing in the first place.
The right choice depends less on which model is “best” overall and more on which one fits how you actually want to travel.
A Better Way to Think About It
Instead of asking:
“Should we buy a vacation home?”
A more useful question might be:
“Which of these alternatives to buying a vacation home actually fits our life?”
Because the goal was never really ownership.
It was:
- Time together
- Ease of planning
- A place to return to (or a reason to go somewhere new)
Ownership was just one way to get there.
Now, it’s one of several.
Where Ember Fits Into These Alternatives
Ember sits at an interesting intersection of these alternatives to buying a vacation home.
On one side, it offers co-ownership—for those who want a place that feels like theirs, without the inefficiency of full ownership.
On the other, it offers Ember Stays—for those who want flexibility, consistency, and a higher-quality rental experience.
Both are built around the same idea:
Travel should feel easy. And the place you stay should support that—not complicate it.
Or, as James Sukhan puts it:
“The goal isn’t to own more real estate. It’s to create more meaningful time in the places you love.”
FAQs About Alternatives to Buying a Vacation Home
What is the best alternative to buying a vacation home?
The best alternative depends on your goals. Co-ownership is often the closest replacement for traditional ownership, while renting offers the most flexibility. Vacation clubs and timeshares can also work depending on how often and where you travel.
Is co-ownership better than buying a vacation home outright?
For many people, yes. Co-ownership aligns cost with usage and removes the burden of maintenance, while still providing a sense of ownership and consistency.
Are vacation rentals a good long-term alternative?
They can be, especially if you value flexibility and want to explore different destinations without committing to one location.
What are the downsides of alternatives to buying a vacation home?
Each option has tradeoffs. Renting doesn’t build equity, co-ownership involves shared scheduling, and vacation clubs may lack consistency. The key is choosing the model that best fits your lifestyle.
Final Thought
Buying a vacation home used to be the only real path to that kind of experience.
Now, it’s just one option among many—and often not the most efficient one.
The best alternatives to buying a vacation home aren’t about avoiding ownership altogether.
They’re about choosing a smarter version of it.
Or choosing something else entirely.
Either way, the goal is the same:
More time. Less friction. Better experiences.
And finally, a way to enjoy it all without everything else getting in the way.
Explore Co-ownership
The easiest way to understand co-ownership is to look at a real home and see how ownership is set up.
You can explore current listings to see how shares are structured, how costs are presented, and what ownership looks like for a specific property.
Text or call (385) 533-4741, or email [email protected]
