I’d never heard of the Holiday Property Bond before meeting Emma, and I’ll admit, I was a little suspicious at first. Over the years I’ve grown wary of anything that sits outside the “normal” way of booking holidays. We’ve all heard the timeshare horror stories and the pyramid schemes of the 80s.
So I’ve always preferred to sort things myself: research the destination, book the flights, choose the accommodation and deal direct. I genuinely hadn’t booked a package tour for decades, well that was until recently, when I tried Crystal Ski in 2024. That turned out to be excellent value and made me wonder if I’d been a bit too cynical.
Mistakenly, I had lumped HPB in with timeshares and even package holidays, and had assumed Emma’s parents (who bought several bonds decades ago) had been talked into something questionable.
I could not have been more wrong. Here’s why.
HPB started in 1983 and now has properties in 33 locations across Europe, and not just any properties. Think stately homes, castles, beautifully restored villages in France, with pools, saunas, gyms and tennis courts added in thoughtfully. They offer everything from studios and one-bed apartments to large private villas with pools – click here for overview.
We’ve only used up to two-bedroom places so far. Our last trip to Mallorca cost £136 each, and the one-bed apartment we’ve booked for December in Vierhofen, Austria (near Zell am See), is £368 for the two of us, complete with its own private sauna. Prices don’t change between low and high season, which is refreshing.
The kitchens are genuinely impressive too, like something curated by the Waitrose or M&S design team. Everything you could possibly need, plus quality appliances.
We’ve managed five HPB trips this year, including a lovely week in Pembrokeshire with my parents. At these prices, it’s easy to see the appeal.
So why isn’t everyone doing this? Two reasons stand out:
1. You have to buy bonds.
Becoming a bondholder feels unusual to most people, and the minimum outlay is £5,000.
2. High-season bookings need more bonds.
To secure peak-summer villas in the most sought-after locations, you’re looking at a higher stake.
However, for many families that’s still very worthwhile given the quality, choice and locations, especially as the bonds last a lifetime and can be passed on to children or partners.
BUT…
We’ve found a simple, completely above-board way to enjoy multiple HPB holidays at very low prices without needing a huge bondholding. That said, if you can only travel in high season because of work or kids, this won’t help you. But if you’re flexible, or retired – it’s a bit of a no-brainer.
THE APPROACH:
Buy £5k–£10k worth of bonds (each £1 = 1 point). Then avoid using the points by booking last-minute:
• 28 days ahead for the UK
• Around twice that for Europe
Last-minute bookings don’t use your points, but you still get the high-quality accommodation and low prices. Right now (I just checked), there are dozens of properties across the UK and Europe for £275–£500. Add cheap winter flights and you’ve got yourself a bargain.
Honestly, grab your boots and go exploring — it’s what we’ve been doing.
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REQUEST A BROCHURE — GET A £20 VOUCHER
If you request a brochure using THIS introductory link, you’ll get a £20 John Lewis/M&S voucher automatically. We’ll get a gift too!
OR, just simply google ‘Holiday Property Bond’ and find their home page and take a look without getting a voucher – it’s simple enough to find.
Go-on, don’t be a cynic like I was, it really is great value…