Shares, Residence Points, Resorts, Costs and Resale Explained
Based in part on the original TUG article by Eric Schuit
Hapimag is not a conventional fixed-week timeshare. It is an unlisted Swiss company whose members are shareholders and receive annual residence points that can be used across a network of holiday apartments.
The model combines elements of a vacation club, points program, cooperative sharing system and corporate share ownership. That makes it flexible—but also more complex than simply owning one week at one resort.
The prior page quoted 1999 share prices, 12 points per share, 47 resorts, 4,500 apartments, a company buyback formula and old annual charges. Those figures are historical and should not be used to evaluate a current purchase. Hapimag now advertises 60 residence points per year per share, 56 resorts and more than 5,000 holiday apartments.
Hapimag AG is an unlisted Swiss company founded in 1963. Members do not merely join a travel club; they become shareholders in the company and may participate in the Annual General Meeting.
Instead of owning one specific apartment or week, members share access to a network of Hapimag holiday resorts. Hapimag describes itself as a sharing community for holiday apartments, with properties in seaside, mountain and city destinations.
Hapimag currently promotes membership with 60 residence points per year for each share. Members use those points for holiday apartments throughout the Hapimag network.
The number of points needed for a stay can vary by resort, apartment category, travel period and length of stay. Members may also encounter local costs or service charges connected with the actual stay.
Do not compare two Hapimag offers by share price alone. Compare annual points, annual charges, local costs, points required for the destinations you want, transfer restrictions and the realistic resale market.
| Feature | How the Hapimag Model Generally Works |
|---|---|
| Ownership | A share in Hapimag AG rather than a deed to one apartment week. |
| Annual usage | Residence points are allocated annually for holiday bookings. |
| Resort access | Points may be used across the Hapimag resort network, subject to availability and current rules. |
| Ongoing costs | Share-related annual charges plus local or stay-related costs may apply. |
| Resale | Hapimag offers official resources for buying and selling shares and residence points. |
| Governance | Members are shareholders and may vote at the Annual General Meeting. |
The original article focused heavily on a share purchase price, annual maintenance amount and weekly service fee. Today, the correct approach is to request the complete current cost schedule directly from Hapimag.
A Hapimag share is primarily a vacation-use product. Do not purchase because a salesperson, seller or old article suggests that the share will reliably appreciate or can always be sold back at a predictable percentage. Obtain the current written resale and transfer rules before buying.
Members book within the Hapimag network using residence points and the current reservation system. Popular destinations and peak travel periods can be more competitive, so flexibility remains important.
Hapimag provides official member resources for buying and selling residence points and for buying or selling shares. In 2025, Hapimag also warned members about fraud involving point trading and encouraged use of its official points platform.
Never send money or account credentials to an unknown person offering discounted Hapimag points or a guaranteed share sale. Verify the transaction through Hapimag's official member tools and confirm exactly when points or ownership will transfer.
Hapimag was established in Switzerland in 1963. The original idea was that many participants could collectively finance and share access to holiday accommodations rather than each family buying and maintaining a separate vacation home.
The model grew rapidly through Europe and became one of the earliest large-scale points-based holiday-sharing systems. The original TUG article documented how unusual the structure appeared compared with conventional fixed-week timeshares of that era.
Request the current share agreement, annual-cost schedule, residence-point rules, reservation terms, cancellation policy and resale conditions before paying. Do not rely on the original 1999 examples or verbal assurances from a private seller.
Hapimag may appeal to travelers who frequently visit Europe, prefer apartment-style accommodations, value access to multiple destinations and are comfortable with the obligations of share ownership.
It may be less suitable for travelers who want guaranteed use of one resort, rarely visit Europe, dislike annual obligations, or expect a predictable financial return when they sell.
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