My timeshare experience.

[DJRR]

Been Marriott owners for 17 years. When I cared, I kept detailed records and paid about $120 per night for 2bd accomodations in nice locations with kids programs for the wee ones. That was all in, tax included, with a 5% cost of capital. I would guess that I now pay about $200 per night, but I really just enjoy it now. Also helped me get lifetime platinum with Marriott.

Like anything else, if you work with a reputable company and learn how to work the system you can get good value. If you want to work harder and buy resale you can do even better. If you want to work even harder you can probably get better deals with air bnb, priceline, etc.

I bought a vacation lifestyle instead of a new car. My family was very satisfied with the choice, and my kids are definitely spoiled vs. going to a regular hotel.

Unfortunately, more people have spent more with disreputable companies and get stuck with obligations they can't afford.

 

[zinger1457]

Someone saying they stay for 75 a night means they are paying maintence fees of less then 525 a week and no trading or cleaning fees. I guess very few timeshares offer this option when all the costs are factored in.

I assume you're referring to my comment about the $75/night. My maintenance fees are $1710/year, that includes the annual fee to trade the unit inside Starwood (now Vistana) and Interval International. For what I own I get 148100 staroptions to trade into any of the Vistana resorts. For the seasons I prefer to travel I can get ~24 nights in a premium 1BR unit. Could get more nights if I traveled during the low season and/or stayed in a studio or small 1BR, would get less nights if I traveled only during the peak seasons. The cleaning fee is included in the first two weekly visits, additional visits they charge a $39/week cleaning fee. Interval Int. membership by itself is well worth the cost, they offer discounted Getaways to destinations all over the world, and can also be used to trade one of my Vistana weeks. I've traded my small 1BR Kierland unit in II for a 2BR at the 4 Seasons Aviara Carlsbad CA (several times), 2BR Marriott Newport Coast CA (several times), Highlands Inn Carmel CA.

 

[ivinsfan]

I assume you're referring to my comment about the $75/night. My maintenance fees are $1710/year, that includes the annual fee to trade the unit inside Starwood (now Vistana) and Interval International. For what I own I get 148100 staroptions to trade into any of the Vistana resorts. For the seasons I prefer to travel I can get ~24 nights in a premium 1BR unit. Could get more nights if I traveled during the low season and/or stayed in a studio or small 1BR, would get less nights if I traveled only during the peak seasons. The cleaning fee is included in the first two weekly visits, additional visits they charge a $39/week cleaning fee. Interval Int. membership by itself is well worth the cost, they offer discounted Getaways to destinations all over the world, and can also be used to trade one of my Vistana weeks. I've traded my small 1BR Kierland unit in II for a 2BR at the 4 Seasons Aviara Carlsbad CA (several times), 2BR Marriott Newport Coast CA (several times), Highlands Inn Carmel CA.

Thanks for those details and it proves a careful shopper can get good value. For example you get points which seems to work better then trading week for week. My SIL treated us to aweek to one of her weeks in Cabo and her fee to trade in which we paid was around 109 dollars for the week. We were there together and she checked us in or we would have had to pay another 100 for a "guest" check in fee. Our London unit was simply a discounted getaway which came in at about 300 dollars a week cheaper then the same property on a discount public website. But if she hadn't been along on that trip it would have cost me a 100 dollar check in fee. Lots of moving parts to timeshares and I'm glad you get value for yours.

 

[MikeD]

During the year before we got married (1975 - 1976) we were extremely poor and were in college. Community college for me and a State school for my wife. My future wife's parents supported her while in college and I lived on $1,200.00 a year for every cent I spent including gas, rent, electric, phone, and food, and Insulin. I would feel happy if I found a dime in a telephone coin slot. Half my meals were food smuggled out of college food services in pockets or purses of friends and mostly from the future wife. I used my GreenStamps. At the CC orientation, I found a used Band-Aid in my coleslaw, and was extremely bummed when I couldn't keep eating it. I was afraid of germs... I mentioned it to the guys running the place but they were out of the packaged fried chicken dinners in styrofoam trays as they had ordered exactly the right number for the new students. Comm College was a learning experience for me in many, many unexpected ways. I benefited immensely from my time there.

So, we went to resorts timeshare presentations for the goodies. We got $25.00 checks, plates, silverware (Which I still use to cook with, not our nicer daily set), and gas coupons, etc. To two people who were on the edge of financial ruin, it was a goldmine. Since I was a diabetic without a regular source of food and very young and very uninformed, I had no idea whether they were a good idea or not, we had no intention and no means of buying in.

We were bribed by a couple of the salesmen to leave early so that we'd stop eating so much free shrimp.

It was a long time ago in a different, 'character-building,' as my Ma used to say about suffering, life-lesson-rich time for us.

We're doing better now...

Mike D.

 

[kcowan]

We went to a TS pitch at a ski resort. Free night in a hotel and continental breakfast. The offered price was twice what comparable full-time units were selling for. When I explained it to the sales rep, she got very upset. We left in peace quickly.

 

[ivinsfan]

We went to a TS pitch at a ski resort. Free night in a hotel and continental breakfast. The offered price was twice what comparable full-time units were selling for. When I explained it to the sales rep, she got very upset. We left in peace quickly.

This reminds me of something that happened in Cabo...four of us non-owners went to a presentation cause they offered mondo incentives. Hard sell for a few minutes till the four of us said no way. Got bumped to the exit people who then offered a package of a one time payment and no maintence fees but 25 weeks within the next 15 years at any resort anytime you could get a booking this was system wide not just at this property. You then paid 300 for each week you actually booked. Also unlimited booking of what they called last minutes specials of unbooked units.

I think the initial cost that day was 3000 dollars or so. Afterwards when talking to my SIL she was pretty peeved they even offered this option, saying that it screwed the actual owners and limited their options for trading in and out. Felt these offers just diluted the unit pool and were too generous.

 

[brett]

I read somewhere that the sales and marketing costs for a timeshare were typically around 35 percent of sale price.

 

[SumDay]

We've bought and sold four, and currently have none, by choice. We've been doing this for over 25 years, and I got tired of seeing somewhere I wanted to go and there was no timeshare there. I felt guilty each time I cheated on my timeshare, and I got really tired of not being able to get in where I wanted, when I wanted. And, we didn't want the kids stuck with them so they're all gone now. I've found you can rent from owners if you really want to. It may be a little more than you'd pay in maintenance fees, but on years when you don't want to use it, you're not out anything.

If you like yours, enjoy - they are great if you know how to work them.

 

[cathy63]

I wonder how the new private home rental law changes in Tahoe will affect time shares?

Essentially, no one can rent their home out in Tahoe any more unless it's for 30 days or longer. We used to rent a place every Thanksgiving for all our family. We live in the area and it was much easier on us just to rent them all one house they could stay at instead of OURS! Probably the main reason the law was passed. Ha!

Timeshares and hotels are usually exempt from short term rental bans. There are two timeshare properties in my town, and we also have a short term rental ban (since long before AirBnB existed) and there's no problem. The timeshares are in areas that are zoned for that type of use and they have the appropriate business licenses and pay tax accordingly.

 

[cathy63]

How is this enforced lots of towns have rules on the books for rentals of less than 30 days but everyone seems to ignore them. In fact the place we go to snowbird had these laws but then decided to dump them and put a hotel tax on the short rental stays. But then again how do you enforce that.

My city enforces the short term rental ban by citing and eventually suing the property owners who persistently violate the law: https://www.coronado.ca.us/news/what_s_new/short-term_rental_violator_settles

They find violators by logging into AirBnB and VRBO and looking for them, or by fielding complaints from neighbors who are unhappy about the noise and lack of parking that comes with having a quasi-hotel next door. There are probably still some who manage to get away with it, but since this a small town with homes that are close together where we know our neighbors (and we probably also have more than our share of busybodies), I suspect it's not that many.

Cities like San Francisco that impose a transient occupancy tax on landlords who rent for the short term require them to register for a license and then that license number is displayed on the rental site. I know some cities are trying to get AirBnB to report the number of rental nights so they can cross reference whatever the landlord reports and make sure they're collecting the full tax, but I don't know if they've managed that yet.

 

[ivinsfan]

City tax dollars going toward the rental police what next? It seems no misdeed is to small it attract the governments attention. I fail to see how renting your home to someone when you aren't using it causes your neighbors a problem.

 

[phil1ben]

I bought a Hilton Timeshare resale. The Hilton program treats resale owners the same as owners who buy retail.The guy who sold it to me paid $51,000.00 from Hilton. I paid $7,000.00 on the resale market. We use all of our points each year and feel it is good value. We look at it simply as prepaid vacation. If you have a degree of flexibility and are able to plan in advance, the Hilton program works very well. No fixed week and many properties. I can sell it for slightly more than I paid on the resale market but have no intentions of doing so. Would I feel the same if I paid full price from Hilton........no!

 

[capjak]

I own Westin Kaanapali Resort Villas North OceanFront 2 bedroom, Sheraton Vistana Villiages Key West 2 bedroom, Marriott Grande Vista (enrolled for Destination points)3 bedroom, Disney Beach Club 150 points, Disney Saratoga Springs 175 points, Hilton Grand Vacation club Flamingo in Las Vegas 1 bedroom.

All of these were bought resale for 20 cents on the dollar. The maintenance fees for some are paid by renting DVC out for 2+ what the fees are. If we want to go somewhere non timeshare we do it, we are not tied down to them but do enjoy all of them (exception always seem to rent out DVC as it is profitable and rents in less than a week even when during the great recession.

It has resulted in many memories over the years in top rate accommodations that allow the entire family to go and have their own bedroom.


In 2019 we are spending
-4 weeks Jan/feb in maui (maintenance fee cost $1000 per week to stay at Westin KORV-North).
-1 week with adult kids Orlando in March ($1000 maintenance fee)
-2 weeks orlando in October ($500 per week 2 bedroom Marriott via Getaway)
-1 week Hilton Head September ($1200 maintenance fee in 2 bedroom)

Collecting $4500 rental for the DVC points to pay for some of the above.

Seems to work for us. We also use Getaways as they are just so cheap ($40 per night in studio or $80 per night for 2 bedroom a Marriott Orlando during Fall) to stay extra weeks or allow family to join us.

I have seen the blogs of people that sold there house and do timeshares year round (only paying 1 maintenance fee but using getaways and/or RCI last minutes)

So you do need to learn how to take advantage of all the ins/outs but that is part of the fun.

Literally 1000+ locations via II or RCI exchange and other options (not financially as good however like Cruises, Guided tours through Collette, Houses, RVs, Charter Boats, hotels, flights etc...paid via timeshare but really not good values better off using cash from renting the Timeshare out to pay for these)

 

[Huston55]

DW & I took advantage of a Hyatt HRC package a couple years ago. We had spent lots of nights in Hyatts and got a highly discounted rate at the (almost) new HRC Kaanapali Beach; 2BR/2BA, oceanfront; we took a friend to take advantage of the 2/2 condo room. But, we had to attend a TS presentation (hard sell) as part of the deal.

Because we had no plan to buy a TS, we did the research in advance (mostly on TUG & RedWeek). The salesman ended the presentation early because it was clear we weren’t buying. Personally, I’d do it again because it was a good deal & a great resort but, DW hated it. So, we won’t do it again.

It’s been a couple years since I evaluated the numbers but, I could never get a TS purchase to make sense to me, especially from a financial standpoint. I haven’t investigated the TS resale market very closely so, perhaps that could be justified. But, I have yet to see numbers to justify a new TS purchase.

 

[Walt34]

I fail to see how renting your home to someone when you aren't using it causes your neighbors a problem.

It doesn't take much imagination to see a problem. Almost everyone has had the experience of having to spend the night in a hotel room next to the "party animals". Or worse, living in an apartment near them. And to get the most bang for their buck, the renters will pack the place full with relatives so any spare space is taken up. Since they don't live there, they don't care about littering the place either. Not all of them of course but I'm sure there are enough to be an irritant to the neighbors.

I'd have plenty of complaints about that and probably worse things that happen with rentals. That's one reason I'm glad we live in a development with an HOA that forbids and enforces a prohibition on short term rentals.

 

[capjak]

But, I have yet to see numbers to justify a new TS purchase.

All timeshares are used once someone sleeps in them the first time. lol

Agree Developer purchase almost never works out financially.....

resale however you can make it work

but have to learn and study the systems and enjoy planning vacations

 

[Jerry1]

So what happens to a timeshare when you die. Does it just end or does your estate have to find a way to unload it? I wouldn’t want it forced upon my beneficiaries.

 

[Walt34]

So what happens to a timeshare when you die. Does it just end or does your estate have to find a way to unload it?

Good question, I've wondered about that too. If nobody wants it what are they gonna do? After the estate is closed there's no one left to sue.

 

[capjak]

So what happens to a timeshare when you die. Does it just end or does your estate have to find a way to unload it? I wouldn’t want it forced upon my beneficiaries.

My understanding is you can not make your beneficiaries accept an inheartance. Many are deeded back to the resort.

However, getting a first rate timeshare free would be great as long as they can afford the $1,200 maintenance fee yearly...a Marriott/Hilton/Disney/Westin/Hyatt/Worldmark/Wyndham etc..

otherwise it has value on the resale market.....look on redweek.com

 

[Vacation4us]

I own 2.5 weeks with Marriott.

Last year we spent 3 weeks in Thailand, 2 weeks in St Thomas, and 2 weeks in Aruba all in Marriott timeshares.

I bought all weeks resale on the cheap. 1 of my weeks the every other year one we paid $500.00 dollars for.

We love them, get great value for them and wouldn't be able to travel as much without them.

When we no longer want them I will likely just give them away. I frequent a great timeshare site tug2.net that has a forum similar to here. They also offer free posting to give away your timeshare (and sell).

Owning a high quality timeshare like Marriott,Hilton, Hyatt, etc not only guarantees a quality accommodation but any easy way to give away when your done since they have more value than other no name brand timeshares.

I would NEVER pay retail for a timeshare. The price is outrageous and greatly diminishes the cost effectiveness of actually timesharing in my opinion.

Any TUG members here? ( Timeshare User Group )

Our next trip is a week on a Catamaran in the French Polynesia can't wait!!!!!

 

[capjak]

Any TUG members here? ( Timeshare User Group )

Our next trip is a week on a Catamaran in the French Polynesia can't wait!!!!!

Yep I am a Tugger...

 

[SmallCityDave]

Yep I am a Tugger...

Me too.

 

[SmallCityDave]

So what happens to a timeshare when you die. Does it just end or does your estate have to find a way to unload it? I wouldn’t want it forced upon my beneficiaries.

Ours will go to our boys but I'm not sure that's a blanket statement you can use for all the timeshares.


I'd say the best bet is to buy something resale with cash & a proven track-record that's proven to always be worth something and not a liability, stick with name-brand. Do your homework and have realistic expectations, we lucked out because I knew very little about timeshares.

 

[njhowie]

All of these were bought resale for 20 cents on the dollar.

Maybe the others but not the DVC - and certainly not the Beach Club. Disney would not have allowed the purchase/resale at 20 cents on the dollar...likely not even for 50 or 60 cents on the dollar.

 

[Brat]

We had two weeks that ended about the 4th of July at the Jackson Hole Racquet Club. Purchased it about 1980. We used it maybe 15 times, traded it others. About 2000 another owner contacted us with an offer to purchase for the same amount as we paid. Deal done!