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Newbie what to buy survey

Pauillac

newbie
Joined
Feb 10, 2015
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Thanks in advance for reading and responding! Here's my answers to the standard questions:

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?
If I had to pick one location, it would be Italy, as we're based in Europe and that's our favorite holiday destination. We also visit Sydney a lot to see relatives, so that would be also a possibility. And London would also be a good place for us, we often find ourselves wanting to go there for a week.

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?
Not sure, probably would trade more than half the time, though if we found a great spot in Italy or Sydney, we may go end up going there regularly.

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?
Beach holidays in Europe or Asia.

4) How many people do you usually travel with?
Four of us (2 adults and 2 young kids).

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?
Any time (kids are not in school yet).

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?
Rarely, we tend to be more last minute people. The exception is our birthday week in May (our birthdays are two days apart), which we can plan in advance for.

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?
Yes, most of our vacations are one week, except for Christmas/New Year's, where we tend to do at least 2 weeks.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?
Any.

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?
Flexible.

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?
Yes.

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?
No, more of a wing it at the last minute kind of person.

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?
Yup, which is why I'm researching here on TUG first, and would like advice from more experienced people.
 

RNCollins

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
3,329
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399
Location
Borscht Belt
Resorts Owned
Tradewinds, Divi, Quarter House, Casa Ybel

GT75

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
Moderator
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May 30, 2016
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Location
Gig City in Tennessee
Resorts Owned
Legacy HGVC
FAVC-Cabo
Based upon the answers to a couple of questions (6 & 11), I really don't think that getting into a TS will work for you. I would also like to be last minute too, but in general, you won't have much availability at that time. Most of us are planning 1-2 years in advance (maybe not booking the TS but atleast planning where we will be). In addition, your kids will soon be in school. At that time, you will be locked into the school schedule. This will make vacation planning even more difficult in the TS world. I would suggest that you rent. Just my 2¢.

I am only familiar with Hilton Grand Vacation Club (HGVC). They do have resorts in Italy, Scotland and Portugal.
 

RNCollins

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
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Borscht Belt
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Tradewinds, Divi, Quarter House, Casa Ybel
Hi Padillac,

You may want to look at TripBeat.com
It is owned by Wyndham and they list unused timeshare weeks for rent from across the globe, even Europe.
 
Last edited:

Karen G

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Henderson, NV
Resorts Owned
Once owned these: FirstFairway@Walden X 2; Lawai Beach; ManhattanClub; PuebloBonitoRose; 4 South Africa--now timeshare-free
Based upon the answers to a couple of questions (6 & 11), I really don't think that getting into a TS will work for you.
I agree. I think renting would work a lot better than timeshare for you.
 

Mosescan

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
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362
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136
Points
103
Location
Canada
Resorts Owned
HGVC - Vegas Blvd, Craigendarroch lodges x 2
I agree with the above. My first thought on reading your answers was this does not sound like somebody who should be getting a timeshare.

Places like Thailand have such inexpensive options on their beaches and dining out is also so inexpensive that a timeshare is not necessary. In Europe you are probably better to rent as then you can go wherever is available last minute. With only a month or two of advanced notice you are not likely to find any decent availability with a timeshare.
 

Pauillac

newbie
Joined
Feb 10, 2015
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2
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11
Thanks for the replies everyone! So based on all this advice, I won't consider a timeshare purchase at this point, and will focus on renting. Obviously I'll continue my normal avenues for renting (mostly hotels and AirBnB), but any recommended resources for timeshare renting? I know of the TUG marketplace and now this TripBeat.com site which looks interesting. Any other avenues?
 

DeniseM

Moderator
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Jun 6, 2005
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Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
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