Cathy Rosen
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- Feb 4, 2017
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I currently have a vacation club membership which is different from a timeshare. I purchased it for $5,000.00 while in Vegas back in 2013. I can rent up to two 2BR Westgate resorts per year for $500.00 each. I have no maintenance fees, only membership fees that are not mandatory if I don't plan on traveling that year. The membership fees are 199.00 per year or 300.00 for 2 years. I have the use of Interval without the exchanges, so I can use their getaways. I also have the use of Westgate Cruise and Travel that also has getaways. I have really enjoyed my membership and I feel I've gotten my money's worth.
I just came back from a trip to Vegas again where I stayed at the Flamingo Bay. I attended a timeshare presentation and purchased a partial Elite membership to the casino, and then I sent a cancellation letter when I returned home. Now I'm regretting not going through with it.
So, I'd like opinions on the deal they gave me, because I'm tempted to call them and tell them I want it after all.
The $5000.00 I dropped on my vacation club is considered equity so it goes towards the purchase price of a new timeshare. My additional out of pocket expense is just under 7,000.00, with a deposit of $100.00. My plan was to pay around 2,000 to 3,000 when the payments are due so that I could pay off the rest without finance charges. That way my monthly payments would be 112.00/ month for 3 years.
Under the partial Elite membership, I get 4 nights and 5 days for a 1 bedroom at the Westgate Casino every other year at no cost other than the $400.00 maintenance fee I pay every other year. If I go to another Westgate property, I can get a 2BR for 1 week at $159.00. If I do an exchange through Interval, I get a 1 BR Elite for $189.00. I was told I can borrow against future years if I want to go both years. There are no restrictions as to when I can book my vacation. I am totally dazzled by the suite they showed me. Its gorgeous!
I agonized the first time when I bought the vacation club. I vacillated back and forth for 3 days before deciding to go through with it. I haven't regretted it. Now I'm agonizing again. Its horrible having to make this decision when given no time. My kids are against it, as they were the first time. But they like going on the vacays with me. They don't want to hear any of the details or try to understand how it works. They know one thing and one thing only. Timeshares are bad! They don't want to be saddled with the HOA fees if I pass it on to them. I think I could give it to my cousin's daughter when I'm too old to travel, or maybe even my granddaughter if she wants it. I'm divorced, so its entirely my decision and I want to do a lot of traveling before I get too old (I'm 60).
Thoughts?
I just came back from a trip to Vegas again where I stayed at the Flamingo Bay. I attended a timeshare presentation and purchased a partial Elite membership to the casino, and then I sent a cancellation letter when I returned home. Now I'm regretting not going through with it.
So, I'd like opinions on the deal they gave me, because I'm tempted to call them and tell them I want it after all.
The $5000.00 I dropped on my vacation club is considered equity so it goes towards the purchase price of a new timeshare. My additional out of pocket expense is just under 7,000.00, with a deposit of $100.00. My plan was to pay around 2,000 to 3,000 when the payments are due so that I could pay off the rest without finance charges. That way my monthly payments would be 112.00/ month for 3 years.
Under the partial Elite membership, I get 4 nights and 5 days for a 1 bedroom at the Westgate Casino every other year at no cost other than the $400.00 maintenance fee I pay every other year. If I go to another Westgate property, I can get a 2BR for 1 week at $159.00. If I do an exchange through Interval, I get a 1 BR Elite for $189.00. I was told I can borrow against future years if I want to go both years. There are no restrictions as to when I can book my vacation. I am totally dazzled by the suite they showed me. Its gorgeous!
I agonized the first time when I bought the vacation club. I vacillated back and forth for 3 days before deciding to go through with it. I haven't regretted it. Now I'm agonizing again. Its horrible having to make this decision when given no time. My kids are against it, as they were the first time. But they like going on the vacays with me. They don't want to hear any of the details or try to understand how it works. They know one thing and one thing only. Timeshares are bad! They don't want to be saddled with the HOA fees if I pass it on to them. I think I could give it to my cousin's daughter when I'm too old to travel, or maybe even my granddaughter if she wants it. I'm divorced, so its entirely my decision and I want to do a lot of traveling before I get too old (I'm 60).
Thoughts?
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