I’ve always appreciated your threads, Greg, and this one, along with the one you’ve referenced, rings so true. I remember a dozen years ago, give or take, when there were multiple threads debating whether or not timeshares were a worthwhile investment. Then, as now, there’s more important things in life than money, and for us, at least, the investment in family time and quality of life have been priceless.
We bought our first unit in ‘06, resale with the help of fellow Tuggers, esp appreciating Dave M’s sage advice. We enjoyed a 3 generation trip that first winter, while we were fortunate enough to have both my parents. My oarents’ 60th was the following Thanksgiving weekend, and we planned another family trip for the beginning of January over our younger daughter’s intercession. Anyway, because of our ownership we took advantage of being able to get a getaway in Cancun two weeks before my patents’ anniversary and booked an extra trip. Sadly, we lost my Dad the following month, and we never made it to the planned family celebration, but because of our ownership we took that extra trip and the memories are priceless. So, while it sounds corny perhaps, for us it’s truly been an investment, even if not in the financial sense.
Continuing the trip down memory lane....we didn’t discover timeshares until our daughters were in their twenties. We traveled extensively, usually 3 generations, cramped into hotel rooms or cruise cabins. It is such a pleasure having the space, especially with grandkids! My 4 1/2 year old grandson has been to Aruba every summer since he was 3 1/2 months and he and his older brother can’t wait to return. The other day he asked me about his great grandmother, and what a joy it was to share stories and pictures of her holding him on the beach on what was his first trip, and sadly her last.
Ownership has afforded us the ability to take trips with family, take extra relatively inexpensive vacations either through a Getaway or II trade, and invite friends. As our family has grown having prepaid spacious accommodations, with a kitchen for breakfasts and lunches, is even more valuable when the number of plane tickets hits the double digits. And while my MF on my 3BR unit is ~2500, it sure beats renting 3 hotel rooms in a beachfront property for the week.
So my Marriott ownership has afforded us with wonderful memories with family and friends, and I’m indebted to many of the people on this site who have helped me maximize our usage over the tears
