The only states I had ever traveled by the age of 19 were Nebraska, where my grandparents and aunt/uncle lived, and Kansas once because my mom drove into Kansas by mistake.
My parents never stayed in a motel or hotel, so I was 19 before I even slept in a motel with Rick, and it was a year after we married. We were pretty poor as newlyweds.
We received an invitation to attend a timeshare presentation in Fraser, CO, a little over an hour from home. We bought on the spot, then had buyers' remorse, tried to rescind but couldn't. The company said we had no rights of rescission. Not sure to this day whether we could have rescinded. The internet was not around in 1981. We crazily bought another week in Frisco, CO, near Breck, a few years later. I don't know how the woman talked us into that purchase, I honestly don't.
We rarely went anywhere, and we drove when we went, so Twin Rivers and Val Chatelle were our vacation destinations, right here in our home state.
The kiddos were 4, 6 and 8 the first time we went to Disneyland in 1985. We traveled by plane. It was so exciting, even the plane trip, and we stayed in a very nice hotel.
We had been visiting our home resort every year, and in 1987, I wanted to try trading instead. We wanted to take a driving trip to Disneyland and San Diego, and somewhere else along the coast. Rick called II and RCI and booked two back-to-back weeks in San Diego (two bed Welk) and Point Brown Washington. This was early June of 1987. We never went back to our home resort after that. I have no desire to stay in the mountains anymore.
We still own at our first resorts, but we own better weeks now.
We took the kids on a lot of trips: Yellowstone, Disneyland, and Disneyworld, mostly. But we mostly drove because it was cheaper, and I like road trips.
The kids are all married now, and we have grandkids, too. They all stay in timeshares and don't really like hotels. We own all of the timeshares, and we literally give them weeks to use each year. This year, we all go to Anaheim, Dolphin's Cove, 8/6-8/13, and I have four units, one for each family. We are flying. So excited! Next year, we all go to Whistler, BC, in July. I got four units at Club Intrawest Whistler. The grandkids will see whales for the first time.
We have a timeshare rental business now, which is pretty small but profitable, and our daughter rents them for us to make a little bit, so she can stay home with the grandkids.
All timeshares work for trading, but buying specific units and weeks can be very important, if you want to have something special to use yourself.
We love Maui but decided we had to own oceanfront, and we wanted West Maui. Our friends bought a specific unit # at a floating week resort, just to get oceanfront each year. We copied them and bought, and not just one, but three weeks at the same resort, oceanfront. Our lanai is only 50 feet from the ocean. Sure, I can exchange into Marriott and Westin much cheaper with our exchange preference into those resorts, but not during whale season, and not oceanfront guaranteed. It's worth it to me.
We sit on the lanai all day at Hono Koa, at least until the sun starts beating into the unit at about 3 PM, then we leave to enjoy an early dinner somewhere. I think we spend $1,675 in fees per week with taxes. Sigh.
What would an oceanfront hotel room cost on Maui? I have no idea. But we have a full kitchen (very equipped), and a second bedroom/ bathroom, plus a washer/dryer and living room. It's incredible for the price we pay! I look most forward to our Maui trips.