[2008] Fulltime timesharing?

[lprstn]

Sign me up!!!!

We purchased what we had in thoughts of TSing at least 6 months a year. We plan to work as contractors for 4 to 6 months stints than travel for the remainder of the year.

We plan to downsize to a townhome which we own as a rental property now, but it will be paid off by the time my youngest son goes to college. Once he is outta the house I will be 56yrs old and we plan to sell the big house then. The rental property is a 2 bedroom, that way if our son has to come home to visit we have a room for him. Otherwise we will be spending the summers on the road,and hopefully some of our kids can come with us.

For now, I just have to be happy going 1 place a month (we do a 4 day weekend somewhere every month), 4 weeks a year (both me and DH have 5 weeks of vacation/holiday time a year), and every other weekend in the summer.

My kids happily give up going to sleep away camps and other summer camps for the ability to travel every other weekend in the summer. We give them a choice and they always chose to travel. With Wyndam VIP I am able to snag discounted weekend getaways for little or nothing in points, and book my RCI weeks (the 4 weeks a year) with additional points.

LIfe for me now is good and I can't complain, and when I retire it will be even better with TSing 6 months outta the year. So please keep the information coming as it can make this a real possibility for me with seeing others able to do it.

 

[jennstall]

I love this thread. And I've love to timeshare full-time. I had always dreamed about RVing fulltime, but the more I thought about it the more I realised that I am not "maintenance girl". It is bad enough just remember to get the oil changed in my car LOL

Right now I live with family in the Northeast while I build my own business, but since I work online and it is transportable, I am spending the winter in Florida. Last year I spent about 6 weeks down there, split between my DVC timeshare, my RHC and then the rest of the time at HoJo's

But this year, I have nearly 8 weeks booked from December to end of January. So far three weeks at DVC (but leaving weekends to conserve pts) and then the rest is all RCI Extra getaways. I'm trying to decide now if I want to shell out money to spend February in Florida as well (all the prices for Extra getaways shoot up dramatically in Feb.) or move up north to Myrtle Beach for the month. It won't be as nice as Florida, but I'm sure it will still be better than Boston! And a lot cheaper than Fl.

What will be really nice this winter is I'll get to see different parts of Fl. and not just Orlando.

 

[Black Diamond]

7 year away from full-time TS

:whoopie: Waiting for kids to exit for college, then hit the road to TS all winter in south, travel in mid-west and other places during summer months.

Thanks!!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Good luck to all of you who are considering full-time timeshare living. We have very deep roots in Denver (travel about 8 weeks a year), and all of our kids are nearby, so we can't do the same. I like living vicariously through others, so a journal here would be a great way to share your experience.

 

[x3 skier]

Definitely not full time but with 12 weeks every ski season in Steamboat Springs and 4 weeks at other places like London, Mexico and ?, its enough for me.

If I could the DW away from the grand kids, it might be even more but who is complaining?

Cheers

 

[ronandjoan]

I am getting tired of motels

September 21
I will be so happy to get back into a timeshare condo! Because of our plans – reunions, friends/family visits, etc, we have had to be in motel rooms (well, two nights in a B&B and 3 at a friends’) for 4 weeks but otherwise, for a high school reunion and family visits have been in places where there are no timeshares, and we miss the condo size and amenities (full kitchen, laundry, etc.) It’s a drag keeping an icechest cold, figuring out where to put everything we use (i.e., computer, printer too sometimes!) and doing laundry. Today we drive to Cable, WI and one of our most favorite places, Telemark!

Thanks for everyone's comments.

See my blog at
http://ronandjoanjourney.blogspot.com/

 

[eal]

We are currently wrapping up Week 2 of a 23-week vacation/sabbatical staying in timeshares. We started our trip with two weeks at Big Sky Mt; on Saturday we move on to Park City. The trip also includes 5 weeks in Hawaii, a month at home over Christmas (including a family wedding) then three months in Costa Rica and Arizona.

After an initial few sunny days the weather in Big Sky has been terrible - cold and snowy. I am so happy that we have a great big condo to hang out in, with lots of good books to read and two hot tubs.

We come here every year at this time and the weather is usually terrific for the fall colours. I would be feeling pretty ripped off if I didn't have 21 more weeks to go!

 

[julienjay]

If you don't mind me asking, approximately how much does it cost to "timeshare" full time?

I have been trying to figure this out

If you have a 2 BR lockoff and split it into 2, then get ACs for both, that's 4 weeks for one timeshare. Is that right?

Then if you have several of those, that would take care of several months.

And then you could do getaways for the rest?

Just curious.

What would be your "dream" plan and budget?

 

[ronandjoan]

Budget for fulltime timesharing

Well, we have just begun this, so we do not know the exact costs yet.

It will be dependent every year upon possible bonus weeks, AC, last calls , getaways, etc., that we can get. I assume that every year would be different but obviously there has to be a limit.

The fixed bottom line would be the annual total maintenance fees you pay for all your units. Everyone's will be different depending upon what they have.

Using your own units mean no exchange fees. We have 3 fixed weeks at St AUgustine (TAS) in January that we know we will almost always use. We have 2 floating weeks there too and so if we deposit them, we sometimes (but not always - that's the catch) get an AC and then pay the exchange fee to use the AC - a great price for a week of course- and an exchange fee to use the deposited week, which raises the cost of the week's stay over the regular maintenance fee. Same for any RCI weeks deposited, the price of the week will have to include the exchange fee too.

The best deal is to get lower priced bonus weeks, whether they be Getaways, Last Calls, Extra vacations or bonus weeks from Donitas or SFX. RCI and II getaways and Extra Vacation prices have increased SOOO much, we have been using Donitas and SFX instead.

SFX bonus weeks are $379 (since we are Platinums, a membership fee) or $399 for regular free membership. These are all for 5 Star deluxe resorts, a real bargain! We have 3 weeks scheduled in November in Puerto Vallarta, a 1 BD at the Mayan Palace for $379 each, total $1137. If it was one more week, the "rent" would be $1516, which is cheaper than our house costs were.

Better still is using bonus weeks at Telemark, our very favorite timeshare, in Cable WI, one or two BD units for owners at 3 weeks out if available (They usually are) for $199 per week. We are just now returning from being there a month. If we had 4 bonus weeks, the monthly "rent" would be $800 - substantially less than our home costs were - remember this includes, utilities, housekeeping, all furnishings and any maintenance problems taken care of, cable, telephone, as well as having swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor, and lake access for fishing. Some units are huge 2 BD lakeside!

Our cheapest way to use RCI is to use our Fairfield /Wyndham points since we can deposit units with points and then exchange them. If we can use the smaller units the cost is very good. Watching the "Sightings" TUG thread really helps to snag good units with even a low value week.

Our Fairfield/Wyndham ownership, being points, which can be discounted also, allows for many more good values as well as single night stays while traveling. For example, we spent 18 days at the Wyndham Nashville in August, including weekends, which cost more points, half the time in a 1 BD Deluxe and half in a 2 BD lockout, for a total cost value of $682.50 which is a monthly rate of $1137.

Of course, the travel to the different places will be part of that budget, Obviously there are choices as to where and when to go, (even if you have more choices available that you may turn down), which might save more $$ - like staying at Telemark all summer! - inexpensive weeks, and very little travel.

It would be cheapest to stay at Donita’s bonus weeks, some of which are $59 for the week!! Of course, that would mean last minute planning and able to travel about rather freely.

I am afraid I have not given a $$ figure since it is dependent on so many factors.

 

[Aussiedog]

how is it going?

Since this thread started a while ago I thought I would bump it up and try to entice some of the fulltime and almost-fulltime timesharers to tell us how they are enjoying their great adventure!

Ann

 

[krmlaw]

DH and I have many years before we retire, well about 20. But we are hoping to timeshare for the winters down south. hopefully it will work!

 

[ronandjoan]

We are still at it

Thanks for asking Ann...we are still going strong.
We had thought 2 years, now we think more!
I have to update my BLOG - we are at Kona Hawaiian Resort now for a 3 week stay.

Some of you are ALMOST full time the great vacations you all take! We have to plan a little more carefully since we don;t have a home to return to if something does not work out. So far, it has been fine.

The only problem is that we almost NEVER want to leave where we are!!!! everywhere is so nice!

 

[Jaybee]

I hope this thread stays active. I love reading about how different people use their ts. I love staying in places for 2 weeks at a time, and would enjoy more...especially in HI, but my DH starts missing his recliner too much. LOL!

So, I, too can live vicariously by reading all these posts. Thanks for bumping it up, Ann. Jean

 

[ronandjoan]

Continued full time timesharing

I have updated our blog, still missing last week's though at Fox River Resort in Sheridan IL which was very nice.

http://ronandjoanjourney.blogspot.com/

We are on our second year now - we do not have any "home base" even though we goto Seattle a lot to see my mother.. still need to utilize our storage unit there for things to live with. In and out andin and out each time - too bad it is not a 24 hour storage facility, so sometimes we fly in late and have to wait until the next day to get our living "stuff."

The hardest thing is not having those items you need to use regularly at your fingertips - they are in a plastic bin! Normally they would be on a shelf somewhere in your house or condo.

We have decided to go only once to Mexico after this year - it is too hard to cook all meals in the condo and too expensive to eat out very often....any thoughts on this?

 

[ace2000]

We have decided to go only once to Mexico after this year - it is too hard to cook all meals in the condo and too expensive to eat out very often....any thoughts on this?

I don't understand your point about Mexico compared to other timeshares. Is it because timeshares in Mexico don't generally have full kitchens? The dining out is generally cheaper in Mexico than other places.

Thank you for bringing this thread back to life. I find it fascinating!

 

[PeelBoy]

Joan,

I have bookmarked your blog to learn your experience.

Is full timesharing a lonely life? I love and probably am addicted to traveling, however, I don't think I can uproot from my city, my country (Canada), my relatives and my friends. For example, Air Canada, though great, is not the greatest airline in the world. I use Air Canada almost exclusively because I feel like home.

How do you deal with your emotional link with your hometown and people/activities in your hometown?

Again, thanks for sharing.

 

[PamMo]

I think this thread is great! I hope the topic stays active and we hear tales and strategies from others who are full/part-timing in timeshares around the world.

ronandjoan, I also wonder why in Mexico, it seems too hard to cook in the room? Limited kitchens in the timeshares you've been to? We're in Mexico several weeks a year (Cabo, PV, and Mazatlan), and I don't think our meal planning is much different than at home. We go out for some great meals, but use our kitchens a lot. I'm definitely not a gourmet chef - I prepare fresh, simple meals with fish/meat and lots of fruits and vegetables. I love the grocery stores in Mexico with all the wonderful seafood and produce! And I can't seem to stay away from the panaderias for pastries and breads -- aaargghhh! It's a good thing we walk a lot!

 

[2snowbirds]

Great blog

Joan, I have been reading your travel blog for the past hour. Love it! I really appreciate your description and opinions of the different resorts that your are visiting. It's giving me ideas on where we might want to travel in the future. We have been retired for 3 years and at that time thought we'd become semi-full time RVers. We RVed for the first year of retirement, then we purchased our first timeshare about 2 years ago. Well, since the timeshare purchase, our RV sits in the garage most of the time. It now only serves as a supplement to the timeshare travel. Also, with the additional fuel cost of traveling in an RV, the cost of travel is about a wash. Convenience, hands down, timesharing is the way to go. Happy travels to you and thank you for sharing your travel blog!

 

[icydog]

How do you do it?

Anyone else out there timesharing full time?

We got inspired by Ray's journal when we first joined TUG some years ago and now, finally completed our plan: sold our house last month (in a week, no less!), finished the MISERABLE job of downsizing and going through ALL those boxes (where does all the STUFF come from), sold a lot of stuff (eBay, plus a FREE garage sale!) and put it all in a storeroom in Ohio. And took off!

To Seattle for the regular monthly visit to my mother (full blown dementia) and now back to Nashville at the Wyndham for 2 weeks, then to PHX to visit my nice for a week (Westgage Painted Mountain) back to Nashvile (flights form BNA to PHX were very cheap in the summer) and then onward to our journey. Have most things booked through next June...Who else out there is doing this and what tips can you give?.

You can PM me too, for more conversation. Would love to share ideas.

I noticed your timeshare weeks on the side under your name. How do you parlay those weeks into full time timesharing? I am really curious. Thank you.

 

[John Cummings]

How fun !!!

One of the things that we saw in the 70s and 80s with those who sold their homes and went on the road with their Winnabagos was that at some point they had to stop, usually due to health issues for one or both spouses. Having a "medical home" (as we now call it) becomes very important as we age.

Since it sounds like your timeshares are in several places I would be interested in your exit strategy.

Ann

I saw a similar problem with my parents when they retired. They were just 62 and 61 at the time. They sold their home and moved to Arizona with the plan of spending the summer months in a cooler clime. That worked OK for the first 10 or so years but as time went on it became more difficult to travel. The timesharing thing would be orders of magnitude worse as you would be constantly uprooting yourself. It may sound like fun in the beginning but as you get older it will be not so much fun.

Personally, I learned from my parents and spent 10 years researching where we wanted to retire. The main thing was it had to be a place where we would be happy all year and not feel like we had to escape for any reason. I retired a few years ago after moving where we are now. It is just 45 minutes from where we lived prior to retirement. Now we do lots of traveling with most of it being non-timeshare per our preferences.

 

[John Cummings]

...we are talking 2 years of full time timesharing, but the time is already passing so quickly, that.....maybe 5? Maybe till the end, like the gentleman above?

We plan on returning to Ohio a couple of times a year, not only because all our STUFF is there, but the doctors are too. I also do various things at the high school there in our small town.

That is different. I thought you meant doing it forever.

 

[John Cummings]

I'm happy Joan to share where I live. We are in Ontario, Canada on the banks of the St. Lawrence River where I garden to my heart's content from May to early October when what we call our "timehare box" comes out of storage. We spend from mid October to the end of November in the southeastern US, come home for December, and at the end of December leave until sometime in April. For the past few years we stuck to the east coast from Florida to South, with a cruise thrown in somewhere but this year we have reserved in Sedona, Phoenix and Palm springs for January and then will head to South Carolina. All of this is obviously off season but we don't mind. In the next few years we will likely try Portugal for two months as others have done so very happily. We too pack very systematically but somehow our "stuff" seems to overwhelm us sometimes, especially with one set of golf clubs in the trunk of our car (no van or suv for us) and treasures we have purchased along the way.

At last count awhile ago we were up to sixtie + exchanges. I keep all of the confirmations in a binder so must count again soon. It's a bragging thing!!!

It's good to be back here.

This is off the subject but I am curious if you live close to the 1000 islands. My wife and I did a boat tour there last year as part of a 5 day loop tour we took from New York City to Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake, Toronto, 1000 islands, Washington DC, etc. The boat tour of the 1000 islands was great.

We live just an hour from Palm Springs and visit there frequently for a few nights. In fact we are going to be staying at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort in Rancho Mirage ( Palm Springs area ) in a couple weeks for 5 days.

 

[donnaval]

I love this thread!

We hope to do between 50% to 75% timesharing. In preparation, we've purchased a little dump of a house a couple of miles from where we live--we currently use it as storage for our business, but it's ready to live in once it's emptied out. We'll sell our big house here and use the dumpy little house as home base during the summer months and the Christmas holidays. We own it free and clear, the taxes are quite low, and the utilities can be shut off when we're away making it a very affordable home base. One vehicle can always be in the garage in case we have to make an emergency trip home.

We're "practicing" by gradually increasing our number of weeks away. For the past few years we've been staying for three weeks in Florida during late January/early February, and then taking at least one week every six weeks or so at various places. I'm gone a little more than my husband since he still worries about the business more than I do

We have some fixed weeks but will probably dump those in favor of more points. We like the cheapness of the weeks we can get through the points systems we own--last-minute points deals with RCI points, and cheap Wyndham points deposits. I enjoy searching for exchanges (so far) and it's a thrill to find a great stay. Weeks we procure with these systems cost under $300 for the week including exchange fees and the pro-rated costs of our maintenance fees. So we figure it costs us $1200 per month or less to live in multi-million dollar resorts, where we don't have to worry about maintenance, utilities, insurance, and have to do very little housekeeping. We always eat the majority of our meals in the unit so our food costs are typically about the same as we would spend when we stay home.

So far we've moved every week; maybe next year we'll try four weeks in Florida and try staying in one resort for two weeks in a row. But we actually feel like we must have a bit of vagabond in our blood because we always look forward to the next place.

It's interesting to see the reactions of friends and family to our lifestyle and proposed change. We have some friends who are total stick-in-the-muds who seldom vacation and can't imagine missing Judge Judy every day. We have others who say they'd love to do the same. Time will tell how we feel about it once we're really into it.

 

[2snowbirds]

I love this thread!


We like the cheapness of the weeks we can get through the points systems we own--last-minute points deals with RCI points, and cheap Wyndham points deposits. I enjoy searching for exchanges (so far) and it's a thrill to find a great stay. Weeks we procure with these systems cost under $300 for the week including exchange fees and the pro-rated costs of our maintenance fees. So we figure it costs us $1200 per month or less to live in multi-million dollar resorts, where we don't have to worry about maintenance, utilities, insurance, and have to do very little housekeeping. We always eat the majority of our meals in the unit so our food costs are typically about the same as we would spend when we stay home.

We do the same - watch for the great deals, then put all the pieces together to plan the ultimate trip. I usually budget our trips using an average of $55 per night , which brings our monthly timeshare costs to about $1,500-$1,700. Considering the wonderful resorts and luxury units, this is quite a deal. We've experienced some beautiful areas that we would have never explored without the discovery of timeshares. We too eat most of our meals in, but when we're visiting a "seafood" area, we like to splurge and eat out more than usual.

I think part of the fun is planning the trip. If you're not willing to put in the time and energy in the planning, I think these trips would be difficult, if not impossible to put together.

 

[DaveNV]

This is exactly what happened to my parents. They sold everything and went full time RV'ing. My siblings and I begged them to rethink things. Sure enough 2 years later my mom went in for a simple shoulder surgery and things went wrong. She ended up coming out in a full time wheelchair.

My Uncle worked six days a week for over forty years for a sheet metal company, and saved every penny he ever earned. He never took a day's vacation, and was never sick. He always talked about the future - how much fun it was going to be to retire for good and hit the road in a fancy RV, fishing his way around the country.

When the time came, he and my Aunt did just that: Bought a super fancy RV, sold their home, and hit the road for a 12 month vacation, the first of many they had planned. Three months later Ernie came down with a mysterious illness that turned out to be leukemia, and within another three months he died.

Life is short - eat dessert first.

Dave