Are timeshares for us?

[Mel]

Timesharing certainly wouldn't fill all your vacationing needs, but it might fit in as part of your portfolio. You already understand the way points works to some degree without realizing it, because you use Starwood points for your airline reservations. You know they are limited, and there is a system in place to get what you want. You follow their rules, and you can usually find what you are looking for.

If you really are interested in a "second home" type of accomodation, a timeshare might fit the bill. You would get that second home without having to maintain it year round, and without as high a buy-in cost.

Once you have that you could then try exchanging for some of your other needs. By using the smaller exchange companies, you might be able to ensure what you want is available before you give up your own week (you can do this with II too). If it's available you book it, if not you use your week for your summer vacation. Right now you have a travel bug, but you may find you won't always want to travel that way. You might first adjust to 1 week in a centralized place, and use it as a home base - we did this in England and Wales. You also might find yourself trying destinantions you really wouldn't have considered before. You may also find that the kids will prefer a different style of travel. Mine enjoy our "adventure trips" but also like some stability, and like to return to our home resort, and probably would even more if they made friends with other kids staying the same week each year. They understand the value of our trips (their memories of Wales will last longer than their friends' iPods), but still like local trips the most. They still remember the pools at various resorts better than anything else.

 

[Aussie girl]

I agree with Mel, I think you can do both.

We travel a lot, mostly to the South Pacific once a year for 6 weeks at a time and we have never used our timeshare to trade. I would never considered doing a trade to Australia. We can stay in places cheaper than the exchange+maintenance fees.
We only own one week about four hours from our home and it is a wonderful place for all our extended family to holiday together. Some come for the whole week some just for a few days. We have owned for 10 years but have been holidaying in the area for 25yrs. It's a place we visit 2 to 3 times per year. It is a two bedroom lock off and Interval offers great getaways in the spring and fall.

In the 10 years we have only traded 4 times. Four Seasons Avaira, Royal Sands X2 and we were just at The Westin Ka'anapali in December.

Our Children are 17 and 21 and have been to Australia 8 times but if you asked them where their favorite place to vacation is, they would both answer Fairmont Hot Springs. It's where they first learned to swim, golf and ski.

 

[ehlfg]

It does sound like timesharing could be a nice complement to our on-the-go traveling, as a way to mellow out and just enjoy a favorite spot for a while. I'll be keeping an eye out for possibilities.

Thanks again for all the helpful responses!