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Best timeshares in Europe, maybe Spain, in August?

ambere

ambere

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
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Location
San Diego, CA
Resorts Owned
Welk/Hyatt
Palm Springs Tennis Club (2-bedroom Wimbledon) - 2 units
Lagonita Lodge (4 units: Christmas week, New Year's Week, 2-bdrm Lakefront, 3-bdrm Bear Peak)
Hi. We're going to be Croatia for a week in August, and looking to add on a week before or after. We'd love a timeshare that's walking distance to places to eat, things to do, explore. Spain would be nice. Appreciate any recommendations!
 
Either of the MVCs in southern Spain if you can get them.
It's hot and crowded in Spain in August.
@bazzap do you have a recommendation for which one is better?
 
Many Europeans holiday (vacation) in August, and they get many more weeks of it than Americans. You will be very fortunate, indeed, to be able to book any European TS in the tourist areas inn that time frame. Keep looking at your exchange company's website and if you see availability, best jump on it. Also note that most European TSs are not in cities where most Americans want to visit. Europeans LIVE in the cities and want to vacation out in the countryside. If I were set to be in Croatia, I'd consider extending to perhaps Slovenia or Montenegro or maybe Venice. Maybe a BnB instead of a TS.

Happy Hunting!

Jim
 
There is a thread on Hapimag which some Tuggers seem to like. Perhaps check that out?

tugbbs.com

[ 2023 ] Hapimag

I'm interested in doing annual European vacations of 3-4 weeks duration. I've been looking at Hapimag and had a few questions for current owners: How did you buy your shares? Owner resale? A broker? How many shares did you buy? Have you been happy with the availability of resorts?
tugbbs.com tugbbs.com
 
CalGalTraveler said:
There is a thread on Hapimag which some Tuggers seem to like. Perhaps check that out?

tugbbs.com

[ 2023 ] Hapimag

I'm interested in doing annual European vacations of 3-4 weeks duration. I've been looking at Hapimag and had a few questions for current owners: How did you buy your shares? Owner resale? A broker? How many shares did you buy? Have you been happy with the availability of resorts?
tugbbs.com tugbbs.com
Click to expand...
I would say that Hapimag definitely has the best coverage in Europe overall, and particularly in cities that non-Europeans want to visit/vacation in, which most timeshares generally avoid. However, unless you know you'll regularly go to Europe and therefore are going to buy into their system it' s not of much help to most, because they're more likely to want to use their existing ownership to exchange in, and as far as I know Hapimag doesn't participate in II, RCI or any of the major exchange systems I've heard of.
 
Hindsite said:
Either of the MVCs in southern Spain if you can get them.
It's hot and crowded in Spain in August.
@bazzap do you have a recommendation for which one is better?
Click to expand...
Of the two MVC's Marbella Beach Club is the better of the two for places to eat within walking distance however Playa Andaluza is within a few minutes walk of an Aldi supermarket which should cover any requirements. For exploring and things to do then a car is beneficial for visiting the wider area.

However, August is prime season and a trade is almost impossible. You may be able to rent a week from an owner who is not looking to use their week that year however many don't deposit in II. Marriott will deposit bulk availability now and then but I've never seen any August dates, June is the latest summer dates that I've seen.
 
ambere said:
Hi. We're going to be Croatia for a week in August, and looking to add on a week before or after. We'd love a timeshare that's walking distance to places to eat, things to do, explore. Spain would be nice. Appreciate any recommendations!have a peek at the Algarve area as well in Southern Portugal
Click to expand...
 
Southern Europe in August? Isn't it like 110 degrees and many places don't have A/C?
 
TolmiePeak said:
Southern Europe in August? Isn't it like 110 degrees and many places don't have A/C?
Click to expand...

Yes. And it's swarming with screaming tourists being led by a tour-guide with a megaphone and a flag. That's why Europeans escape the big cities in August and go to the mountains.

This is what you'll see in Venice/Paris/Barcelona/Florence/Rome in the summer:

a-tour-guide-leads-young-chinese-visitors-through-chinatown-singapore-RHPM15.jpg
 
In August, I'd personally head for the mountains, not southern Europe, if you enjoy summer mountain trail-walking and hiking. There are a few available in II in the Alps for late July, I think I even saw something in August with a mediocre trader, some definitely within walking distance of restaurants etc because they are ski resorts. They're usually pretty basic because folks spend most of their time outdoors. And there are cheap low-cost-carrier flights within Europe.
 
Algarve has lota of TS and my thoughts woukd be Four Seasons Villamoura very central or the TS in Carvoeiero. Cant thinknof namecbut its RCI gold crown.. very nice.
 
12 Aug is the total solar eclipse that passes through Northern Spain and on the Palma Mallorca, so that will cause extra disruption if its that week you are planning to travel.
 
Reviving this thread. We are heading to Spain/Portugal in April and would love to find something that the OP described, being walking distance to restaurants, etc. We have been to both Marriotts in southern Spain and felt like it would be a longish walk to anywhere. Are any of the non-Marriotts in Malaga area in a walkable neighborhood?
 
Thanks. I’m hoping to get input regarding walkability around the resorts.
 
For Portugal in the Quinta Do Lago area of the Algarve there are 2 x Four seasons (not FSRC) and 1 x former Diamond (Vilar Do Golf) All 3 are in a large golf area, that has a central shopping, bar and Restaurant complex. Vilar Do Golf is closest to this complex, but its still a decent walk. There is a very good restaurant on the Vilar Do Golf site and another one at the practice range a short walk away. I can't remember if there are restaurants at the 2 x Four seasons, I think so but you could check.
 
melissy123 said:
Reviving this thread. We are heading to Spain/Portugal in April and would love to find something that the OP described, being walking distance to restaurants, etc. We have been to both Marriotts in southern Spain and felt like it would be a longish walk to anywhere. Are any of the non-Marriotts in Malaga area in a walkable neighborhood?
Click to expand...
What do you define a walkable neighbourhood as? We own at Playa Andaluza and there are plenty of restaurants within a short 10-15 minute walk. If you want to enjoy some of the better restaurants in nearby Benahavis then a car or taxi is required but it really isn't far. There is a new restaurant just opened on the beach in front of Playa Andaluza called Por Fin. I haven't been as it was still undergoing final construction when I was there last October. It's in a very handy location for hotel guests being just outside the gates to the beach but its prices also reflect the location.

The only non Marriott that I've stayed at in the area is the Wyndham Grand Costa Del Sol. That is situated in a very quiet residential location and I only found one mediocre restaurant within walking distance. The onsite restaurants were pretty dismal too.
 
Thanks. I think we may be headed back to Portugal and stay in the main cities, in a non timeshare stay.
 
melissy123 said:
Thanks. I think we may be headed back to Portugal and stay in the main cities, in a non timeshare stay.
Click to expand...
We've stayed at the Vila Gale timeshare hotel in Cascais -- lovely, walkable to many excellent restaurants museums shops etc in this lovely town and average 38 minute train ride into Lisbon. We had a 1-BR unit with a huge balcony overlooking the ocean (requested view and granted). We did have a car for further daytrips. I'd do it again anytime! Of course a stay right in the city is always good.

Lucky you to be headed back. After a 4-week trip to Portugal we wanted to move there! Planned to return to visit, then Covid happened, then we got old and expatriating is no longer in the cards.
 
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