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Do you abide by Timsharing 101?

Yes! We own two t/s within a 50 miles one way radius of our home. We purchased two t/s in Williamsburg,VA.
Location was the key in purchasing. One t/s is for the family and the second one is for business and rental.
 
Four out of five? Only one of our timeshares is a pure trader (inexpensive South Africa week). Three we use directly (WM, WSR, DVC) and the fourth (GPP) is a combo: we trade it -- but often back into the same property for a larger unit. We also visit the property for day-use.

Edited to add: Oh, I'm cheating. Our DVC was not purchased to use directly -- but to use at other properties w/in the DVC mini-system. We own SSR but stay mainly at BWV. Not sure how you want to count that ...
 
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I only have one timeshare with no plans to buy another. I bought where I wanted to go with the view I wanted though it's not within driving distance. However, we have access to a free place in Hilton Head within driving distance thanks to a generous relative.

Since it's oceanfront, I believe I'll be able to direct exchange it fairly easily. Using II has potential, I suppose, but I find it to be too confusing and I am not comfortable with uncertainty.
 
We're learning by doing. We bought to get into the network at a location I expect to go to only once in a while. We then bought more where we like to go. We bought still more because the DH found deals on ebay.

And that last ebay deal(the WKV) is even better than we thought! It's a great season (weeks 1-21/51-52), was for first use 2008, AND the MF's were already paid (not by us, but whoever owned it before us)! :banana: We were told first use was 2009. No way could we use it this year. But, as soon as I learned that I popped it into II. Looks like I'll be trying trading sooner than expected!
 
we only own starwood tS"S and we bought where we want to go. i plan on using my weeks eventually to be able to stay at my TS for 9 weeks in the winter. and we wanted the flexibilty to go to different places each year if that's what we choose to do.

but i do believe to own where you want to go most of the time. since i own i have gone back to HRA,svv, sdo, and wkv every year.

i have also been very lucky with my trades with rci and II.

the first year we didn't go to the harborside and i used my options to go to wmh, sbp, svr and pga so i got to see the other resorts first hand. all very nice but i would not want to own there.great to visit. for us the places i own are the places i want to go back year after year.

and my heart breaks a little when we have to leave. and as soon as we come home can't wait till next year to go back!!!!!

we only own starwood because unlike other owners we love the added benefit to convert to starpoints, which we use 4-5 times a year to go to places that does not have a timeshare and we don't want to stay 7 days.

there is nothing about this timesharing thing i dislike. i even had all my MF's paid this year from rentals. so all is well with the timesharing and airmiles world.:cheer:
 
No to the Timesharing 101 question...there isn't a resort within 100 miles driving distance that we would want to stay at for a week, and the kids don't want to go to the same place every summer anyway. Nor do we want a steady diet of warm weather resorts, as we get plenty of that at home.

But that's why timesharing is so great. This summer was a warm weather destination, so next summer will be in a cooler climate, most likely in the mountains. Hmm...maybe Tahoe for a week and then?
 
Good advice, but not very practical.

Let me speak for the newbies, since I've been researching timeshares for quite a while and still haven't purchased my first.

"Buy where you want to go most of the time, within easy driving distance." Sounds like a great principle--I'll save beaucoup $$$ by avoiding the greedy exchange companies! The reality is that many newbies just don't know where they want to vacation "most of the time"--if they did, they would already own there and wouldn't have any reason to visit TUG in the first place!

Most of us who have found TUG before owning a timeshare, discovered timesharing through a gifted week, or perhaps we had sense enough not to buy during a timeshare presentation. My in-laws let us use their week, which we exchanged for the Mayan Palace. We thought it was a great resort but had no interest in owning there. I discovered TUG when I saw that timeshares were selling for $1 on ebay and wanted to know how they could be selling so cheaply. I learned from tuggers that timesharing can be fun, and is much more than just a scam operation.

After renting several weeks during the past year and a half, I'm no closer to figuring out where I want to vacation "most of the time". Many of the nicer Colorado resorts have high maintenance fees, and could be traded into cheaper than owning (especially since I have no interest in stays during winter weeks). So I plan to purchase a proven trader--one that will likely get me to many of the places I want to visit, including Colorado resorts.

I've considered mini-systems, but they can't get me to the places I want to go as cheaply as some of the proven weeks traders. I'm hoping that after a few years of trading, I'll figure out where I want to vacation "most of the time" and purchase there. Or maybe I'll figure out which mini-system will best get me where I want to go. Meanwhile, I'll rest easy knowing I haven't invested too much and might even recoup some of the purchase price when I sell.

Just my 2 cents. :cool:
 
kzewill said:
No to the Timesharing 101 question...there isn't a resort within 100 miles driving distance that we would want to stay at for a week, and the kids don't want to go to the same place every summer anyway. Nor do we want a steady diet of warm weather resorts, as we get plenty of that at home.

But that's why timesharing is so great. This summer was a warm weather destination, so next summer will be in a cooler climate, most likely in the mountains. Hmm...maybe Tahoe for a week and then?
Click to expand...

San Francisco is nice and cool in the summer! You can combine the trip. :) I agree with you too. Our driving distance timeshares are lovely but $$$$ places like NCV and WMH. We just don't want to be there year in and year out. And they are easier to trade into than other locations. So we bought in AZ, where we already own a vacation home with the parents (and would never stay elsewhere). But it trades well, has 1/2 MFs, and allows us to trade into the resorts close to home when we want to...

Katherine
 
No, sadly I did not. We own 5 timeshares. I did buy some direct and some resale. We own two within driving distance. One the Shadow Ridge (Marriott) we've never stayed at. We bought strictly to use it as a trader. The platinum season isn't really a season we can travel to for Shadow Ridge. It is a great Marriott trader for us. We'll visit one of these days.

We have 2 in Hawaii that we obviously cannot drive to. We do visit there regularly at least once a year (using frequent flyer miles). Sometimes twice a year. Then, rent the other times.

We also own DVC which we can drive to once the models are open in Anaheim. However, we really like Disneyworld and visit there about once every other year. We've used our points to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim. Unlike other timeshare to point systems it is actually a descent value.

We definitely bought what fits our lifestyle now.

I believe in the buy where you want to go but I also believe you need to factor other things like: trade value, rent value, brand value, your lifestyle value, etc... Other things come into play with choosing a timeshare and not strictly "Buy where you want to stay"... I think, the statement by itself holds no value.
 
Hi everyone. I'm new to this site and love the experience so far. So, based on everyone's input, it seems that Westin Kierland is one of the best options for trading because of the mandatory SO's you get w/purchase and the low MF's? Have you had luck trading to HI?

Thanks.
 
I'd say that its crazy to buy into a place that you aren't going to vacation at frequently! I would consider trading as an opportunity, rather than expecting trades to be readily available.

Unless, of course, you are retired/rich/lucky and can travel in off-peak time :banana:
 
TS Newbie said:
Hi everyone. I'm new to this site and love the experience so far. So, based on everyone's input, it seems that Westin Kierland is one of the best options for trading because of the mandatory SO's you get w/purchase and the low MF's? Have you had luck trading to HI?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes, absolutely. And, anyone can trade to Hawaii right now...
 
TS Newbie said:
Hi everyone. I'm new to this site and love the experience so far. So, based on everyone's input, it seems that Westin Kierland is one of the best options for trading because of the mandatory SO's you get w/purchase and the low MF's? Have you had luck trading to HI?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Trading into Hawaii should remain fairly easy for the foreseeable future. In fact, owning in Hawaii seems more and more like an uneconomical choice because the MFs are high. The only upside to owning is the certainty you get about your view and being able to book at 12 months out for holiday weeks.
 
TS Newbie said:
Hi everyone. I'm new to this site and love the experience so far. So, based on everyone's input, it seems that Westin Kierland is one of the best options for trading because of the mandatory SO's you get w/purchase and the low MF's? Have you had luck trading to HI?
Click to expand...

Two independent reasons StarOption trades into Hawaii have become much easier:

1. Airfares are up; many are priced out of this vacation.

2. Westin recently opened two new Hawaii timeshare properties: WKORV-N and WPORV. Two years ago, anyone who wanted to use StarOptions to go to Hawaii had but one possible destination (WKORV). Today, the smaller number of potential traders has three possible destinations.

Lower demand + higher supply = easier availability. Of course, no guarantee how long this will continue.
 
When I first purchased Vistana back in 1997, YES. We bought where we wanted to go. It was my first trip to Orlando when I was 24 with my boyfriend...and we bought it together (yes, he's now my hubby). Now, we own 3 weeks within the Starwood Network. Do I want to go to Orlando for 3 weeks or almost 6 weeks (downgrading to a 1 BR)? No. I LOVE SVN and have been trading most of our options for Harborside weeks every year since 2003. 7th year coming up!
 
Everything in life changes

Bought our first timeshare in Orlando. We go there half the time. Didnt necessarily go there for Disney but for family. Family is moving away. If I had to do it over again wouldnt buy Orlando (but thats just me and thats for now).

If you buy your first timeshare using those principles, your chances of successful timesharing are increased. You start with a game plan, (1 timeshare), then you make adjustments depending on your vacationing needs and desires.

My favorite timeshare, Longboat Bay Club, I have gone every year but one. I dont ever get tired of going back. If I had to give up all my timeshares but one, that would be the one I would keep. Its a good solid gold crown that trades well. MF's are acceptable. Management company is good. Trades extremely well.
 
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